Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam
Indian charitable society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (ശ്രീനാരായണ ധർമ്മ പരിപാലന യോഗം), commonly known as S.N.D.P. Yogam (എസ്.എൻ.ഡി.പി. യോഗം), is a foundational social service organisation in Kerala, India. Officially registered under the Companies Act on 15 May 1903,[1] it was founded by Dr. Padmanabhan Palpu. The social reformer Sree Narayana Guru served as its first and lifelong chairman, while the poet Kumaranasan was its first secretary.
| Abbreviation | SNDP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 15 May 1903 |
| Founder | Dr. Padmanabhan Palpu |
| Type | Social equality promoting organisation |
| Headquarters | Kollam |
| Location | |
Official language | Malayalam |
Life time Chairman | Sree Narayana Guru |
Parent organization | Vavoottu Yogam |
| Website | sndpyogam.co.in |
The establishment of the Yogam marked the first organised effort for social equality in Kerala and played a pivotal role in the state's renaissance. Its primary objectives were to propagate Guru's ideals, guide oppressed communities towards social and spiritual advancement, and establish educational institutions and monasteries. The organisation grew out of the Vavoottu Yogam, a committee managing the Aruvippuram temple founded by Guru.[1][2]
Today, the SNDP Yogam is a powerful and influential organisation with a significant presence in Kerala's social and political spheres. Its influence extends globally, with members and branches in the Gulf countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Sree Narayana Trust
The Sree Narayana Trust was founded by the SNDP Yogam to start, and manage educational, social, and economical institutions with the vision of Narayana Guru. Combined both the Yogam and the Trust present annual budgets of about ₹2,000,000,000 (INR 200 crore or US$24 million).[3][4]
Currently, the organization runs several educational institutes, hospitals, and other institutions.
Mission
The SNDP Yogam is based on the principles and philosophy of Narayana Guru. Guru devoted his life to working against the social and economical inequality, casteism, and superstitions in the Kerala society. The Yogam has the moral responsibility and the social duty to model the Sree Narayana dharmas.
History
SNDP was founded in 1903 by Padmanabhan Palpu with the guidance and blessings of Narayana Guru. SNDP was the first organization to envisage Kerala as a whole.
Vavoottu Yogam expanded and formed an organization known as Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam. The Aruvippuram Temple Society, known as Vavoottu Yogam emerged in 1888.
During the 1890s, there was an oppressive caste system in Kerala. Palpu started working towards ensuring the rights of the then identified backward communities. With the 1891 Malayali Memorial Revolt, he took the leadership of the then oppressed community named Ezhava, and attempted to begin an organization called Ezhava Sabha. In 1896, he created the organization's by-laws and published the law in Malayali, a newspaper published from Thankussery. He organized a few meetings at Paravur and Mayyanad, before the movement failed.
On 7 January 1903, a special meeting of Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam was conducted. They decided to enlarge the organization to support the progress of all backward communities religiously and materially. Thus, on 15 May 1903, with Narayana Guru as its president, Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam was registered as Aruvippuram Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam according to the Indian Companies Act, No. 6, 1882.
The Sree Bhavaneeswara temple, dedicated to Shiva, was consecrated by Guru on 8 March 1916 (24 Kumbham 1091 M.E.). After the ceremony, he laid the foundation stone for the Lower Primary School under the SNDP.
List of presidents
| No | Name | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Narayana Guru | 1903–1928 |
| 2 | Madavan Vydyar | 1929–1933 |
| 3 | C. Krishnan | 1933–1938 |
| 4 | M. Govindan | 1939–1940 |
| 5 | K. Ayyappan | 1940–1943 |
| 6 | V. K. Panikkar | 1943–1944 |
| 7 | V. K. Velayudan | 1944–1945 |
| 8 | M. Govindan | 1945–1951 |
| 9 | P. N. Narayanan | 1951–1953 |
| 10 | K. Sukumaran | 1953–1954 |
| 11 | R. Sankar | 1954–1956 |
| 12 | V. G. Sukumaran | 1956–1960 |
| 13 | K. I. Velayudan | 1960–1961 |
| 14 | M. Achuthan | 1961–1966 |
| 15 | C. R. Kesavan Vydyar | 1966–1970 |
| 16 | Administrator rule | 1970–1971 |
| 17 | K. T. Achuthan | 1971–1973 |
| 18 | N. Sreenivasan | 1973–1978 |
| 19 | P. S. Velayudan | 1978–1982 |
| 20 | M. K. Ragavan | 1982–1988 |
| 21 | K. K. Viswanathan | 1988–1992 |
| 22 | K. G. Sreenivasa Panickar | 1992 |
| 23 | K. K. Rahulan | 1992–1996 |
| 24 | A. S. Prathapsingh | 1996–1999 |
| 25 | C. K. Vidhyasagar | 1999–2006 |
| 26 | K. Kamalasanan | 2006 |
| 27 | M. B. Sreekumar | 2006–2007 |
| 28 | M. N. Soman | 2007– |
List of General Secretaries
The following is a chronological list of the General Secretaries of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam since its registration in 1903.[6][7]
| No. | Name | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kumaran Asan | 1903–1915 |
| 2 | N. Krishnan | 1915–1916 |
| 3 | Kumaran Asan | 1916–1919 |
| 4 | N. Kumaran | 1919–1927 |
| 5 | C. V. Kunhiraman | 1927–1929 |
| 6 | M. Govindan | 1929–1930 |
| 7 | K. Narayanan | 1930–1931 |
| 8 | C. V. Kunhiraman | 1931–1932 |
| 9 | K. M. Keshavan | 1932–1933 |
| 10 | C. Kesavan | 1933–1935 |
| 11 | Thazhava Kesavan | 1935–1936 |
| 12 | V. K. Velayudhan | 1936–1941 |
| 13 | K. N. Kunju Krishnan | 1941–1942 |
| 14 | V. K. Velayudhan | 1942–1944 |
| 15 | R. Sankar | 1944–1954 |
| 16 | K. Karthikeyan | 1954–1956 |
| 17 | R. Sankar | 1956–1957 |
| 18 | K. R. Narayanan | 1957–1961 |
| 19 | K. M. Raghavan | 1961–1970 |
| 20 | Mankuzhi Madhavan | 1971–1973 |
| 21 | Prof. P. S. Velayudhan | 1973–1978 |
| 22 | P. S. Prathap Singh | 1978–1982 |
| 23 | K. Gopinadhan | 1982–1985 |
| 24 | A. S. Prathap Singh | 1985–1992 |
| 25 | K. Gopinadhan | 1992–1996 |
| 26 | Vellappally Natesan | 1996–2026 |