Paramhansa Sant Hirdaram Sahib?A 101-year-old great centenarian saint and a legendary human being, born on September 21, 1906, with crystal-clear vision, will and commitment and ultimately merged with the Supreme Soul on December 20, 2006, devoting his entire life for the welfare of the poor, hapless and hopeless mankind.
He never believed in setting up temples. For him, every place is a real temple wherein kindness is dedicated, wherein every deed is done for the sake of feeble masses, wherein humanity is worshipped. Thus, by the temples, he meant those schools, hospitals, elders? homes and other service projects that must be set up to serve the poor and the needy.
Jeev Sewa Sansthan (JSS) is a non-government registered organisation, set up in 1994, exclusively for the ultimate welfare of humanity. Though, the state government has done reasonably well within the financial constraints and means, yet a dire need of setting up such an organisation was felt, that works out upon different crucial activities, which must be done benevolently for alleviating the sufferings of destitute masses of not only a particular township or a city or a state but the exclusive nation and thus, this responsibility was undertaken by JSS with the blessings of Paramhansa Sant Hirdaram Sahib, motivation and guidance of Rev. Sidh Bhau and kind support of numerous well-wishers across the world.
Thus, the main objective behind setting up of JSS was to coordinate all the benevolent activities of the different social organisations functioning as per the service philosophy of the Saint including the major aspects as serving the suffering humanity whole-heartedly, uplifting the society and on the wholes strengthening the country.
The following golden aphorism of this merciful soul reveals the real purpose of his life and conveys his message to the humanity.
?The old, the infirm and the children,
are the loving forms of God,
Serve them with heart and soul, and
win laurels of the Lord?.
His spiritual power and ethical dimensions strengthen, inspire, motivate and guide thousands of his followers spread throughout the world. His deep faith in God and high respect for the humanitarian philosophy propels philanthropists from every nook and corner of the world to pour in resources for the welfare activities carried out by JSS especially for the poor and the needy.
The devout successor of Paramhansa Santji
The caravan of social service, initiated by Paramhansa Santji, is further carried out by his staunch disciple, Rev. Sidh Bhau under whose guidance, all the benevolent activities are being carried out worldwide through various sister organisations besides Jeev Sewa Sansthan, involving bountiful services of around 400 volunteers. His deeds have given him a unique identity by Paramhansa Santji, which can apparently be seen in his sublime ideas and thus he came to be called most respectfully as ?Rev. Sidh Bhau?.
A brief introduction
Since inception, the Trust has been involved in coordinating all around benevolent activities, which significantly include various reformation programmes like medical and health facilities for poor patients, education of poor children, marriage of poor girls, naturo-therapy treatment, spirituality and many more. The ever growing benevolent activities entailed proper supervision and thus were undertaken by the other distinct organisations with the backing of JSS.
All the charitable work done over here is purely service-centred. The trust is doing wonders in helping out the deprived masses in distinct fields, general as well as particular.
Specifically in the field of health and education, JSS has made great achievements which maybe remarked by the following:
Health facilities: The gloomy day December 3, 1984 must be remembered by one and all when methyl Iso cynide gas leakage of Union Carbide, created havoc in Bhopal. The aftermath of mishap was heart-rending as thousands of human beings and other creatures were killed. Those, who were less affected, became victims to one or the other various types of diseases that developed later on. The most prominent amongst were related to eyes. The plight of the poor was perceived by Paramhansa Santji, and its outcome was Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital, meant for providing the eye treatment to the gas affected victims and destitute people from rural masses.
It is one of the best hospitals in central India equipped with the latest and sophisticated eye equipments along with a team of experienced surgeons.
Educational facilities: Various schools and a college have been set up with the pious motto of providing qualitative education to all the children at affordable fees irrespective of their status. All these institutions, too, were set up with the blessings of Santji, who used to believe that a person is judged by character and not by status. Pondering upon the pious vachans of Santji, JSS made relentless efforts in approaching various philanthropists to extend their compassionate help towards making such institutions as inspired by Santji with a pious thought of making the character of a person.
Laying emphasis on pious samskaras based on Indian culture, patriotism, moral values and universal brotherhood, these schools ensure the children'sgrowth in securing all glory and success to them, their parents, town, state and the nation as well. Simultaneously they keep on check that the children must not deviate from the right path of moral values. Presently around 4,000 children are studying in these schools.
Besides, the above prominent fields, JSS has also shown benevolent gesture by means of: Providing free monthly ration to poor families and elderly persons; Running Vocational Training Centre for the poor people; Running Placement Centre and Coaching Centres for various competitive exams like PET, PMT, IIT, MCA, MBA, Bank PO etc for poor people. Supporting poor meritorious students pursuing higher studies. Help to poor widows. Helping financially to the poor parents in the marriage of their daughters.
Role of JSS in hours of crises
JSS, with the help of various well wishers, not only engages itself in various socio-welfare activities but also extends, from time to time, immense support in hours of dreadful calamities like Jaipur bomb blast, war of Kargil, tsunami, super-cyclone of Orissa, flood in various districts of Madhya Pradesh or earthquake in Gujarat etc.
Yet, JSS, for the patriotic causes, magnanimously stepped ahead with the help of well wishers to solve the problem of rehabilitating these unfortunate persons by way of remitting the funds to the authorities.
The catastrophe befallen on the unfortunate inhabitants of Orissa, was one of the most horrifying natural calamities that world has ever witnessed.
Recently, when the serious blasts triggered by the terrorists at the Pink City ?Jaipur? turning it to the Red, leaving many people dead and injured, JSS, considering it as a social and moral duty, extend helping hands directly to the victims as well as motivated various philanthropists from India and abroad, to help them in these tear-jerking moments of grief.
Triumphant journey
Such epic is the magnitude of these benevolent activities on the society that, as true reverence, the M.P. Govt. has changed the existing name of this township from ?Bairagarh? to ?Sant Hirdaram Nagar?, in the name of a great soul of the millennium.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of India, Honourable Shri L. K. Advani has felicitated JSS for its contribution towards the relief and welfare works for the family members of Kargil martyrs.
On the Republic Day 2005, the M.P. Government awarded JSS with ?Rashtriya Mahatma Gandhi Samman? alongwith a cheque of Rs. 5.00 Lakh to honour the outstanding and commendable activities of the Trust in the field of education, health, and other social welfare services.
With the Aagya of Paramhansa Santji, JSS donated this awarded money with an additional amount of Rs. 25,000 in the Chief Minister'sRelief Fund, for the rehabilitation of the Tsunami-affected people.
(The author is Secretary of Jeev Sewa Sansthan and can be contacted at jeevsewa@gmail.com) First Floor, Navnidh Hassomal Lakhani Public School, Lake Road, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bhopal-462 030.)
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