GOLDEN JUBILEE

With the benign blessings of His Holiness Poojyasri Sankarachrya Maha Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, this organization was established in March 1954 with the sole aim of celebrating Sri Rama Navami Festival. Later on the institution was named as Sri Ram Samaj in February 1958 with the aims and objectives of celebrating all cultural programmes besides Sri Rama Navami, establish educational institutions, such as schools, colleges and Universities, build a Kalyana Mandapam, a place for performing auspicious functions and a Gnanavapi, a place for performing obsequies to the departed souls-all these to cater to the needs of the common people.

With the support of the general public and philanthropists, the new institution grew with its several activities such as regular cultural programmes in its own premises - Ayodhya Aswamedha Maha Mandapam opened in March and general auspicious functions in our Mithilapuri Kalyana Mandapam built in the year 1967.

The Silver Jubilee of 'Sri Ram Samaj' was celebrated in 1978 marking the occasion with the opening of a building for Free Reading Room, Book Bank, Library etc.

Now we have reached an important milestone namely the Golden Jubilee and at this juncture, the activities of the Samaj have expanded in several spheres viz.

		'GNANAVAPI' a building at T.Nagar was opened by His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal on 18th January 1983. This is considered a boon to the residents of South Madras to perform karmas - last rites - to the departed souls with all the infrasture.
		In June 1987, Sri Sitaram Vidyalaya Matriculation School was opened in Ramakrishnapuram at West Mambalam, initially with classes from L.K.G. to V standard with a student strength of 182. The development of the school was spectacular both in terms of strength as well as academic standards. The school which was started in a two ground land with 3000 sq.ft built area, is now having a land area of 9 grounds with superstructure of an area of 20,000 sq.ft, with all infrasture facilities such as Library, Science Laboratories, Computer Lab, Play grounds, etc. It is now a full fledged Higher Secondary School with a student strength of about 2000 and with 75 well qualified, experienced teachers of high caliber consistently maintaining cent percent result in both 10th & 12th standard Board Examinations.

A scheme of Horoscope exchange was introduced in the year 1997 and is very helpful for many parents to finalise marriages of their sons and daughters.

The growth of this Institution has been possible solely due to the support of the general public and many philanthropists and through the dedicated services of a team of service-minded people, of course, with the dedication and devotion to Lord Sri Rama, the presiding deity of this reputed Institution.

During the Golden Jubilee of Sri Ramanavami Celebrations, we have very ambitious programs such as Upanyasams, Music, Bhajans, Homams, Bhagavatha Sammelanam, Goh - Pooja, Harikatha, Athirudram, Kanakabhishekam to Lord Rama. Question - Answer session by His Holiness Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, competitions among school children on Music, Sthotras, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Bhagavat Gita etc. These programs will be conducted through out the year commencing from 2nd March 2003 to March 2004. We also propose undertake new projects like Old Age Home, bigger 'GNANAVAPI' with provisions to stay and perform in-house funeral rites for departed souls in a wider area with more facilities, supply of artificial limbs adoption of slums, offer of medical facilities to disabled persons, besides renovation of Ayodhya Aswamedha Maha Mandapam.

To implement the above projects/programmes during the Golden Jubilee year, we would very much like to have the active participation and involvement of persons like you in all our endeavours to make the celebrations, a grand success. We request you to contribute liberally especially in the area of finance. Donations to the SAMAJ are exempt under Section 80-G of the Income Tax Act. Since the projects we have undertaken are huge in size and involve very heavy expenditure, we look forward to your generous gesture to make all our plans a reality.