“I Have a Dream”: The Temple and Community
Centre in West Auckland - the untold tale of dream of a Reluctant and an Unsung
Hero.
Thakur Ranjit Singh
Shri Ram Mandir and Community Center was officially inaugurated,
after a week-long rituals of Pran-prathisha (This
is a ritual of consecration or blessing in which the consciousness or power of
the deity is brought into the image in a temple). It was opened with pomp and
ceremony which reflected the multi-racial face of growing
New Zealand community. It also echoed the motto of the Ram Mandir
Charitable Trust to be an all-inclusive Community Centre for the benefit
and well-being of all the people of all backgrounds of Auckland.
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| " I have a Dream" PRAVIN KUMAR- the reluctant Unsung Hero of the Temple and Community Centre project, had such a dream some 8 years ago, which slowly started turning into reality through dedication, perseverance and community support. This dream was realised on 13 June, 2015, with the completion of Pran Prathisata and official inauguration. |
There is an untold
story that needs to be included in the annals of this project – to be reflected
in its records and history. This is the story of somebody, and unsung hero, and
a reluctant one at that, who shies away from deserved accolades, publicity and
praises. Read on to find out who is that Unsung Hero who had a dream which
became a reality with the opening of this complex on 13 June, 2015. [I think you already know that!]
As the chariot or Rath carrying the murtis
(statues) during Nagar yatra (street parade) halted in front of Waitakere
College in Rathgar Road in Henderson on 7 June, 2015, like a Bollywood movie, I
went into flashback mode some 8 years ago.
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| The Nagar/Rath Yatra (Street parade) taking a break outside Waitakere College which was the venue for the seed fund-raising for a similar hall project some 8 years ago. So began the flashback of untold story of a dream. |
As
perhaps the only executive of Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) of a decade
ago walking in the parade, I went back into history. I knew about it as I was
the Secretary of WIA for over six years from 2004, when many great tasks were undertaken.
I dug up a letter written by the then president, Anand Naidu, on 28 June, 2006,
reflecting the views of the then WIA team:
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Waitakere Indian Association
“Working for you and
your family”
|
28 June 2006
Community Centre Building
Project
Background
The Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) is planning to build a
Community Centre in Waitakere City. The anticipated project would be the
biggest project WIA would undertake since its inception in year 2000.
WIA recognises that there is no Community Centre or Meeting &
Function Hall for the Ethnic Indian population in West Auckland…. there is a
huge demand for such facilities from the public.
The Community Centre
WIA is planning to build a facility big enough to accommodate big
occasions such as weddings, birthday parties, conference, religious &
prayer meetings, and other popular festivals and occasions. The facility would
be located in Waitakere City…..
Bhagwat Katha in West Auckland
Introduction
One such initiative suggested
by some executive members is to organise a Bhagwat Katha to be delivered by a
recognised Sant from India. Proceeds from this Katha will go towards the
community hall project. This will be the
first of its kind for the people of West Auckland.
Proposal
I propose that WIA sponsors a
Sant from India to deliver Bhagwat Katha.…..
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| Waitakere College where 8 years ago, the initial seed for a similar hall project was planted at this site through a Bhagwat Katha by Shri Hari Suresh Acharya Ji Maharaj. A project that started with holy means, ended up in a Holy place just a stone's throw away, only a block away. |
Hence this dream of having a hall and community centre was first initiated
almost a decade ago when Waitakere Indian Association (WIA), comprising of
mostly Indo-Fijian Indians, identified a need for such a facility in their
locality. A temple was not in the project because religious projects are not
easily funded, and WIA was a non- religious organisation. WIA went to the
extent of getting one swami from India to raise funds for the project. Shri
Hari Suresh Acharya Ji Maharaj
from Vrindavan, Mathura, India, was sponsored for reciting Bhagavat Katha
(religious discourse) in Auckland, from 20th to 27th
January, 2007. This was held at Waitakere College. And it is here that the
Nagar yatra chariot had stopped for a break some eight years later on Sunday 7
June, 2015 to mark realization of that long dream.
Some seed money was collected from this parvachan, but
nothing eventuated, and it appeared very little would eventuate. One person
associated with this organisation had volunteered to host the Acharya at his
home. He was then an executive of WIA and was its Director of Religious,
Cultural and Community events. His 2007 AGM report on the hall project read as
follows:
Bhagwat
Katha
This event
was organised to raise funds towards a community hall for the Indian Community
in West Auckland. The Bhagwat Katha was held over 7 days in Waitakere College
and was well attended. Whilst the funds raised were not as expected, it however
has raised the profile of WIA in the community.
From
that event the residence of this devotee near coastal Te Atatu South, in
Auckland West became a shrine or “ashram” for Hari Suresh Acharya. And so was
this shrine continually purified through string of visiting Swamis from India,
who found comfort, solace and home at this Bhakt’s (devotee’s) place. From “sant milan” (meeting sages) and on the
teaching of Ramayan of Shri Ram, this person obtained inspiration for “par hitt”- service to humanity which is
seen as the most auspicious deed by a human being. He took on the venture of
realizing this dream, but with an addition of a temple, with the community
center and hall.
In his
humbleness and humility, this person had requested me not to write anything
praising him, as he did all this service not for fame or glory, but as his
contribution of service to humanity and God. However, FIJI PUNDIT wishes to
remind him about a couplet from chaupai of Ramayan:
HANI LAABH JIWWAN MARAN, JASU APJASU BIDHI HAATH:
Loss and gain, life and death, glory and infamy all these lie in the hands of Providence. And hence this credit to him is through that providence, as I am an instrument of Shri Ram to give credit as a journalist where it is due. And that person who was inspired from Bhagwat katha and “sant –milan” some decades ago, the one who had taken on the venture of bringing to reality this dream in Waitakere. He realised no other organisation was geared for such a big project and hence initiated to do something to bring that dream to reality.
AND HE IN NONE OTHER THAN THE MANAGING TRUSTEE OF THE TEMPLE AND COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT, PRAVIN KUMAR
 |
| Auckland in general and Waitakere (West Auckland) in particular are blessed by the dedication and passion of the couple, Pravin and Kashmin Kumar in community and religious issues. May God bless them, Aayushmaan Bhava, Akhand Sowbhaagyawati Bhava Kashmin Sada Suhaagan Raho |
He held discussion with like-minded
community leaders in 2010 and put together a small group of visionary Hindu
leaders, and echoed that decade-old dream of fulfilling the need for an acute
lack of appropriate public centre for cultural, social and religious
activities.
Through this identification of a facility deficiency, the following year, in September 2011, SHRI RAM MANDIR CHARITABLE TRUST was formed, with appointment of Trustees. A set of Trustees who are all professionals in their own right are custodians of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust which is headed by a well-known community leader, businessman and Chartered Accountant, and the same person who dreamt of providing something tangible for the community.
He single-handily steered this organisation in realising this dream. He is none other than Pravin Kumar of Lotus Group of Companies.
Through this identification of a facility deficiency, the following year, in September 2011, SHRI RAM MANDIR CHARITABLE TRUST was formed, with appointment of Trustees. A set of Trustees who are all professionals in their own right are custodians of Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust which is headed by a well-known community leader, businessman and Chartered Accountant, and the same person who dreamt of providing something tangible for the community.
He single-handily steered this organisation in realising this dream. He is none other than Pravin Kumar of Lotus Group of Companies.
 |
| Trustees of the Ram Mandir Project: Giyannendra Prasad (left) and Salendra (Len) Kumar, who is also the Treasurer of the project. [ Since then Prasad has retired as a Trustee and passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a long battle with sickness. Coincidentally, this was on 1 June, 2020, the day Pravin Kumar received the QSM award] |
Yes, PRAVIN KUMAR is the person I has mentioned
earlier, who had been a host to many Swamis and got the inspiration for the
bringing to reality a long held dream. And he is the main architect, in the
metaphorical sense, of this project.
Other trustees are Barrister and Solicitor and former Fiji parliamentarian, Giyannendra Prasad, businessman(since retired) and Chartered Accountant, Salendra (Len) Kumar, and a Community worker, former Fiji school teacher, parliamentarian and trade unionist Master Shiu Charan (also retired now).
Other trustees are Barrister and Solicitor and former Fiji parliamentarian, Giyannendra Prasad, businessman(since retired) and Chartered Accountant, Salendra (Len) Kumar, and a Community worker, former Fiji school teacher, parliamentarian and trade unionist Master Shiu Charan (also retired now).
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| Another Trustee of Shri Ram Mandir, Master Shiu Charan (left-since retired) with another icon of the Project, Late Pundit Devakar Prasad, who was a Volunteer Consultant. He was looking forward to completion of the project, but sadly passed away just months before the formal opening in 2015. He has been appropriately acknowledged for his passion for the community. It has been the friendship of these two stalwarts of Fiji Indian community in Auckland, that inspired others to emulate their friendship as well as their spirit for community work. |
What is quite historical and astonishing is
that the place where the originating Bhagwat Katha was recited by Hari Suresh Acharya
some 8 years ago at Waitakere College is on the next block to the Ram Mandir
and Community Centre at 11 Brick Street. Only Swanson Road separates this and
strangely, the Nagar and Rath Yatra that took place went from front of the
College at Rathgar Road, the venue where the first few seeds of this dream and
project was laid some 8 years ago.
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| The top dome or Gumbaj of Shri Ram Mandir as seen from Waitakere College Grounds |
There is another couplet from Ramayan: Hoi hai soi jo ram rachi rakha… only that will happen what Lord Ram desires. And as fate had
determined, who could guess that this project would be just a stone’s throw
away from where the initial Bhagwat Katha was held for this project.
What is more significant is that the dome (gumbaj) of the Mandir/Community Centre project is visible from the grounds of Waitakere College. Indeed God works in mysterious ways by planning events and appointing his Bhakts (devotees) who become instrument of his wishes.
And this reluctant and modest unsung Hero, Pravin Kumar became that instrument. And together with him, FIJI PUNDIT, became an instrument to tell this untold episode of the project that needs to go in the annals of history of the Temple and Community centre project in Henderson.
What is more significant is that the dome (gumbaj) of the Mandir/Community Centre project is visible from the grounds of Waitakere College. Indeed God works in mysterious ways by planning events and appointing his Bhakts (devotees) who become instrument of his wishes.
And this reluctant and modest unsung Hero, Pravin Kumar became that instrument. And together with him, FIJI PUNDIT, became an instrument to tell this untold episode of the project that needs to go in the annals of history of the Temple and Community centre project in Henderson.
Indeed, God works in mysterious ways...that
is why we say:
"Hoi hai soi jo Ram rachi rakha, ko kari tarak baravahin sakha........every thing happens according to Lord Rama's wish.
....Jai Shree Ram...Jai hoh
"Hoi hai soi jo Ram rachi rakha, ko kari tarak baravahin sakha........every thing happens according to Lord Rama's wish.
....Jai Shree Ram...Jai hoh
[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT and tells the untold stories of the community that the mainstream and other Indian media do not cover. This is one such hitherto untold story. Just Google "Fiji Pundit" to access and read other untold stories.
E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]
E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]
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