History of Malliankaranai Mission
Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home, Mylapore was founded in 1905 with the blessings of Srimat Swami Ramakrishnanandaji Maharaj, a direct disciple of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna.
One of the significant achievements of the Ramakrishna Students Home, Chennai in the years following 1930s was a project of rural development. It was also intended as a part of wasteland development works of Ramakrishna Mission
Malliankaranai is a village in Uthiramerur Taluk of Chengalpattu Anna District. It is South West of Madras city, 85 KM by road - about 25 KM from Chingleput-see diagram below.
The Home came to be associated with Malliankaranai because of a generous gift of 140 Acres of land in that village by Sri Venkatavarada Iyengar noble-minded philanthropist. In addition 46 acres of land were vested with the Home in trust by him. Additionally some more lands were acquired by the Home to make the area integrated and viable, making a total of 200 acres in that village.
Earlier the lands seemed to have been productive with irrigation from the integrated lakes and canal systems of Arcot area. Subsequently when the rainfall in the area was meagre, cultivation had to be carried out using the water from Uthiramerur Lake brought through a canal. Due to diversion of water by the villagers upstream, water supply to our land was affected. Consequently the lake as a part of the Malliankaranai estate depended solely on the rainfall for its water supply. This situation coupled with the alkalinity of the soil rendered cultivation very difficult.
The shifting of the residential High School to a place near Uthiramerur in 1942 gave the Home an opportunity to watch and take measures for the development of the estate at Malliankaranai. Late Sri Anna N Subramaniam who was the Headmaster of the Residential High School and others evinced keen interest in the development of this area.
Malliankaranai establishment now consists of three units.
1. Estate 2. School 3. Hostel
Estate
As may be seen from the map, the main source for water is a lake in the estate. Its holding capacity is reduced by silt formation over a number of years. Water in this lake is expected to be replenished every week by release of water from the Uthiramerur Lake. In the absence of this supply the lake depends on the rainfall. To supplement the water from this source, a number of wells have been dug. Now there are seven open wells and one deep bore well. Replenishment rate for the wells is low, due to poor permeability of the soil. Water pumps have been installed and drip irrigation was introduced to promote agriculture. For tapping ground water, the Home utilized the services of an old student of the Home, Sri Krishnamurthy, who was a water diviner. In addition to a well, financed by The Hindu, "contributions from Balmer Lawrie & Co. and others helped in providing water for the estate as well as for the nearby villagers.
Dr. KR Srinivasan, a water resource specialist, made the following observations after inspecting the area:
1. Existing open well to be deepened to 15 meters on a telescopic construction
2. New open wells of 6 to 8 meters diameter and 15 meters depth should be dug for irrigation purposes. They must be lined with bricks and cemented. 18 to 30 meters of tube wells should be sunk at the bottom of these wells.
A tube well of 30-50 meters depth provided with screens and gravel should be installed on the South-Eastern part of the Estate.
As for the problem of alkalinity of the soil, extensive application of gypsum and green manure was recommended.
In 1984 Sri R.Pasupathi, IAS then an officer of Chief Secretary level in Tamilnadu Government, and a distinguished old student of the Home arranged a meeting of the Government officials belonging to Departments of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Public Works, High Ways, Health and Rural Developments along with the District Collector to offer their recommendations for an integrated development of Malliankaranai with the object of exploring the possibility of the land development on modern scientific lines.
According to the study team, the salinity of the soil is further enhanced by the overflowing water of a nearby canal called Kadalamangalam Odai, which besides depositing its own saline content, adds to the rise of the water table bringing up the salinity from below. The team suggested cutting a trench along the North and North Eastern sides to prevent such overflowing. In addition they recommended that proper drainage of the treated waters should be arranged so that the salinity will be washed away.
As a result of the recommendations, areas were earmarked for paddy cultivation and for pulses, Coconut and Mango groves, Casuarinas and Eucalyptus. Palm Nuts numbering 10000 were planted along the peripherals for demarcation of the boundary. Paddy is cultivated in about 50 Acres. Mango, Coconut, Guava, Sappota, Seetha pal, Wood Apple, Lemon, Nelli, Pomegranate are cultivated in another 100 Acres.
Dairy
About 15 cows are looked after in the dairy. The milk produced is used to meet the needs of the inmates of the hostel and estate staff workers. The cow dung is used in the Bio Gas plant and also as manure in the agriculture operation. Utilizing a donation of Rs. 89000/- from a Charitable Trust from Madras a modern cattle shed was constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,28,000/- Srimat Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj, President of the RK Math and Mission declared it open on 08/12/1989.
School
An elementary school was started in a thatched shed on 27/06/1945 through the efforts of Anna N.Subramanian, as there was no educational institution in that area. It became a full-fledged Higher Elementary School with Government permission in 1948 intended to serve the rural areas around Uttiramerur. A big building in stone and concrete to house the school was dedicated on 9-7-1986. This was further upgraded to High School on 9-7-1997. While approving this School, the Government stipulated that no additional financial assistance would be given for the High School. The salaries for the teachers had to be borne by the Management itself. Staff Quarters consisting of 4 houses were constructed in 1991.
There are 9 teachers including a pre-vocational Agriculture instructor. As the Government was not willing to provide additional teachers as was found necessary, a voluntary organization, ASSEFA, through Gramasabha undertook the expenses of providing 3 teachers, and Belur Math and the Home provided for 3 more teachers.
Our Mission always emphasises on Character Building and Man Making education as envisioned by the Great Patriotic Monk Swami Vivekananda. The elevating messages of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother Sarada Devi are inculcated to the students to make them good citizens of our great motherland.
Hostel
In 1949, a hostel was started with 20 boarders belonging to scheduled caste with a grant received from the Labour department of the State Government. The Central Social Welfare Board sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1000 for this hostel. With this amount a tiled structure was built for the hostel. This was declared open on 15/03/1964 by Srimat Swami Suddhasatwanandaji Maharaj, Manager, RK Math, Madras. Subsequently a dormitory cum Puja hall and Kitchen was built and was declared open by Srimat Swami Tapasyanandaji Maharaj, Vice President, RK Math and Mission, Belur Math, Kolkatta in year 1991.
M/s. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd built and handed over a 2 storey hostel on modern lines at a cost of Rs.18 lakhs on 1-4-2000 for accommodating 80 destitute boys belonging to the Scheduled Caste and most Backward Classes. This is in addition to the expenditure incurred by the Home as indicated below.
Dr. V. Subramaniam an old student of the Home and a distinguished engineer in USA donated a substantial amount for improving the irrigation facilities in the estate and for the girls' education in the school.
Temple
At the initiative of the Mission, the State Government sanctioned a primary health center at Malliankaranai. A Devi Temple at the nearby Ellan Nagar was renovated at a cost of more than Rs. 4000/- Students, Staff and Dean of Pittsburgh University, USA donated this amount.
Finance
For the construction of the School building and other constructions, the Home advanced an amount of Rs. 48 lakhs. In the year 2000, the Head Quarters decided that Malliankaranai be treated as a separate Center reporting to the Head Quarters directly. Rupees One Crore was transferred to this new branch from the Home Funds, in addition to all the expenses so far incurred for developing the area.
Conclusion
Malliankaranai was an isolated Village with little infrastructure facilities. The people in that area were in abject poverty as the land was not productive. A chance donation, big slice of land brought the Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home into the picture. Considerable amount of time, money and voluntary service contributed by the Home authorities brought it to a sound position. Now the products of this school find employment outside. Some of the girl students, who do well in their Matriculation, join colleges for Higher Education. From cattle grazing and agricultural operations to a more intelligent pursuit by these girls is a tribute to the selfless service rendered by the Ramakrishna Mission.
