Madrasi Sammelani, Jamshedpur

The auspicious Tamil new year day (Vishu) celebrations, was conducted at Sammelani Hall in the steel city. Mr.Shankar, Secretary, Madrasi Sammelani, gave the welcome address. Chairman of the Tata Sons Group was the chief guest. Musician S Mahadevan the performer for the day from Thiruvananthapuram lighted the kuthuvilakku(lamp) followed with a 3 hour music concert. Mahadevan started the concert with Calcutta Krishnamoorthy’s Malavi Varnam followed by Vathapi Ganapathim in Hamsadhwani. He selected Papanasam Sivan’s Thanigaivalar Saravanabhava in Thodi Ragam. A fast paced Hamsanadam krithi of Dandapani Desigar ‘Padavendume’ was rendered next. Heavy weighted Thyagaraja krithi Evari mata in the raga Kamboji was the main piece of the kutcheri.

Bhajans comprised of Swathi Thirunal’s Karunanidhan in Charukesi, Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s Iduvo Thillai in Sindhubhairavi, Ramanai Bhajithaal in Maand, BharathiDaasar’s Thunbam Nergazhil in Desh, Enntai in Patdeep and Maname Kanamum in Abheri.

Accompanists Thirunelloor Ajithkumar (violin), Vadakara Anilkumar (mridangam) and Anchal Krishna Iyer (ghatam) gave nice support to Mahadevan.

Madrasi Sammelani

Formed in the year 1917. The purpose was to get together and foster the spirit of firendship and get involved in cultural activities. The history of the Madrasi Sammelani goes hand in hand with the development of this beautiful city if Jamshedpur. Thus the Sammelani became a “HOME AWAY FROM HOME” for it’s members.

On 15th October 1954 the foundation stone of Sammelani Hall was laid by Sir Jehangir Ghandy, the then Director-in-Charge, Tisco. The Sammelani Hall was completed in 1954 and formally it was opened by the then Governer of Bihar, Shri Anantasayanam on 26th Sept. 1962 and gave a fillup to all activities.

The Sammelani had also the opportunity at different times of receiving great personalities like Noble Laureate Sir C.V. Raman, political leaders Rajaji, K. Kamraj, R.Venkataraman, C. Subramanian.

The Golden Jubilee celebration of the Sammelani were conducted in the year 1967 and the Diamond Jubilee celebration were in the year 1977.

The Sammelani Serves the multiple needs of the community and has an auspicious atmosphere reflecting the blessings of all : GODs, GURUS and ELDERS.

With a view to bring back it’s past Glory, the Committee has once again initiated it’s effort to revive it’s cultural ethos by enhancing it’s activities for members so that more and more South Indian families could gather and enjoy every moment. Apart, it has also plans for modification in phases addin more facilities for it’s members in aplanned manner.

THE CANTEEN

The Centre of attraction of Madrasi Sammelani is the Canteen which servies sumptuous snacks and food which make one mouth watering.

Madrasi sammelani has a venerable past. Tatas can track its history back to the date of the founding of the giant steel works in 1907. There were two or three groups formed by the earlier settler, each group concentrating one avocation or other like, bhajans and religious funcions, library activities, education of children, game like football or badminton. These 2 or 3 groups merged and came under one roof of the Madrasi Sammelani. A small hall was constructed at first, later rooms were added on the side. Contribution was made by Sarvshri Sundara iyer, Seshadri Iyer, Anathan and the Siva brothers.

A special entertainment committee was formed to organize major music performances, dance and dramas. Their committee functioned very effectively for many years and had the distinction of bringing to Jamshedpur every prominent musician, Nadas were Vidwan, and exponent of Bharat Natyam.

In 1954 the fifth Tamil conference was organized by sammelani. The younger generation formed a dramatic group called United Amateur Artists who staged many dramas in Hindi and Tamil in Jamshedpur and outside.

In 1944, Ladies in a modest scale, the Dakshin Bharat Mahila Samaj started social work. They built a magnificent girl’s Higher Secondary School in Kadma. Educational facilities both in English and in Hindi medium have contributed pride and prestige to this industrial city. Mrs. Bhanumati Neelkantan’s contribution in the field of education is noteworthy.

A separate organization developed mainly for religious functions and the spreading of knowledge of Puranas and Shastras as well as the ethics in the Vedas Dharma Shastra Paripalana Sabha the seed for which was sown in 1963 at the Sammelani where 1st Vedic conference was held at the initiative of Sir Anandurai Iyengar.

The year 1974 had been momentous, which will go as a significant year in the annals of the history of Madrassi Sammelani. It was the year in which the premises were sanctified by the visits of Holy Acharyas and Mahapurushas.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad was held in Jamshedpur the Sankaracharyas of the various Mathas like Dwarka, Badari and Puri came here, and the Sammelan provided facilities of accommodation.

The period July to October, 1974 was all the more significant because of the campaign of his Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri Kanchi Kama Koti Petham was staged at Sammelani and performed the Chatmamasya vrat and blessed the devotees. The Veda recital started in 1974. The Pathashala had 10 students selected from the state of Bihar; apart from teaching Sanskrit Sama Veda is important. A moral instruction class was also started in 1974. A South Indian temple is situated near the sammelan in Bistupur area. A south India temple is situated near the Samala in Bistupur area. From the very inception great man like Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya, Sri Chandrashekharavdra of Govordhan Mutt, blessed the institution and in 1974 Jagadguru of Kanchi blessed the entire community in Jamshedpur. This unique socio-religious Institute’s main Motto is service to society and their Slogan is “servo Jano Sukhino Bhavanthu.”