Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam
| 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 |
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][better source needed] 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.
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][better source needed][citation needed]
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
[edit]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).[2][3]
Currently, the organization runs several educational institutes, hospitals, and other institutions.
Mission
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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
[edit]The following is a chronological list of the General Secretaries of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam since its registration in 1903.[5][6]
| 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 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Sajna Salim, P.; Remmiya Rajan (2024). "The Reform Agenda of Sree Narayana Movement: A Special Study of Guru's Discourses on Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship". Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies. 7 (4): 21–30.
- ↑ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "76.98 cr budget for SNDP yogam". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ↑ "Rs 86 cr budget for SN Trust". The Times of India. 29 August 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ↑ "List of SNDP Presidents", sreenarayana.com, India, 13 January 2024, archived from the original on 2 October 2023, retrieved 13 January 2024
- ↑ Sukumaran, K. "History of SNDP Yogam". SNDP Yogam Official Records. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ↑ "Biographical Data of SNDP Leaders". Sree Narayana Association. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
External links
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