Nation-building is a daunting task, often left to political leaders and government machinery. Sri Vedantam Ji took a slightly different path to nation-building. He believed that in a country with an overwhelming Hindu majority, upliftment of Hindus would be the best approach to nation-building. So he combined the philosophical moorings of a Sadhu, the cultural ethos of the ordinary Hindu, and the strong belief that health and education are the cornerstones for any kind of nation-building.
The result is an extraordinary life of 74 years in public service. Vedantam Ji has built, from scratch
17 schools across Tamil Nadu and close to 1000 Single Teacher Schools in some of the most impoverished or remote villages of Tamil Nadu; created special organizations that encourage thousands of students every year from schools and colleges to learn Hindu scriptures, recite verses and participate in various competitions.
Organised village Poojaris serving at local village temples into a cohesive, well-trained religious force. Also built over 200 temples in locations where Hindus were converting to other religions for want of a temple to worship in.
Built a rural health mission and held several hundred health camps, besides building three full-fledged hospitals in Chennai and Cherankulam and also founded a Skill Centre in Chennai.
Conducted Ratha Yatras that continually visit village after village for years together, guided and supported Sri R. R. Gopaljee's great religious service of dedicating Thirukudais (umbrellas) for Bhagwan Venkatachalapathi at Tirupati Tirumala temple.
Organised conferences for Hindu youth, ran Dharmasalas, published magazines for Hindus in general and Poojaris in particular, organised several flood relief camps, donated boats to tsunami victims, ran 'Goshalas, conducted religious conferences with participation of Madathipathis, Peetathipathis, Adheenakarthars, Jeeyar Swamijis and other Gurus from various Sampradayas, organised religious training camps and much, much more.
At over 90 years of age, Vedantam ji can look back on his life with fulfillment for having nurtured to life a wide variety of organisations that play a vital role in the lives of millions of people, and align them as a cohesive unit in the service of one nation-India!
Vedantam Ji was born on March 5, 1933, at Kollam in Kerala to Sri Srinivasalyer and Smt. Sundari Ammal. His father was an industrialist who owned a cashew nut production business. Born into a deeply religious family, Vedantam Ji was an ardent follower of the Hindu religion right from early childhood. Little wonder then that he joined the RSS in 1949 when he was barely 16 years old and still in school, and started a life of service to society.
After college, Vedantam Ji joined TVS at Tirunelveli, while continuing his social service activities. In appreciation of his dedication to service, the chief of RSS, Guruji Golwalkar himself, made Vedantam Ji the District Secretary of RSS, Tirunelveli. As District Secretary, Vedantam Ji took part in countless movements to strengthen the Hindu Society-especially by way of preventing conversion to other religions. In 1964 on Krishna Jayanthi day, in an effort to bring all practitioners of different Sampradayas of Hinduism under one umbrella, Guruji Golwalkar announced the formation of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Vedantam Ji was deputed to be the first organiser of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Tamil Nadu.
In 1970, leaving behind the comforts of a lifestyle he was used to, Vedantam Ji moved to Madras to serve VHP, with merely a bicycle as his only asset. Vedantam Ji toiled day and night to build the nascent organisation. It is a testimony to his organisational skills, tireless efforts, team building capability and financial acumen that the organisations he created continue to serve people for more than four decades.
Sri Vedantam Ji has travelled extensively in Tamil Nadu and has a great understanding of the needs of people in even the smallest hamlets.His capacity to work long hours and willingness to undertake arduous journeys by road have endeared him to a wide variety of people. Consequently, Vedantam Ji has been able to attract high achievers in different fields-education, medicine, law, business, religion and journalism-to work with him on several projects. It is no wonder that Religious leaders, Social workers, Political leaders from across the country have sought and cherished his friendship.
