ABOUT THE AUTHOR - PREFACE
Param Poojya Srimat Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj - founder of the Western Branches of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in London - England, Trinidad, Guyana Sevashram Sangha, the famous Hindu College, America Sevashram Sangha and the Canada Sevashram Sangha came to the Caribbean in the early 1950s.
He was a member of the Cultural Mission which was sent out by the Bharat Sevashram Sangha Calcutta - India to visit and preach to immigrant Indians who settled in large numbers as indentured labourers in countries like Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, Surinam and Guyana. After visiting South East Asian countries, Africa and Europe, the Mission arrived in the Caribbean in the mid-50s.
It was the hands of Providence which chartered the course of that wonderful missionary journey of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha. Due to poverty and only for the survival of daily bread, these indentured labourers were cut off from Mother India for more than a hundred years, and Hindus in particular, were under pressure to become converted to other religions by various covert and other means. Up till then, these descendants of Indian origin had never seen a "Swami" and never knew who was a "Sannyasi".
Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj, heroic, dynamic and learned Hindumonk, was left in the Caribbean and as a result he spent more than thirty severn years of his life looking after the spiritual, social and educational needs of the Hindus. He established in Guyana, the First Hindu College, First Hindu Primary School, First Gurukul system -Dormitory for boys and together with Sri Bhadase Maharaj established primary and secondary schools in Trinidad.
It was during this period, in spite of his busy life, Poojya Srimat Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj wrote the "AUM HINDUTVAM" which means "Thou art a Hindu" in order to re-awaken the Hindu consciousness in the domiciled Indians. It helped them to have a better understanding of their religion and culture, to develop their strength of belief and assert their cultural identity. Guruji is also the author of Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, The Hindu Catechism, and Prophet of a New Hindu Age.
Hindus outside India are beginning to become aware of the problems they have to face, particularly in relation to their children. This is one of the areas in which "Aum Hindutvam" can be helpful. It can be conveniently used by parents to teach their children some basic things about their religion. This will help them to participate in discussions and debates rather then being silent spectators or being preached to. Finally, I would like to leave with our readers the Author's final declaration of : What is Prayer? "Prayers are not wishes, nor beggars pleas for Alms, nor whispering meant for human ears, not nice displays of grandiose words and vocal charms. Prayers are quiet communion wherein man speaks and God listens or God speaks and Man listens."
- Swami Bhajanananda
Courtesy: Hindutvam, Vol.1. Published by: Fiji Sevashram Sangha, Suva, Fiji
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