ARYA CONVENTION 2014
The Arya Convention 2014 was held at Nadroga Arya Collge from 5 to 8 of June and was attended by close to 600 people over the four days.
“The Arya Convention was attended by some 600 people old and young during the four days,” informed Mr. Kamlesh Arya, the Media Relations Officer of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji.
“It was agrand occasion for the members of the Arya Samaj to gather at Nadroga Arya College as it provided a variety of participation for the members aprt from the agended business as the Convention also had the Youth Oratary Contest, the Arya Mahila Mandal cultural nite and the first ever Under 19 inter secondary soccer tournament for the coverted Bineshwar Singh Trophy,” said Mr. Arya.
The Sabha has approved several major development programmes for its institutions and the major project being the development of the UniFiji Suva Campus costing $2.6 million to be financed from a bank loan,” stated Mr. Arya.
Some other projects approved by the Annual General Meeting for 2014-15 period include a new classroom and staff office block at Nadroga Arya College estimated cost being $100,000, a kindergarten at Nadi Arya Samaj Primary School costing $70,000; a kindergarten at Vunikavikaloa Arya School costing $50,000, Refurbishment of SSM Primary School’s two classrooms costing $50,000, and a students canteen milling are costing $10,000; two classrooms, a canteen and compound fence at Dr. Ram Lakhan Memorial School costing $100,000, four classroom extension at Lautoka Arya Samaj Primary School costing $300,000.
“Having dealth with these development programme, the Annual General Meeting was informed by several of the Sabha school Managers that under the new policy guidelines the government grant cannot be used for development purposes nor for repayment of bank loan and the AGM regarded this as a seriously flawed and a regressive policy decision,” stated Mr.Arya.
Mr. Arya stated “This is a serious setback for the Sabha in view of the fact that the major revenue earned by the School Managements is the Tuition Fee Free Grant received from the Government and the restrictions on fundraising by schools, the Sabha is much concerned as to how repayments to the banks would be sustained in the face of new policy directive and the AGM has directed that the Ministry of Education be written to in this regard seeking explanations.”
The AGM re-elected Mr. Arun Padarath as the National President of the Sabha along with Mr. Umesh Chand (Secretary) and Aswin Prasad as the new General Treasurer replacing Mr. Ravineet Sami who did not seek re-election. “This is the only major portfolio change,” said Mr. Arya.
After a few years of internal difficulties, one of the oldest local samaj the Ba Arya Samaj was granted affiliation to the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji by the AGM,” informed Mr. Arya.
The Convention ended on a high noted.
PANDIT AMI CHANDRA VIDYALANKAR MEMORIAL AWARD
The Arya pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji places a strong emphasis on the teaching of Hindi language in its schools and has made it compulssory for all students having studied Hindi in Primary Schools (Y8) up to Year 10.
The Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar Award is initiated by the grand children and other family members of late Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar to reward the recipient of the highest marks in Hindi at Year 13 level. The Award carries a Certificate and $500 cash prize. This Award heavily complements the position taken by the Sabha on teaching of Hindi Language.
Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar formerly of Gurukul Kangari, India arrived in Fiji in 1927 on the invitation of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji to teach at Gurukul Primary School, Saweni that was established in 1918. Apart from teaching he was also assigned the responsibilities of promoting the teachings of the Vedas.
Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar the first Head Teacher of newly established Arya Kanya Pathshala Ba in 1938 and became the first Principal of newly established DAV College, Suva in 1952. He was equally instrumental in the setting up of the DAV College Ba in 1953.
“He was a profilic writer in Hindi and wrote Hindi Pothis (books) that became Hindi reading textbooks in primary schools in Fiji,” said Mr. Arya, Media Relations Officer of the Sabha.
Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar died in Singapore in an aeroplane accident in 1954 whilst on his way to London to study labour movement and secondary education system.
This Award, sponsored by the grandchildren and family members of Pandit Ami Chandra Vidyalankar is to be an annual event at Arya Conventions in the future and is good incentive for students to study Hindi upto Year 13 and show excellence,” stated Mr. Arya.
APS -UNDER 19 SOCCER TOURNAMENT
The Under 19 Soccer Tournament played on Late Bineshwar Singh Trophy was played between 7 secondar schools in two pools. This was the first ever such event within Arya Pratinidhi Sabha Annual Conventions. Previously sports was held for youths within the fold of the Arya Samaj.
Addressing the opening of the tournament as chief Guest for the occasion Mr. Arya stated that “this was a new begining and a new journey for the Sabha and the participating school.”
“I welcome you all to the Under 19 Soccer Tournament and I accord a special welcome to Lautoka Central College and the Cuvu College teams to the games and look forward to a rewarding sporting encounter,” Mr. Arya.
In the Day 1 pool games Nadroga Arya beat Vishnu Deo College (2-1), Bhawani Dayal Arya College beat Lautoka Central College (5-0), Cuvu College beat DAV College Suva (1-0), DAV Ba beat Vishnu Deo College (1-0), DAV Suva beat Lautoka Central College (2-0), DAV Ba beat Nadroga Arya (2-1) and Cuvu College beat Bhawani Dayal (3-1).
On Day 2 Cuvu College beat Lautoka Central (3-1), DAV Suva and Bhawani Dayal had a 2 goals draw.
In the Semi finals DAV Ba beat Bhawani Dayal (1-0) and Nadroga Arya beat Cuvu College (5-4) in penalty shootout.
Nadroga Arya beat DAV Ba (1-0) in the Final to retain the Bineshwar Singh Memorial Trophy. DAV Ba took the Late Mrs. Bhagwati Singh Trophy sponsored by Ranjeet Singh, Managing Director of Ranjeets Construction and Joinery Limited. Cuvu College was awarded the third place getter trophy sponsored by Mr. Nilesh Goundar of USP after Bhawani Arya Dayal College declined to play.
“The successful outcome of this maiden journey the Sabha has now agreed to have the Under 19 Soccer Tournament as an annual event at the Arya Conventions and the possibility of undertaking Under 17 teams as well,” stated Mr. Arya the Media Relations Officer the Sabha.
Support to Ministry of Health
In dialogue with the Minister for Health Dr. Neil Sharma Sabha was informed of the needs at government hospitals and a request for assistance was made.
Having considered the request from the Minister the Sabha’s National President Mr. Arun Padarath announced at the 2014 Arya Convention of the Sabha’s donation of a wheelchair each to the three Divisional Hospitals – CWM, Lautoka and Labasa.
“ I am pleased to announce that Sabha is donating three wheelchairs costing $2550 to the Ministry of Health and is it is for a good cause,” stated Mr. Padarath.
PRESS RELEASE