Great Undertakings, part two

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

Through courses on self-awareness and personal growth, and yoga, the students are encouraged to contemplate upon the deeper meaning of life and how to manage themselves. Introspective practices are often very new to them, especially in an academic setting, and some students react negatively.

Br. Abhayamrita: "We tell the students that it is important to not only acquire skills but to live in the ambience we have created for them here for the two years and to reflect on their attitudes. I feel that they don’t realise just how much they have been subtly affected by the malady of self-righteousness that modern society has bestowed on them. The faculty members help; they have a bit of Amma’s touch.

"I see changes taking place gradually. They are small but important. For example, the post-graduate students readily adhere to the self-service and self-cleaning policy in the canteens. Usually, these people would have been served their meals and would not have to clean up after themselves. Recently, one management student decided to serve the workers a special meal on a festival. He raised the money and his plan materialised, to everyone’s delight! Also, the engineering students were eager to raise funds to help the people of Orissa after the typhoon disaster. They avidly went about the task, going into Coimbatore and collecting money and truckloads of clothes and foods. They were able to present Rs. 150,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. That kind of thinking is happening spontaneously now.

"Apart from the special field-based course units offered by the Management Institute, which are compulsory, most of the exposure to selfless service happens outside of formal studies. I’m hopeful that soon we will integrate more and more opportunities for service projects into the academic curriculum. Our aim is to develop a new breed of managers and engineers – men and women who will value compassion towards others and who are equipped with the best of scientific knowledge. It is this vision, which Amma has given us, that inspires me."

Interaction with the Local Community

The institutions are having an impact on the employment of local people. The groves of mangoes, coconuts and bananas, and the dairy project employ 65 people from Ettimadai village. The construction of new developments, and the need for ancillary staff to run the colleges and the central kitchen bring the total number of local people employed on the campus to about 360 out of the total staff strength of 530.

In addition to the campus-based projects, Br. Abhayamrita has started three schools in Ettimadai, Coimbatore and Thrissur, and an outreach computer institute for city-based youth. The construction work on these projects employs another 400 workers, bringing the total employed by Amrita Institutions to about 750.

The population of the village of Ettimadai is about 7,000 and is spread over two to three adjoining hamlets. The village people belong to the communities categorised as "backward class" and "scheduled caste." They are entitled to special, governmental support. They work in factories, on construction sites and in agriculture as labourers without contracts, and rely only on a daily wage. Their normal work patterns are irregular, depending on the employer’s needs.

Br. Abhayamrita: "Our employment of so many locals has had a big impact on the villagers. Their financial situation has improved and the local economy is healthier. More importantly, we have created awareness that work can be regular.

"Previously, they had been left to fend for themselves and were obliged to seek out daily work, which was scarce. Now, they work regularly in our dairy and orchard, or in one of the ancillary positions. Some of the locals have even started commuting to the city to work. Having said that, sometimes, I find myself still having to run after them to make them come to work. That nomadic tendency is still there! But little by little, they are getting accustomed to the idea. They need input from outsiders – to prevent them from stagnating, draw them into new attitudes and give them beneficial experiences."

Amrita Kuteeram

The M.A. Math has started building houses for the poorest villagers. One of the beneficiaries is Raman, a 50-year old dhobi (washer man). He and his wife, Manni, have worked in Ettimadai for 40 years. At present, they wash clothes for the staff at the college. Their daughter works as a sweeper there. The family lives in a thatched, whitewashed room, measuring 1.8 m x 3.5 m. This is where they eat, sleep and work. Every day, Raman and Manni walk to the college, which is about two kilometres from their home. They carry the loads of garments back to their house on their heads. Raman washes about 50 sets a day and Manni irons. All the clothes are stored neatly in piles in their tiny home. Raman’s family will be receiving a house from Amma, which is being built next to the hut in which he is staying.

Raman says: "The whole village depends on the college now. It is only because of the work that my family is able to survive. Like us, more than 1,000 people are depending on the college. There are lots of job opportunities now. Before, we had to go far away for work. There was no water and all the agriculture work had disappeared. My family is very happy now. We’ve worked for the college for the last five years. Of course we know Amma. I keep Her photo in my purse. She is always with me."

Manni uses a charcoal-heated, seven-kilogram, metal iron, which she insists, is far better than the modern, electric variety. "It doesn’t press as well as this one; this is much heavier." But what about electricity? "No," she said, "we don’t need electricity. We are happy, we’ve got everything." She and Raman do the washing at a village pump about 20 metres away from their home.

It is a connection with this kind of sturdy simplicity that Br. Abhayamrita is trying to forge for his students.

Informal Schools

Br. Abhayamrita has also started small after-school classes for children in poor villages. Teachers tell them stories, and the children are encouraged to tell their own stories. They also sing bhajans (devotional songs). Some of the raconteurs are grandmothers. Br. Abhayamrita explains: "Usually, the grandmothers or grandfathers tell stories to the young children. That is how it used to be. I wanted to revive this tradition."

Those locals among the staff who are trained in service pick the children up from the village. The classes ingrain good habits in the children and give them more confidence. They start with a short meditation and then say some prayers. During this time, the children sit still and learn to be calm. Srinivasan, a canteen organiser, is one of the story-tellers, and Nagaraj, one of Br. Abhayamrita’s assistants, constantly pays attention to the little ones who fidget.

Srinivasan: "I tell two stories – one patriotic and one spiritual – and sing two songs, one each from the same categories. The classes end with the chanting of mantras. This way, the children learn bhajans and mantras. Then it’s their turn; they tell stories and sing songs of their choice."

Nagaraj: "The children are learning some self-discipline. We are very attentive to this point, as it will help them learn anything. And because we know them well, we are free and affectionate with them."

From humble beginnings, the Amrita Institutions has rapidly grown into a name to be reckoned with in the arena of tertiary education. The secret behind its amazing growth? Amma’s vision and grace, and Her children’s selfless and dedicated efforts.