Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji

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AUM or OM is considered by the Arya Samaj to be the highest and most proper name of God. O3m AryaSamaj Red.svg
AUM or OM is considered by the Arya Samaj to be the highest and most proper name of God.

The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji (Arya Representative Society) is the national body for all the Arya Samajs in Fiji. It was formed in 1918 and registered as a religious body through the efforts of Manilal Doctor, who was in Fiji from 1912 to 1920 at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi to provide legal assistance to the Fiji Indians. Its first President was Swami Manoharanand Saraswati who had arrived in Fiji, from India, in 1913. The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is affiliated to Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (World Council of Arya Samaj) based in New Delhi. [1]

Contents

Immediately after its formation the Sabha went about establishing schools in Fiji, with the first one, Gyrykul Primary School, established in 1918 in Saweni, Lautoka. The Sabha owns and manages 14 pre-schools, 18 primary schools, 7 secondary schools, a commercial school, a religious training centre, a youth development centre and has provided the facilities and resources for the establishment of the University of Fiji.

Educational institutions

Year EstablishedInstitutionLocation
1918 Gurukul Primary School Lautoka
1929Vunimono Arya SchoolNausori
1930Arya Samaj Primary SchoolSuva
1936Vunikavikaloa Arya SchoolRakiRaki
1938Arya Kanya PathshalaBa
1942Bhawani Dayal Memorial Primary SchoolNakasi
1943Naduna Arya SchoolLabasa
1952Swami Shraddhanand Memorial SchoolSuva
1952DAV Girls CollegeSuva
1952DAV CollegeSuva
1953DAV CollegeBa
1956DAV Primary SchoolBa
1962Korotari Arya SchoolLabasa
1967Wainikoro Arya SchoolLabasa
1970Pt. Vishnu Deo Memorial Primary SchoolSuva
1972Pt Vishnu Deo Memorial CollegeLautoka
1972 Bhawani Dayal Arya College Nakasi
1973Labasa Arya Secondary SchoolLabasa
1975Dr. Ram Lakhan Memorial Primary SchoolNasinu
1980Lautoka Arya Samaj Primary SchoolLautoka
1980Draladamu Primary SchoolLabasa
1981Nadi Arya Samaj Commercial SchoolNadi
1982Vatukoula Arya Samaj Primary SchoolTavua
1992Nadi Arya Samaj Primary SchoolNadi
1998Nadroga Arya CollegeSigatoka
2003J.N. Jokhan Memorial Primary SchoolNavua
2003Vedic Training CentreSuva
2005University of FijiLautoka

[2]

President and Secretary

The following is a list of the President and Secretary of the Sabha and year when they were first elected.

YearPresidentSecretary
1927Jagarnath Prasad MaharajR. Parmeshwar
1954Jagarnath Prasad MaharajNarendra Gaji
1964Shankar PratapNarendra Gaji
1965Ram LakhanNarendra Gaji
1966Saraswati DeviR. Parmeshwar
1967Harish Chandra GajiRam Karan Cheta
1970Ram Karan ChetaRavindra Pratap Singh

[3]

At present there are 11 Arya Samajs affiliated to the Sabha and its president is Kamlesh Kumar Arya.

References

  1. Vedalankar, Nardev; Manohar Somera (1975). Arya Samaj and Indians abroad. New Delhi, India: Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. p. 123.
  2. "Education". Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji. Archived from the original on 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  3. Vidyalankar, Nardev; Manohar Somera (1975). Arya Samaj and Indians abroad. New Delhi, India: Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. p. 130.