– as Jay Sobhraj establishes Swami Vidyanandaji Education Centre at New York Sangha
THE  venue was a lonely, desolate room which appeared forgotten by personnel and time, strewn with remnants of the brief history of the institution and gasping beneath the weight of abandonment and dust of aloneness.

For some it was just a storeroom; for others a place with the weightlifting gear.
For many more, it was known as the ‘sari room’. But Sunday, May 16, 2010, all of this changed as this forlorn, shady aperture, which had been transformed into a gleaming, luminous space, promising a pathway to educational glory, was officially opened as the Swami Vidyanandaji Education Centre at the American Sevashram Sangha!

Popular Senior Vice-President of Zara Realty Holding Corp, Mr. Jay Sobhraj, through whose ingenuity and inventiveness this transformation took place, said the educational process is evolving.

Alluding to this growth as going from a ‘donkey cart era’ to that ‘of a limousine’, he said this kind of modern development, running on expensive fuel, would only be worth the while and sacrifice if there are passengers who are interested in coming along for the ride  – the same way this new Swami Vidyanandaji Education Centre would not be able to realize its full potential if children don’t take advantage of its presence immediately, as there is limited accommodation.

The new classroom, which will house approximately thirty students, is in keeping with the strong educational tenets of the international Bharat Sangha, according to Swami Shiveswaranandaji, who presided at the simple ceremony in the absence of a recuperating Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj.

“The pursuit of knowledge, both academic and spiritual, is enshrined within the pages of the Sangha Geeta and each of us, when given the opportunity, must take full advantage of it.

“Apart from the acquisition of knowledge, another important motto of the Sangha, which has been the axis of expansion for Jagadguru Maharaj, Archaraya
Pranavanandaji and Swami Purnanandaji, is the essential theme of Seva (service).

Today we applaud Bhaiji Jay Sobhraj as the divine engineer who has masterminded the dynamic new educational vehicle on behalf of the Ashram here in New York and at Cove and John in Guyana.

This is divine service, and may Jagadguru Maharaj Archaraya Pranavanandaji continue to bless him and his team – Sylvia Sobhraj, Sarvan Budhu and
Nardeo Singh – for the initiative and inspiration which he accords us so pleasantly.”

Preceding these remarks, Sarvan Budhu, whose family history with the Ashram has its genesis in the Guyana branch of the Sangha, and who has himself  contributed tremendously to the Sangha’s initiatives, along with Jay and his wife Sylvia, and IT whiz Nardeo (Naresh) Singh, spoke glowingly of Zara’s continuing contributions to the welfare of humanity.

“In these times when recession has hit the world hard, Zara’s name has risen the highest in `helping others, especially those who are ill or cannot afford a proper education. To say the least, when you are down the Zara brothers are bending to pick you up. This makes them special.

“Also I would like to say that all the donations collected from their projects are given to the Ashram. The Zara team has spent hundreds of thousands of US dollars at the Guyana Sevashram Sangha and here at the American Sevashram Sangha and they have never asked back for a penny, nor for an account of how the Ashram utilizes the funds it receives from these projects,” Budhu said.

“Zara gives from the heart to nourish the young and less fortunate of our society and seeing children develop and progress is all that matters,” he added.

A power-point presentation, which was screened for Ashram devotees who had
gathered for the Sunday morning service and became witnesses to the official opening of the centre, was moderated by Nardeo Singh, who described what
the Swami Vidyanandaji Education Centre hopes to achieve, which are:

EDUCATION – GOALS
a) Merging of  Secular (Academic) and Spiritual Knowledge
b) Enhancing secular Knowledge through spiritual knowledge
and faith-faith based education
c) Education is the greatest equalizer
d) Way out of poverty, and
e) Path to salvation.

The programme, which was designed by Naresh, includes:

• Home work helper: 1-800-homework
• PSAT
• SAT
• Regent exam review
• Individual tutoring
• GED
• Career developing – resume writing, mock interviews; taking city
exams for civil service jobs.

He appealed strongly for students to come forward and access these programmes
immediately. He also invited volunteer teachers to assist and participate in the
classes but, most importantly, he urged parents to become proactive in their children’s academic development.

A visit to the new classroom by the devotees of the Ashram elicited delight at the transformation of the ‘sari room’.
Dhanraj Mithu, a senior member of the Ashram, who was among the first batch of graduating students from the Guyana Sangha’s Hindu College at Cove and John, said that Swami Purnananda would have been proud of this new classroom.

“As young, poor children he gave us an opportunity to learn. It is the same way Jay and his team are providing for our youths.”

Seeta Budhu, sister of Sarwan, said Swami Purnananda’s mission in Guyana began with branches.

“Our first Yajna tent was made of branches,” she announced passionately. “Each of the tents was constructed with branches. To cross the trench to the Ashram we
had to walk on a narrow piece of board, but to see the effort and love put into this classroom would have brought him great happiness. It is not just a room anymore with Branches, but a wooden structure, which is a sign of progress of the Ashram. His work continues,” Seeta declared.

Trustee of the American Sevashram Sangha, Srad Kublall, announced that classes were scheduled to commence from the following Monday.
He commended Naresh for his unstinting commitment to ensure that the classes are run with optimum success.

“He is here for long hours on Saturdays and will now spend his evenings here too.
I join with him in calling for volunteers and students to come forward,”
Srad appealed.

In his closing remarks Jay Sobhraj, donor of the Zara Learning Centre (ZLC) at the Guyana Sevashram Sangha; and the state-of –the-art Computer Centres at both the Guyana and Queens (New York) locations of the Sangha, made one final appeal to parents and students alike.

“I have observed the kind of effort parents make in cultural events for their children. I wish only that they dedicate similar amount of time and passion for their children’s education, for I believe if our children can do only as well as we did, then we have failed – our children should do better than us; so Swami Vidyanandaji Education Centre is now opened for
all, Monday thru Friday, to prepare the children to be far, far better than any of their parents! May they use it constructively,” appealed the humanitarian donor.