Great Undertakings, part one

A look at the spiritual and social work aspects of the Amrita Institutions in Ettimadai, Coimbatore

Brahmachari Abhayamrita Chaitanya is the chief executive of Amrita Institutions in Ettimadai, Coimbatore, which is made up of the faculties of engineering, management and advanced computing. He also heads the campus-based ashram that houses about 15 monastic disciples who organise the on-going building programme. With Amma's guidance, Br. Abhayamrita founded and developed each institution between 1994 and 1996. He describes the early days

"It all started in 1992. We had already set up two other educational institutes, the Amrita Institute of Computer Technology and a Vocational Training Centre. Our intention was to start an engineering college, and to do this, we had to prove to the authorities that we had more than 100 acres of land. In those days, our only property was the few acres in Amritapuri. Amma decided to send me to Coimbatore, in Tamil Nadu, to look for land.

"After three months of looking over more than 22 sites, I became desperate. The region is very dry and there was a problem finding land with sufficient water. Finally, we came to have a look at this place next to the village of Ettimadai. When we went there, it was raining. We took it as a good sign. Amma agreed and gave us permission to buy it. We now have more than 200 acres of land situated on the plain at the foot of the Western Ghat Mountains.

"There was a delay in getting approval for the first college but Amma was not deterred. She said, 'We are buying this land. If not for an engineering college, it should at least be useful for agriculture.' I took it as a hint and went ahead with some agricultural activities with Her permission. Since the land was full of thorny bushes, we first had to clear them. This task took one and half months. Every day, we cut the bushes, removed their roots and burnt everything. It was a tedious job. And we didn't even have proper shoes to wear. We became the first people to inhabit this area. We planted a mango grove and a coconut grove over 60 acres, and then developed the groves over the next two and a half years. We also set up a dairy with cows."

True learning

Seven years later, after supervising the construction of several buildings, as head of the three flourishing academic institutions, and with a tremendous capacity for outreach work in the community, Br. Abhayamrita is busy developing the educational, spiritual and social aspects of the institutions. He has deep respect for all the people in his care, for the academic community, the local employees, and also for the village people who are his neighbours and helpers. His assistant describes him as a very blessed son of Amma saying, "Abhayamrita Swami will never ignore anything or reject anyone; even the village people readily come to him."

In his simple office hut, Br. Abhayamrita meets dozens of people every day, including the faculty directors. His vision of education is based on an acute sense of what he calls "true learning," where knowledge enables individuals to blossom and express their true nature, not just for themselves, but also for the betterment of their fellow human beings.

He explains, "Amma cares for all levels of society. She starts sophisticated institutions like ours not only to provide education, but also to give Her children from every walk of life a chance to grow spiritually, through selfless service. India's affluent, educated people also need Amma's help. Our system of education was imported from the British; it was not our traditional way and has not helped to build character and impart noble values in our youth because it is focused only on transmitting skills. The ancient gurukula system, where students lived with a spiritual master, moulded character and developed purity of intellect and heart in the students. We are trying to emulate that here.

"The result of the modern school system is that many educated people are alienated from the roots of their tradition. They see only its remnants and think these to be irrelevant. The poor, on the other hand, are much more at home with values based on sharing. Their lives have a greater spiritual dimension. I find in them a mental strength, which is often absent in people who are affluent.

"For many, the materialistic drive to solely help oneself and to earn a huge salary has no spiritual counterpoint. When things go wrong, the affluent find themselves unable to cope, with nothing to sustain them in life. This is in contrast to the poor that I have met: they may be suffering a lot, but they have the mental strength and tranquillity to cope with obstacles in their lives."

Sowing seeds of selflessness

Br. Abhayamrita feels that the student community and the villagers should come together more often, to learn from each other. This is the basis for much of the welfare work that he undertakes.

"Students are inspired by the attitudes of their teachers and come to understand the value of selfless service through practical projects. The main projects are the Eye Camp programmes, which are compulsory for AIM students, and the National Social Service Project of AITEC. We also encourage environmental awareness through our Nature Club, and members are always keen to help the local forest officers. The Amrita Kuteeram project, which is providing free homes for villagers in Ettimadai, is yet another opportunity for students to serve others

Encouraging attitude changes among the mature students requires a special sensitivity to their needs. The post-graduate courses are very intensive and the main aim of the students is to get a good job. They work very hard — often 12 hours a day, at least six days a week — and have very little spare time. Many students are entrenched in the attitudes they bring from their middle-class backgrounds, having lived in privileged city environments. At Ettimadai, they eat vegetarian food, are not allowed to smoke or drink alcohol, and have to travel to the city if they want to watch movies.

Br. Abhayamrita: "The students remain in this ambience for two years. It is a far cry from their familiar city environment. We know it will be an adjustment for them, so we explain the way of life here. Only then do they choose to come. I know that many of them have long since rejected traditional values, and even though they choose to come, some still need a push to extend themselves. Every student has to go into the villages to help with the Eye Camps. This can be a shock for some of them. They have never seen the conditions of the rural poor. Although the rural people have clean, simple houses, the areas outside are often dirty. There are, of course, cows and other animals running around, all of which is alien to the city dwellers. I like to take the students to the village myself and let them understand why we are asking them to put their talents at the disposal of the villagers. These visits often have a very profound effect on them."

(continued in March)