COMIC

In the state of Tamil Nadu, India was a place known for its beautiful sub-tropical climate and magnificent
hills named Konoor. Here our Patron Saint, the lover of education and one of the founders of TISI “Sevaka
Ratnam” Sadhu Kuppuswamy was born. It was this soil that brought up a man with the vision of liberation,
sense of direction and purpose for people and the provision of “Ikyam” between people of common culture,
tradition, religion and beliefs. Sadhu Swami was inspired by Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi,
Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi, Sri Ram Krishna Paramahamsa and Ramalinga Swamigal. It was through these
saints’ inspiration which Sadhu Ji followed to devote his life to service and sacrifice.
1

What will we name him?
Kuppuswamy
Sadhu Ji’s
father,
Govind
Swamy Naidu
made sure
that Sadhu
Ji possessed
sound Tamil
Knowledge
and moral
values
He was
a Police
Officer in
India
The docking of the magnificent Sutlej III, Bringing many people including Sadhu Ji to
work on the plantations (Date of Arrival; 12/04/1912)
2

In those days the European officers were the
masters and below them were the sardar’s who
would do anything to stay in favour of the Europeans.
The labourers were below the sardars
Also the Tamil people who worked in the
plantations faced language as a barrier as they
did not understand Hindi which was the language
used by the sardars and even by some
of the European officers.
Do the work
Yes sir
Bring the water
?
?
?
Huh?
The labourers were whipped if they did not do the work they were
given or if they were slow and so faced a lot of hardships.
3

After completing his 5 year term in Francis Sahib’s Estate in Balata Tavua, Sadhu Ji
bought a land in Tavua and began farming but gave it up after a short time.
The dry soil and the hot
sun were of no help!
Shortly afterwards Sadhu Ji moved
to Rakiraki for more opportunities
Shortly afterwards, Sadhu Ji met a
western man who offered him a job in
a Melbourne company as a double horse
ploughman.
4

Sadhu ji worked for the Melbourne
company as a double horse ploughman.
Meanwhile Mr. Pillay was facing greater
problems in settling the disputes between
the different South Indian groups and
he came to know about a learned and
cultured
South Indian man who could handle such
crisis.
Mr. Pillay asked Sadhu Ji to be his guru
and after many efforts, Sadhu Ji agreed.
Please be my guruji
Ok Child
Prayers were
conducted by
Sadhu ji and
other members to
promote religion
and virtues.
5

Sadhu Ji’s heart
melted when he
saw members of
his community in
distress. He did
everything he could
to help them out.
Sadhu Ji believed that education was
the weapon with which people can change
their future. Hence, he went from house
to house searching for children to teach.
Distributing food
to the poor
Mr. Pillay and Sadhu Ji taught children in a bure in Mullau Rakiraki at
K.S Raman Estate.
6

The influenza epidemic of 1918 was a sad and catastrophic period for
all the residents of Fiji. People suffered greatly and Sadhu ji helped
however he could. He took them to the Penang Estate hospital for
treatment. In 1919, doctors from New Zealand arrived to relieve the
burden
Vashist Muni arrived from India to report the plight of the Indians in Fiji to the
congress. Vashist Muni was always clad in orange robe and ate food cooked by him, once or
twice daily. Sadhu Swami followed the footsteps of this great Muni who also believed in
education and in service work.
7

Sadhu ji held serveral meetings to
spread the gospel of Sangam
Meeting held under the tree
Meeting
held in the
meadow
Meeting held
in the house
8

Mahatma Gandhi
Sri Ram Krishna
Paramahamsa
Ramlinga Swamigal
Bhagwan Ramana
Maharishi
Swami
Vivekananda
My Mentor’s
The one’s whose
Discipline I follow
Sadhu Ji was a great devotee of....
And he followed their foot steps to
serve mankind
Inauguration of Then India Sanmarga Ikya
Sangam. (TISI) was formed to promote
Sangam culture, religious activities and
education.
The Temple was
opened for all
irrespective of
their religion and
belief. It provided
a place where
people could pray
and worship
The establishment of
Sri Siva Subrahmanya
temple in early 20’s
beside the Nadi river.
9

The first Sangam School was opened at
the Nadi Temple in 1927. It was known
as the largest Indian building in Fiji.
NADI SANGAM SCHOOL
Penang Sangam
Ba Sangam
Navoli Sangam
several other schools were
setup over the time.
Lovu Sangam
Vunisamaloa
Sangam
Nanuku Sangam
10

Thereafter Sadhu Ji was always on the
move. Clad in a white dhoti, white shirt
and white shawl with his black umbrella,
he walked mostly barefoot to spread the
gospel of Sangam.
Sadhu Ji
travelled far
and wide
reaching the
people of Ba,
Tavua, Rakiraki,
Nadi, Labasa
and Levuka.
He outreached from house
to house, settlement to
settlement, village to village
and town to town.
Addressing
people in a
meadow
11

The Then India Valiber Sangam(TIV) was
formed in 1931 to support and motivate
the youth group of the South Indians
The youth club mostly focused on sports,
recreation, music and drama. Evening classes
was also conducted by Mr. Appa Pillai, the
first elected President. Eventually visits
were made between different branches to
exchange ideas and play sports. To date,TIV
is organised annually in a grand scale to
bring the youths together
Swami Ji with other
delegates mounted a
strong campaign in
support of the South
Indian’s education
in year 1937 and
through their will and
influence resulted in an
education amendment
which passed to allow
all Indian children to be
taught in their mother
tongue.
The Suva Sangam
Hall was opened
at Belo st, Suva
in 1939 to
bring the South
Indian community
together.
12

Swami Ji also influenced the women of the South Indian origin to form an organisation
on it’s own named as “ Maathar Sangam” (Women’s Wing) of TISI Sangam. The
women’s wing showed tremendous enthusiasm and with the help of Swami Ji, built a
girls hostel next to the Nadi Sangam School.
GIRLS HOSTEL
The “Maathar
Sangam” women
looked after the
maintenance of
the hostel such as
sweeping, cleaning
and also cooking.
In every South Indian home, when
food was cooked, a handful of rice was
kept aside. This rice was then given to
the girls hostel in Nadi. Such was the
dedication and the devotion of the
women of the South Indian family.
This concept is known as padi rice.
13

Sadhu Kuppuswamy was honoured with the title : Sevaka Ratnam” and became the
life long president of TISI Sangam at the annual general meeting held on 12 – 13th
April in 1941. Mr. M.N. Naidu, his close associate attained the title “ Dhanaveer” for
his philanthropy and exceptionally liberal donation to Sangam.
14

Sorrowfully our patron saint, the founding father of Sangam, Sevaka Ratnam
Sadhu Kuppuswamy became very ill in 1956 and he was admitted at Nadi Hospital.
Welliamma took care of Sahhu Ji at his last stage.
In 1956 Sadhu Ji entered the immortal garden of the lord,
relinquishing his mortal body.
15

Sadhu Ji’s
remains are
still with us
in his special
shrine at
the new Sri
Subrahmanya
temple.
Sangam SKM College – Nadi, then known as Nadi Secondary School
was opened in 1958 to honour Sadhu Kuppuswamy. It Began with a
small structure but through the support of the Sangam people has
become one of the most prestigious school in the nation.
Several other
schools were setup
over the time
as a tribute to
Sadhu Ji. To date
there are five
secondary schools
and twenty one
primary schools.
16