Swami Nirmalananda Yogi(Swamiji)

Philantrophist, Humanitarian and Visionary & a great leader Swami Nirmalananda Yogi, known simply as “Swamiji, former head of the Alathur Sidhashram and Former president of ‘Anandashram,’” & founder of BSS Educational Society has served the societal community for decades, imparting wisdom, strength, motivation, consciousness, insightness and inspiration. He was an educationist, orator & a person who fought against superstitions prevailing in society during those olden periods in 1970’s & 80’s.Through his extraordinary acts of love, inner strength and self-sacrifice, Swamiji has endeared himself to whole society and inspired thousands to follow in his path of selfless service.

It doesn’t take much time to get to know a person when his action speaks for him. It becomes his Mirror reflecting with personality even whoever steps into this Institutions feel the vibrant presence of this Serene Soul.

Swamy Nirmalananda Yogi the far sightedness founded this Kalashethra just four decades ago with not even a penny in his hand. “ Manushyan Nannavan Manassu Nannayaal mathy” (in Regional Language- Malayalam) implies “To be a real humanbeing, his mind is sufficient enough to be pure only”. Hence the implication of this fundamental ideology with regard to this powerful mind not by physique but by mind advocated the principle of his Guru Brahmananada Swami Sivayogi.

Being the 3rd child of --Sri. Narayana Pillai and Smt. Kaliyani Amma He was born in the year 1924, then he got renunciation to be a Yogi at the age of 12. To bring a turbulent change in his journey of life he travelled from Kollam to Alathur in search of Truth. He became a gifted person to be the ardent disciple of Brahmananda Swamy Sivayogi and embraced Yogic life under Yoginimatha the then President of Sidhasramam Alathur.

The Amazing secret of life was understood by the young man and his quest was to follow his master Brahmananda Swamy Sivayogi who was a Social Reformer & the Founder of Ananthamatham The Religion of Eternal Bliss.

Issues flooded in when this smiling man stood for a caste less, Creed less society. Nothing stood again these revolutionary formulas where his hands were high for genderless society.

This Educationalist initiated himself in an everlasting attempt, understood that education is the best option to relieve oneself from the shadows of the mind. Went up and down Kerala by foot, collected rupees 1 from people whom he came across a figure of a- school BSS Higher Secondary School in 1971 that works under the BSS Educational Society Alathur.

Swamiji's conviction that education alone can bring a change in the socio-economic conditions of Indian society, was based on his thorough and keen observation of the society of his time. His conviction is based on the concrete reality of Indian society of his time, that is, of a particular time - but the way in which he elucidates the importance of education as essential for man-making brings out the perennial value of education. Right from ancient times, Indian society has considered the role of education as pivotal, as it plays the essential role of churning men into responsible citizens of human society. In this way education fulfilled a moral function - that of man-making.

Real education was something confined to bookish knowledge of the various subjects learnt at school or to the obtaining of a university degree, which would result in bringing employment to the person. Such acquisition of knowledge, though necessary, was considered superficial and leading to the satisfaction of goals that did not actually transform the human personality from within. Nor was education considered to be time bound. It was to be a continuous life-long process wherein man learns the art of living form varied agencies.

So it can be said that education is a dynamic process which is obtained through active interaction of individual with the environment. Education can be considered as modernizing and scientific when it can prepare the individual not simply for the present but also for the time to come. It must have a futuristic orientation. It should develop the ability of foresight and of forming correct judgments. Therefore, learning must incorporate the personal experience of an individual as the rich experiences of the savants of learning, Educational institutions should not merely aim at imparting bookish knowledge to students, because knowledge which cannot be put to use has very little utilitarian value. Thus, the curriculum in an educational institution should not be fixed rigidly, but it should be kept plastic and modifiable to suit individual differences. After all, learning is acquired by a learner and not by a mechanical process of transmission of educational materials from a teacher. One of the main functions of a teacher is to motivate learning in the students. The aim of the teacher should be to widen the outlook of the students so that they may be able to live as one community and reach the truth. This community must have unity amidst diversity in the group. It should be firmly ingrained in the minds of students that the positive value of coexistence far outweighs the negative value of conflict created due to individual differences.

The main purpose of education consists in developing and strengthening the purposive aspect of a growing individual. The educational atmosphere should be of such a nature that students are willingly induced to apprehend the political and social environments in all their aspects as clearly as possible. Therefore, the educators should acquaint students with the history of human achievements down the ages and walks of life. The educators have to see that the students critically appreciate the actual achievements of earlier and contemporary creative persons without blindly following their methods and accepting the results of their investigations. And finally, after an individual has acquired clear knowledge of physical and social environments and has appreciation for the history of human achievements in as many fields of human experience as possible, he is fully equipped to enter the most important phase of the educative process, that is the stage of the creation, of novel and original values. Creativity is the supreme end of the educative process. Educational institutions should serve as beacon lights so that there can be a diffusion of these values. The best that is conceivable in human culture diffuses from centers of creative education.

Considering the aspect of democracy in Indian society, education assumed significance as an agent that fosters qualities like intelligence and ability public spirit and independence in the electorate. Otherwise, as is the case today, an uneducated or half-educated democracy will tend to place men of forensic ability, political dexterity or money power in important positions in society. Such a tendency ultimately corrupts the spirit of democracy – the spirit that grants the maximum amount of freedom to the maximum citizens and also affords maximum opportunities for self development and social progress.

As it can be derived from the ideas of Swamiji, it can be said that the new spirit infused by education, consists in an increased emphasis on the application of science to human affairs and the development of social solidarity. The progress of a national depends upon the rightful use of the productive forces that science supplies us with. The dangers which threaten civilization today can be traceable to the failure to make rightful use of the productive forces science supplies with us.

This failure can be remedied by understanding that science supplies us with new methods of learning and self-development. Our learning should not simply emphasize the values of science but also the values of arousing our imagination. Our learning must be able to give us an inspiring vision of the reign of justice and fair play on earth - as Swamiji says that our education must make us citizens of humanity. It must infuse the spirit of compassion and social service in us, so that we can bring about actual change in society through our education and resources. It is in this way that man's mind can be lifted out of the common ruts of thought and action in religion and social organization. Science may develop in us the readiness to face change, adaptability, accuracy of observation, honesty of thought and open-mindedness, but all this is not enough. Men also need to secure confidence in the values of the spirit. Those who help us to secure such confidence also make contributions to civilization quite as constructive and practical as leaders of science and captains of industry.

It can be said that Swamiji brings out the inherent value of education through a practical and utilitarian orientation. He explains how it humanizes and elevates man by bringing out his spiritual character. A spiritual character is not a renunciate but a person of strong convictions, who acts from a positive attitude to construct society on humanitarian ideals. Swamiji rightly expresses that education is the training which raises man from the level of a mere creature, shaped by forces outside it, to a self-reliant, dignified person, who is aware of the divinity and perfection that he as a human agent is capable of unfolding. A nation's self-reliance depends upon the degree of self-reliance of its members. Dependence signifies weakness, self-reliance strength. Self-reliance comes through education. Swamiji has beautifully expressed that education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man. For achieving this perfection Swamiji has given guidelines. He wanted education to be truly Indian and oriented towards full human development.

Thus, the purpose of education as the unfoldment of one's spirituality transcended the parameters of college and university education.

Swamiji's views on education reflected his scientific attitude, in which he perceived education as an agent of the economic and material progress of a society, but more so as a powerful agent that transforms man into a socially and morally worthy human being. The idea of the unfoldment of the perfection inherent in the consciousness of man through education is also significant because this unfoldment in turn contributes to the perfection of the society of which one is a member. Swamiji's idea of progress of the consciousness of man from the social practical level of life to the moral and finally to the highest spiritual level through man-making education gives us an extremely dignified, optimistic and realistic picture of the human personality.

Education was therefore, considered as the means of human growth in the three human dimensions - physical, mental and spiritual.

He critically analysed the superstitious mongers and eradicated the blind faiths. Nirmalananda Yogi Strongly practiced Ahimsa and preached the same round the Globe. Though he was a saint he knew the power of women hood and always stood for the empowerment of Women. It was his dream to set up a free space where girls from poor financial background can get a frame work for their life with an exposure to education, which was denied to them solely on reason as they were women. This promoted women to raise their position in the society.

His high intellect, knowledge in depth even about the simple things made him a good orator who can hold the attention of the audience for hours together. His concern was always to seek happiness and that sparks in his keen youthful eyes that can never conceal truth. He never felt it hard to practice Raja Yoga which was his Supreme Power to lead him in the Path of Bliss. With due respect to everyone his stood fore front in all anti superstitious act with the doctrine that God dwells in everyone’s mind.

He represented India in a religious meeting held at Moscow in the year…. and his speech gathered momentum and attention from worldwide and it was broadcasted in Moscow Radio. Unbeatable power of mind was his silent wealth. In a dried society , Sprouted up great thoughts that all his experiences are penned up with titles ----------- -- Ever and Ever with scoops of smiles, with thoughts of reformation with innovation he stays with us – The Brave Hero , Legend who made Purpose of his life purposeful. That resulted in a dynamic change in the outlook of people and perspective of life.

Swami Nirmalananda Yogi died at the age of 83 on Monday 13st August 2007 at a private hospital in Coimbatore, was buried at the ashram compound near the samadhi of his gurus, Brahamanda Swami Shivayogi and Yogini Matha, on 15th August 2007,Wednesday.

Eventhough he is not with us today, we can feel this reformist always raise his voice whenever society goes out of breathe with his phenomenal ideologies & principles. Before getting departed, he has immensely contributed to the society through his speeches & publications which will remain forever till this world lasts.