Census of all india saraswat community saraswat sanmarg series by Saraswatha Veda Vijnana

First Edition : March, 1976.

Printed by ASHOK KUMAR SHARMA at PARAMOUNT PUBLISHING HOUSE 47, Shanker Market, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001.

Published by J. S. RAO for THE ALL-INDIA SARASWAT FOUNDATION, at Saraswati Mandir, Post Box No. 6464, Mahim, BOMBAY-400016.

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1000 Copies: March 76

Editorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Preface SARASWAT SANMARG The central object of the All-India Saraswat Foundation is to work for rejuvenation of the national ethos by inspiring the intelligentsia to redeem the dynamic concepts and eternal values of the ancient culture of Aryavarta. "This culture commends a full life based on a recognition of the primacy of the spirit over mind and instinct; of Dharma as a confluence of the laws of nature and the moral law; and of Yajna or altruistic self-discipline as the Dharma of the life of the spirit. The national ethos itself is but a means to end. For, the indication of healthy nationalism lies in its dedication to humanity. The larger, long-term objective of the Foundation is therefore to secure universal acceptance of the Dharma of the human spirit. This is not religious revivalism, for Dharma in its correct sense stands above all differences of faith, creed and race. No quixotic plan to tilt at the windmill of urbanisation and to advocate a return to the land is intended, nor an imbecile effort at turning back the clock of history. It is assumed that the basic nature of human problems never changes; and that the wisdom of an age when contemplation was honoured as the noblest among the liberal professions may well be salutary at a time when man is so engrossed in the means of living as to overlook the ends of his existence on earth.

2 There is no evidence to indicate that human intelligence has improved in its quality or capacity since the dawn of history. The inventor of the decimal system of numerals need not give precedence to Newton or Einstein, and the author of the Mahabharata does not have to be shy in the presence of Dante and Milton. Changes have occurred and are now occurring, however, in the employment of the intellect. The printing press has put an end to that amazing exercise of the powers of memory which once preserved the Vedas and the Maha-Kavyas, so that Tri-pathi has survived as but a family name. A more significant change in intellectual function is taking place at the present time. Man is tending to surrender his capacity for memory as also his power of judgment to the electronic computer. It is perhaps too early yet to estimate the computer s influence on manâ&#x20AC;&#x;s culture. But it will not do to overlook the fact that the surrender to the machine extends beyond the realm of the human intellect to the realm of the spirit of man. What is passed on to the machine is not only the function of storing and evaluating facts, but also the right of judgment and decision, the prerogative of inspiration to overrule fact, and the intensely human privilege of taking chances with error. No computer would have shifted the telescope to the blind eye and won the battle of Trafalgar for the British fleet; nor would a computerâ&#x20AC;&#x;s disclosure of Satya-kamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parentage have given that innocent youth and his brave mother the immortality of the Upanishad. Even a semblance of the surrender of the human will

3 to the automated machine induces the nightmare vision of the proliferating octopus of civilisation smothering the tender body of culture. There is a more dircet warning against manâ&#x20AC;&#x;s engrossment in the means to the neglect of the ends of his existence. Western youth has started proclaiming that a combination of political independence social freedom and economic affluence is not enough to satisfy the hunger of the human soul. So young men and young women with freedom of vote and freedom of mate and all the excitement that television and racing cars provide, yet seek refuge in the fake Yoga of opiate dreams and in a tinsel Sannyasa of listless wandering with unkem-pt hair and unshod feet. The confusion of the means for the ends is humanity's primary problem today. All other problems, political or economic or social, national or internation, stem form The problem must be solved before the whole of humanity is overwhelmed. And the only solution is to redefine and re-assert the ends and aims of existence to recognise the fact of primacy of the life of the spirit over the life of mind and instinct, to clarify the relation ship between affluence and happiness, power and peace conscience and convenience, civilisation and culture. Yet no government, capitalist or socialist, secular or fanatical, gives this problem a place in its five-year plans or annual budgets. This vital issue is left entirely to the initiative and effort of voluntary private enterprise In its modest little way, the All-India Saraswat Founation aims at being one such enterprise. The fact that

4 celebrated institutions like Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the Vivekanand Kendra the Ramakrishna Mission and the Chinmaya Mission are already splendidly active should stimulate rather than inhibit the Foundation s efforts.

The Foundation seeks to support no dogma, to promote no creed. Its interest is to investigate the relevance of Vedic wisdom to the inevitable conditions of modern life, and to seek consistent acceptance of their demonstrated relevance in day to day living, intention to preach the simple life, but every intention to attempt an analysis of the complex problems of modernism into simple, elementary factors, so that the problems themselves stand exposed as but the hoary maladies for which Vedic psychology had already found the cure There is also the intention to act on the fundamental fact of life, that a meaningful application of psychological or spiritual remedies to social problems involves the offering of voluntary service on the material plane. The Foundation has given this plan and process the name of Saraswat Sanmarg : The Saraswat Path of Good. The adjective Saraswat connotes the concept of a full li e led in a spirit of dedication, as expressed in the Rig Vedic hymn (VII-96-4):â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In our devotion to our families, in the generosity of our charity, in our spirit of progress, we do homage to God Saraswan."

Saraswan, from whom the word Saraswat is derived, stands for the deity of the sacred river Saraswati, signifying

peace and plenty; and, like all Vedic deities, is worshipped as a form of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality: “Tyameva Pratyaksham Brahmaasi." Saraswat Sanmarg commends this attitude to life. This series of tracts and books carrying that title, will generally carry that commendation in dealing with a variety of conceptual as well as practical problems. Yet, that is not the only or even the main object of the series. The principal object is to promote, in howsoever small a degree, the habit of thought and of an identity between thought and action. Personal convictions, however inadequate, influence life more effectively than a borrowed faith, however profound. Saraswat Sanmarg is therefore the path of free and independent thinking. With an eye to efficacy rather than from modesty or disability, the Foundation‟s field of activity will be the middle classes of society, consisting largely of men and women with the capacity but without the inclination or urge to thinking. The Foundation looks to such people for the authorship as well as readership of the Saraswat Sanmarg Series of publications. No celebrities or professional intellectuals will be normally invited to contribute to the series. Laymen and women, with perhaps better leisure for thought and better felicity of expression than the average, are welcome as authors. Since the objective is to promote original thinking, skepticism and challenge will be encouraged and not discounted. Readers‟ criticism will be welcomed and, as far as may be, will be fruitfully used.

6 The Saraswat Sanmarg Series is an experiment in freer dialogue among equals. There is no pontification, no preaching down, no blind adherence to any belief or concept. Philosophical conundrums and subtleties will be dissolved by common sense instead of being further complicated by scholarship. The ancient Vedic wisdom of Aryavarta will be put to the test of the practical sense of educated Indian hesitating on the threshold of the electronic age.

Bombay, Vijaya Dashami, October 17, 1972.

B. P. ADARKAR D. N. NADKARNI Editors

Census of All-India Sarswat Community: A Suggested Scheme PREFACE

The text of this booklet was submitted by the author to be read as a Conference Paper during the Inaugural Function and the Conference of Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab Branches, AISCO, being held at New Delhi. In view of the importance of the subject and the need to evolve a practical scheme for conducting a comprehensive census of the community on all-India basis, the same are being included in the â&#x20AC;&#x17E;Sanmarg seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x; to be made availabl to Conference delegates, so that meaningful discussions can follow during the proceedings and also permit the participant representatives of the AISCO to hold further fruitful discussions with members and other scholars from their respective Local Sabhas, Regions, etc-, after their return. The need for conducting such a census has been voiced by various members of Branches of the AISCO, and more especially by the Jammu and Kashmir Branch for quite a long time now and a survey of the community efforts in this direction amongst various denominational groups has revealed a potentiality as well as the gaps in conducting such a venture. The present paper is an honest attempt by the author to pur forth his assessment of the requirements and potentialities within the community in launching such a project. We are thankful to the Trustees of the AISF for permitting the Conference Committee to bring out the publication under the Saraswat Sanmarg series. We are also thankful to the Kanara Saraswat Association, Bombay, for permitting us to reproduce an excerpt from the 1971 Directory and Census of Chitrapur Saraswats along with the paper by Shri J. S. Rao. J.S. Rao R.S. Kapuria General Editors, AISCO Kurukshetra Conference Committee Holy Day,

New Delhi. 15th March, 1976,,

Contributors to the Saraswat Sanmarg Series have full freedom of opinion. Their views are therefore their own and The All-India Saraswat Foundation takes no responsibility for any opinions expressed or statements made by them.

CHAPTER II Census Of All-India Saraswat Community by J. S. Rao, Vice-President, AISCO and Chairman, Conference Organising Committee In this article I Propose to indicate a few priliminary measures to be initiated in connection with the proposed project of compiling and publishing the results of a comprehensive Census and Directory of the all-India Saraswat community for the guidance of the AISCO Census and Matrimonial Information Board. 1. The AISCO should set up active Branches and Local Sabhas in all regions where census operations are being proposed to be conducted, since it is through them that the AISCO will be able to maintain intimate and close rapport with the members of the community in their respective jurisidctions at the grass root level. Since the bulk of the work connected with the Census operations has to be executed at the Branch level, the highest pirority should be given to measures intended to strengthen them in all possible manner. We are glad, useful steps are being taken by the the AISCO in this direction. 2. The Census operations may be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, only selected regions of the country and a selected number of well organised denominations of the all-India Saraswat community may be

chosen for conducting the census operations, so that the task being undertaken by the AISCO will be both manageable from the organisational point of view and at the same time serve as a basis for gaining useful experience in conducting further and more ambitious projects in future. A realistic appraisal of the existing position in respect of the communities covered and progress of the AISCO movement in diiferent regions of the country indicates the desirability of including the following division of the All-India Saraswat community during the first phase of the census operations : I.

Coverage : Communitywise : A. Southern Region : (i)

Gowda Saraswats Goykarn Maths.

(Vaishnavas)

Kashi

and

(ii) Gowd-Saraswats (Smarthas) of Kaivalya Math. (iii) Chitrapur Saraswats of Chirtrapur Math. (iv) Other Gowd-Saraswats of Dakshinatya Region (i.e., Southern and Western Regions). 2.

Western Region :

(v)

Kudaldeshkars of Dhaboli Math.

(vi)

Kutchi Saraswats (including Saraswats of Gujarat belonging to all denominations such as those belonging to kutch,Halai,Ghoghari and other areas)

Northern Region : (vii) Kashmiri

Pandits.

(viii) (ix)

(x)

11 Other Northern Saraswats belonging to all denominations and regions. Pancha Gowda Brahmins of Kanyakubja, Maithila, Utkala and Gowda regions and denominations. Any other sections of Brahmins of Uttariya Region (i. e. Northern and Eastern Regions) not covered by any one of the above 9 categories.

B. Coverage : Geographical, Regionwise and Statewise : I. All-India Coverage Communitywise : The census operations in respect of communites indicated in items 1 to 4 (Southern Region), 5 and 6 (Western Region) and 7 (Northern Region) above may be conducted in all regions of the country, including those where regular AISCO Branches or Local Sabhas have not been set up so far. The reason is that these communities have strong, all-comprehensive and self-sustaining bases in the form of various social, cultural, economic and religious institutions serving their respective denominations all over the country. The AISCO should make maximum use of the services and the informal contacts established by these institutions at the grass-root level amongst their respective segments by enlisting their fullest support and active involvement, in its census operations. 2. Restricted Coverage Communitywsie : The census operations in respect of the communities indicated in items 8, 9 and 10 (Northern Region) may have to be restricted during the first phase only to the

12 regions covered by the AISCO Branches set up in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab regions of North India. Other regions of North India, such as, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa and Mahya Pradesh have to be left out at least for the present, even though sizeable settlements of the all-India Saraswat community members do exist in these regions. The reasons lor this restricted coverage of the present census operations are : (a) Absence of dependable community or sectional organisations in these areas having strong bases and continuous links with the members of the respective segments of the all India Saraswat community residing therein, such as those found in the case of communites chosen for all-India coverage. The AISCO has yet to come across such institutions which are willing to collaborate and cooperate with it in this task belonging to any field of activities in these regions whether they are religious institutions like Maths, temples or other religious centres having a strong and well defined community based followers, or those engaged in other social, cultural, economic or charitable activities amongst their respective segments. (b) Absence of any active AISCO Branches with a net-work of Local Sabhas functioning in these regions of North India. In view of these facts conducting census operations in these areas may be considered in future during the second phase when existing institutions in these areas come forward with offers of collaboration or when strong AISCO Branches and Local Sabhas start function-

13 ing actively in these regions. (i) However to enable enumeration of as many members of the communities and linguistic groups of the Northern region covered by the census operations during the first phase, the regions outside these four AISCO Branches in the Northern Region may be divided into two categories for the limited purpose of the present census : (ii) Dakshinatya Region (i.e. Southern and Western Regions) where AISCO Branches are being set up at the time of census enumeration (iii) Uttariya Region (i.e. Northern and Eastern Regions) where no AISCO Branches are functioning. All the available sources of enumerating census information about those sections of the community covered during the first phase in these two groups may be utilised and the results be published as supplementary lists to the main Census and Directory. 3. Regionwise Classification of States of India : Regionwise classification of the existing States of India for purposes of the census operations as well as the AISCO activities may be as follows: (i) Southern Region : Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Tamilnadu and Andhra Predesh. (ii) Western Region : Maharastra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. (iii) Northern Region : Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

14 (iv) Eastern Region : Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and other Hilly States of Eastern India. C.

Coverage: Linguistic Saraswat community:

Division

the

All-India

(i) Southern and Wstern Regions i. e. Dakshinatya Region: Konkani, Marathi, Kutihc, Gujarathi and Sindhi (ii) Northern and Eastern Regions : i.e. Hindi, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Hindustani Urdu Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, etc. (iii) During the first phase of the census, however, only those communities belonging to the linguistia divisions of Konkani, Marathi, Kntchi, Gujarati and Sindhi in he Dakshinatya Region and Kashmiri, Punjabi, Hindi and Hindustani -Urdu in the Uttariya Region may be covered. 3. As far as possible, all the scetional/denominational as well as other voluntary social, religious and cultural institutions should be involed in the project under the AISCO forum with its Branch level activities. It is very essential for the success of the census operation that active cooperation and cordial relations are established on a long -term and continuing basis with these denomintional institutions in all fields, i. e. those engaged in social, religious, cultural and economic activities. The AISCO constitution has a plan to link up each of the existing Sabha or Local organisa tions having specified jurisdictions over their respective existing membership with only a minimum of additional

responsibilities and duties entrused to them for purposes of ensuring coordination and integration at the all-India under the AISCO forum at the Branch levels throughout the country. This task of affiliation of the existing denominational institution with the AISCOâ&#x20AC;&#x;s organisational structure on a realistic basis should receive the highest priority and may be pursued vigorously by holding meetings with their representatives, establishing formal and informal contacts with them, and modifying the scheme of affiliation, if considered necessary, on genuine grounds to accommodate new situations and realities as they arise. The aim should be to ensure that at least in those regions of the country, where the census operations are being undertaken during the first phase, practiliy none of the sectional and denominational voluntray social institutions should remain outside the purview of AISCO activities. While these institutions are having direct links with their respective sections at the grass-root level there is a great need to strengthen them and enlarge their ambit of activities within their own respective sections and at the same time integrate their work on all India basis under rhe AISCO forum. Such an integration is possible only if the AISCO maintains a continuous flow of communication amongst these sub-group institutions by various means through correspondence, issue of periodicals having direct contacts, and providing for a common platform to discuss problems of mutual interest to them at the regional Branch levels as well as at the all-India level. A useful step in this direction is the decision taken by the Delhi, Punjab and Haryana Branches of the AISCO to form a homogeneous grouping of their bran-

ches at the regional level and to bring out periodical news bulletins in English consisting of organisational news about activities of the Local Sabhas and/or her affiliated and collaboraing institutions covered by their respective Branches by consolidating such informations at the regional level. Similar measures should be taken by the AISCO Branches in other regions as well. 4. A comprehensive project for conducting feasibility studies and for working out organisational reguirements in respect of the census operations of the All-India Saraswat community should be undertaken and the same should be widely circulated amongst all AISCO Branches and activie Local Sabhas for their comments and suggestions before actual census operations are undertaken in their respective areas. Apart from enabling the AISCO to modify the census scheme in accordance with the suggestions received form them, such a communication will serve the important object of popularising, educating and preparing in advance these institutions and organisational, units, so that when the actual census work is entrusted to them, the same will be vigorously and efficiently executed by the all AISCO Branches and Local Sabhas. 5. The AISCO Board on Census and Matrimonial Information should seek constructive collaboration with the Kanara Saraswat Association, Bombay which has considerable practical experience in conducting the community census amongst the Chitrapur Saraswat section of the All-India Saraswat community. The Chitrapur Saraswat Directory and Census for 1971 published in 1972 by the association is the most useful starting-point for work-

ing out details of the present and more ambitious project for conducting census of the entire all India Saraswat community. A beief historical account of the community census operations undertaken by the Kanara Saraswat Assoiation is given in a separate article which is reproduced from its published book for the benefit of the AISCO workers and organisationl units interested in the work. The Kanara Saraswat Association is the founder institution and the original propagator of the idea and ideals of the AISCO movement, and it is therefore in the fitness of this spirit of idea of cooperation propagated by then that on this enlarged platform also the first major project to be undertaken by them in collaboration with each others makes use of the rich expertise and experience gained by the K.S.A through its most outstanding service to the Chitrapur Saraswat community rendered by it during the period of more than 50 years, i.e. the Census and Directory of the Community. 6. The proposed AISCO Board on Census and Matrimonial Information in collaboration with the K.S.A. should work out a detailed scheme for implementation and (if necessary) hold a short course on training the census operaters and the representatives of the AISCO Bronches and Local Sabhas in North and South India. This may coincide with the holding of the A1JCO conference so that maximum publicity and involvement from the all India community is ensured and maximum communication and mutual consultations amongst the all organisational units and members of the community belonging to all sections are preceded in respect of this project.

7. The Census operations should be conducted by the AISCO Branches through various local Sabhas workingin their respective jurisdictions. Preliminary processing and classification of information in accordance with a prearranged scheme and plan also should be done at the Branch level. The AISCO Central Board and the KSA, if necessary on a specific request form the Branches may depute experts and advisers to supervise the work of the branches and help them in tackling any practical problems that may arise at any stage of the census operations. Only in case of such problems and issues which cannot be tackled at the Branch level should direct responsibility be taken by the AISCO board at the Central level. This will enable the Central Board to devote enough time and energy at the Central level to the task of control, supervision, guidance, planning and review of perforamce of the entire census operations form the all-India angle so that work carried out at the Branch level is put to maximum use for the benefit of the entire community. 8. Processing, analysis and post-census operations for purposes of completion and publishing of the Directory will have to be supervised directly by the Central Board through the actual work even in this respect should be done at the Branch H.O. level itself. It is most essential that directions of the Central Board are fully complied with at the Branch level, since the entire utility of the scheme from the all India level depends upon the integrated framework of classification to permit integrate as well as sectionwise break-up on a consistent basis germane to the information gathered.

9. The expenses in respect of the entire census operations should be borne by the respective Branches. Whenever the Central Board spends money, the same should be proportionately allocated to the respective Branches for re-imbursement. This implies that not merely organisation and execution, but even the financial requirements of the operations have to come from each of the branches. This is because, apart from its being the only one realistic and acceptable basis for sound financial relations on all-India level, this will also ensure that all regions of the countary and all section of the all-India Saraswat community will be properly involved in the scheme which is very much necessary for the success of the project. 10. Separate classification should be made of the census information in respect of (a) different denominations and sections of the community (b) geogrophical regions and the States, and linguistic divisions of the allIndia Saraswat community indicated in paras 2-1, II and II above. This can be done by providing for recording of the relevant information under different columns to be filled in by the members of the community and classifying the information gathered at the time of processing the same at the branch level. 11. Census operations in each Local Sabha maybe conducted so as to cover all members of the community. The census workers are expected to assist members to file in accurate particulars regarding to which of the communities they leading so that at the stage of processing of the information at the Branch level, separate information can

be collected. Inaccurate particulars may be sent back after one month for further filling-up. 12. The object is to permit integration as well as sectionwise break-up of the census operations at the Branch level, so that the individual sections of the community if and when they need can publish individual sectionwise Directory containing relevant census information depending on the availability of finance. Such a break-up will improve the usefulness of the census operations tremendously and at the same time will not in any way hinder its general efficacy and integration at all-India level. In fact it enhances its usefulness even from the all-India angle since social, cultural and economic contacts and relations amongst different segments of the community become more meaningful, realistic and appropriate with sectionwise break-ups of census information. 13. Wherever fairly comprehensive census has already been conducted, no second effort need be undertaken to duplicate the process during the first phase, since the object of the present census scheme is to a get fairly food allIndia coverage of all sections and sub sections of the community rather than have a complete enumeration of the individual segments composing it. Thus the Chitrapur Saraswat community does not need census enumerations in the first phase, as these already exists an all-comprehensive and excellent Census and Directory published by the K.S.A. in 1971. The same information will be utilised for purposes of the present all-India Saraswat Census for integration, ignoring the time lag in the enumeration as well as differances in the scope, the coverage, and the definitions adopted for the two censuses. If necessary, a

supplementary list indicating changes in addresses of those persons already enumerated in the 1971 census and Directory Report may be compiled on the basis of fresh surveys to be conducted by the Local Sabhas of the Chitrapur Saraswat community, in corsponding subsection changes in addresses of those already enumerations in 1971, census as well as addition to it who were included in the 1971 Census of persons ought to who have been included in it but were omitted for some reasons or others. In other words, only updating of the information already available through a supplementary list which will be undertaken and the results may have to be published separately. Similarly the GSBâ&#x20AC;&#x;s in Kerala region appear to have recently conducted a census and if the results are found to be satisfactory, the same may be utilised in respect of that region. Only where changes and fresh enumeration are considered absolutely essential due to gross underenumeration or substantial divergence in the scope of coverage requiring fresh enumeration, the same will be considered afresh by the Board. Otherwise, only an attempt to update the same available information with additional and supplementary lists should be considered adequate. At the time of writing this note, I am not aware of any other fairly comprehensive attempts at the census operations being made amongst other sections of the all-India Saraswat community in any region of the country. No doubt, fairly serious and localised efforts have been made in compiling addresses of the community members institutionwise or communitywise as the case may be, such as the one attempted by the Kashmiri Pandit Association in New Delhi and Bombay, and some

other Local Sabhas of the community in important urban areas, but they can at the most serve as an effective cross check for ensuring adequate coverage of the census operation now being propogated by the AISCO and connot serve as a substitute for it. In respect of other state regions where regular Sabhas, Branches of the AISCO are not yet set up, the census operation may be conductd with the assistance and help of sectional Sabhas or some representatives or any other voluntary organisation which will be given the status of Local Sabhas to be included in the administrative jurisdiction of the Central Organisation of the AISCO for this limited purpose. In all other places, census operations may be conducted through the Branch Offices and Local Sabhas of the respective areas by the AISCO. 14. All information gathered will be processed at the respective Branch level, under the guidance of a Central Coordination Board set up jointly by the AISCO Census and Matrimonial Information Board and the Kanara Saraswat Association, Bombay. Separate training courses may be organised, if necessary, to train workers and representatives of the Branches and Local Sabhas in analysis and processing of information relating to the community census. Any matter of doubtful nature falling outside the jurisdiction of a Branch will be undertaken by the Central Census Board directly or will be entrusted by it to competent persons or direct handling of the material on the basis of specific instructions issued by the Central

23 Office

this

respect.

15. Writing of a history of the community : Each major segment of the community and its religious, social, economic and cultural institutions will be requested to prepare a comprehensive write-up to be included as a part of Census & Directory. This should be factual, informative, and authoritativeness of such a written material depends entirely on the availability and willingness of the Central Board of competent scholars working for this project under the guidance of the Central Committee. Community Draft Proforma and schedules for filling up of information by members of the community is also enclosed herewith as Annexure â&#x20AC;&#x17E;B'. 17. The general premises to work for the result is to ensure continuity and consistency with the existing sectional efforts already made in this direction and fill in the gaps and enlarge the scope and horizons latter on. Since during the first census, the main problem will be to cover a broad framework of the all-India community rather than 100 per cent coverage of each section without which is impossible even in the best of efforts will be made. Additional lists say once in a year may also be compiled about changes that have taken place with the help of or through local Sabhas, is found possible. The results may be published of these in respect of changes, say once in every 5 years. However, efforts may be made to conduct a fresh census at least once in 10 or 15 years and also to synchronise the community census along with the population census of the country conducted by the Government of India. Each individual segment will be permitted to print sectionwise, denominationwise or regionwise information separately under the integarated

framework at later stages to ensure better use of the census results. The Matrimonial Board, Employment Bureaus, Vocational Guidance Bureaus, Educational, Economic and Material Provisions to needy Sections ot the community through voluntary institutional efforts will also be furnished with adequate classified information, after publishing the general results in the form of the Census Directory.

ANNEXURE A Circular Letter Addressed to the Members of the AHIndia Saraswat Community Dear Member, The All-India Saraswat Cultural Organisation (AISCO) is glad to announce the commencement of a census of the members or the all-India Saraswat community residing in different parts of the country and belonging to various denominations and sections of it. The word â&#x20AC;&#x17E;Saraswat' used here includes all the denominations of Saraswat and gowd Saraswat Brahmins of all sections and sub-sections covered by these terms. It has been extended to include all sections of Pancha Gowda Brahmins, i.e., those residing in Kanyaknbja, Maithila. Utkala and Gowda regions of North India as well. The first phase of the census operation will be restricted to the jurisdiction covered by the AISCO Branches set up at the time of the census enumeration, i.e., as on 1st July, 1977 and those covered under the jurisdiction of the Central organisation in specified cases. At present, such Branches exist in Kerala, Karnataka (South), Karnataka (North), Karnataka (Belgaum) in the Southern Region and in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi Haryana and Punjab in the Northern Region in addition to the central office at Bombay. In respect of communities in schedule A, the census operations will be conducted on an all-India basis, while in respect of the other

three communities of the Northern Region detailed census enumeration will be restricted to those residing in the specified AISCO Branches set up in Jammu and Kashmir Delhi, Haryana and Punjab States with a supplementary list of addresses in respect of those residing in other regions of North and South India. Broadly speaking, language groups covered by the present census operation include those having Konkani, Marathi, Gujarati, Kutchi, Sindhi, Hindi, Kashmiri and Punjabi as their mother tongues spoken at home. The census operation in respect of Chitrapur Saraswats all over India and Gowda Saraswats (Vaishnavas) residing in the region covered by the Kerala Branch, AISCO will be restricted to the preparation of supplementary additional lists intended to update the informetion already gathered through a detailed census carried out in 1971 and 1974, respectively, amongst their respective communities. In respect of all other communities and regions of the country, full census enumeration will be based on the proforma enclosed with this letter.. Wherever regular AISCO Branches and Local Sabhas are active, the census operation will be conducted under the guidance and supervision of the respective Branch Offices. In other regions of the country, where regular AISCO Branches and Local Sabhas do not exist, the census operation will be conducted with the assistance and help of Local Sabhas, Voluntary organisations or their representatives willing to undertake the task under the supervision and guidance of the AISCO Central Organisation, Bombay. Census information will be enumerated by the Local Sabhas in respect of all members of the all-India Saraswat

community excluding those, where it is not to be conducted 28 as indicated above. Members are requested particularly to ensure accurate filling-up of different columns in Schedule I, since sectionwise break-up and details of different community groupings with further classifications based on communities enumerated in Annexure I, Language groups enumerated in Annexure II, and AISCO Branchesâ&#x20AC;&#x; Regions enumerated in Annexure III wiil entirely depend upon the correct and complete filling up of the respective columns or the proforma. The census workers will, therefore; fully explain to members how to fill in these particulars regarding which community/section/linguistic group/geographical divison/AISCO Branch,r egion, etc. they fill in, so that at the stage of processing of the information, separate languagewise, communitywise, sectionwise, groupwise, geographical divisionwise, AISCO regionwise information is compiled for publication. Inaccurate particulars will be sent back after one month for correction and further filling up by the concerned members with the assistance of the cnsus workers of the respective local sabhas. The object of the census operation is to ascertain the exact number of population of the all India saraswat community, their geographical dispersion and other useful information regarding their social, economic, cultural, linguistic, denominational and spiritual life and thereby to enable the entire community and its innumerable institiutions to plan proper mesasures to solve various burning problems faced by the members through collective and cooperative efforts in all walks of life. The census

29 is the first measure which can serve as a stepping-stone and a base for conducting various other measures intended to uplift the socio-economic conditions of its members and consolidate the healthy and progressive forces in the material, intellectual, asthetic and spiritual fields in the community and to achieve these ends through cooperative and voluntary action. As far as possible, existing organisational, linguistic and denominational positions in respect of each segment of the all-India Saraswat community will be utiliged for the purpose of conducting the census. Whenever it has become necessary to make changes; therein due to the all-India allcomprehensive nature of the present census operation, efforts will be made to have separate sectionwise information as well so that it is possible to separate and to integrate the results of such operation either immediately or at some time in future. The Chitrapur Saraswat Directory and Census of 1971 published by the Kanara Saraswat Association, Bombay, has been taken as a basis and guide, though there are significant differences in the two in coverage, scope, objects as well as procedure for analysis, interpretation and recording of informations in respect of the present census operation. We are enclosing herewith the census form. It contains two schedules. The first schedule is divided into four parts. The first part deals with general particulars about members of the family and their birth and the second part deaes with the particulars about members of the family and their native pleace,

etc.

The

third

part

deals

with

information

relating

to certain traditions and customs such as Varna, Gotra31 etc. The last part deals with certain information relevant to socio-economic and cultural life. The second schedule known as household schedule specifically tries to identify special interest of members as a part of the census operations and gives important information for our future activities. Filling up of these forms is optional, but all those members who have some contribution to make in any one or more of the fields indicated in the questionnaire are advised to fill them in to ensure maximum utility of the census operation to the entire community and also its long-term interest to their own family members in future. Instructions regarding a few columns are as follows (Given separately).

ANNEXURE 'B’ Census Forms ALL-INDIA SARASWAT CULTURAL ORGANISATION Post Box No 6464, Saraswati Mandir, Mahim, Bombay 400016. CENSUS OF ALL-INDIA S A R A S W A T C O M M U N I T Y , 1976. First Schedule Part One Date of Census : 1st July 1977 Branch/AISCO State in which Linguistic Group

Local Sabha Local Sabha is located Name Code No. Name Code No. Name Code No. Name Code No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Census Basis Census Year Full Name of the head family Code No. Surname Name Father‟s name Address Husband‟s name 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Place Village/Town/City Taluka District State 16. 17. 18. 19.

Part Two : S No.

Page two (reverse side) Full names of members including head Sex of family (Surname, name and fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x;s name or husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x;s name in case of married women

Marital Status Married-M Ummarried-U Widow-W

1. 2. 3, 4. 5.

7. Relation to the Head of family Father-F, Mother-M, Husband-H Wife-W, Son-S, Daughter-D, Grandfather-GF 5.

Age nearing birthday Native place Duratinn of and birth place (mention indicate dist- stay in the place, dist. and state) rict and State, present place

(i. e. or village in 7.

city years.) X.

town

Part Three :

Page-3. S. No. Varna Kanyakubja-K, Maithila-M Utkala-U, Gowda-O, Saraswata-S Any other :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; (Specify the same)

Caste (i. e. Jaathi)

10.

11.

Gotra Family Dite

12.

Part Four Page 4 (Reverse side)

S. N.

2. 3. 4. 5. 3. 7.

Languages knownRead, Write, Speak

Education Last examination Degree/Dimploma ersity or institution).

passed Univ-

Occupation :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Agriculture-AGR, Trade and Business TBu, Industrialist-IND. Govt. Service-GS, Private Service-PS, Teaching Service TS, Profession or vocatioii (indicate also if Advocate Doctor/Artist/Scientist/ Politician Writer/Musician, etc. 17

S. N. Unemployment whether if so, for how long

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

seeking

employment, Economic Status : Employer (state no. of employees) Employees/Independent worker. 19

ANNEXURE B CENSUS FORMS SECOND SCHEDULE Household / Family Schedule I.

Social and Economic

1. Does any member of your family face any of the following problems during the last five years ? (a) Unemployment (b) Lack of educational opportunities (C) Housing and accommodation (d) Meeting minimum necessities of life; absence of any means of livelihood and total dependence on others; (e) Choice of profession and vocational guidance; (f) problems of matrimony and dowries; (g) Adverse attitude from the community in respect of certain attitudes of members not conforming to norms of society. 2. Indicate briefly the nature of problems faced and: the nature of any help expected from the community in solving such problems. (i) Yes/No

(ii) Description of problem

(iii) Expected help from the community

(iv) Reason for the same

3. Are any members of your family associated with or closely connected or taking keen interest in the affairs of any of the following social and economic institutions or organisations ?

(a) Social service and charitable institutions. (2) Business and industry, Trade and commerce, Banking and Finance. (c) Cooprative institutions in banking and finance, housing, provision of necessities of life, sharing of economic inputs and implements in purusit of agriculture, profession or other trade or (d) (e) (i)

industry or commerce. Educational and research institutions including medical and other specialised knowledges. social secruity institutions like : student assistance and scholarship. (i) Yes/No

(iv)

(ii) Name of the person and institution (S)

(iii) Description of activities of the Institution.

(v) position or post held by you.

Special interest taken by you. (vi) (vii) period Any other remarks. (ii) Assistance to widows, or phans, handicapped and poor sections of people. (iii) Part time employment opportunities to poorer and needy sections. (iv) Gramodyog and home industries. 4. Indicate the name of institutions and the period during which you have been taking interest in it and the kind of your interest or connection and capacity with such institutions or movements.

39 II.

Dharmic and Spiritual 5. Is any member of your family taking keen interest in the activities relating to spiritual and moral aspects of life ? If so, indicate the field of his special interest in Dharmic matters with reference to the following :

(a) Guru Parampara add Religious Mutts. (b) Temples, Dharmic and religious institutions. (c) Purohits, Priests, Dharmapracharkas, Harikeertanakaras Pandits, and scholars well versed in Dharma.and Dharma. (d)

Study of religious customs, traditions, practices, beliefs, samkskaras, mode of-worship. Dharmic code and other forms of spiritual and moral activities.

(e) Study and practice of religious rites and ritual. 6. Indicate which of the Dharmic outlook/philosophies does the member believe and has faith â&#x20AC;&#x201D; (a) Advaita Parampara. (b) Dwaita Parampara. (c) Shaivism. (d)

Shakta Parampara.

(e) Sanatana Dharma Parampara. (f)

Vaishnava Parampara.

(g) Any other philosophy or faith. 7. Indicate the nature of interests, institutions and organisations in respective fields with which the member is connected and movements with which he is associated,

and activities which are pursued by him to fulfil these religious and spiritual interests. Religious S. N. Name of the Type tradition (a to g) institution of actifollowed connected vities (mention with persued from a to g) by you

Period

â&#x20AC;˘

III

Cultural

S.No.

Religious

(a to g) institution

tradition followed (mention

from a to g)

Name of the

Type

Period

of acti-

connected

vities

with

persued by you

i. ii. iii. Is any member of your community taking keen interest in the activities whether as a part of profession or as a hobby/ extra-curricular interests relating to cultural and social activities in different fields of human endavours. If so indicate his field of interests in the following fields(a)

Humanities and aesthetic pursuits, i. e. study of languages, literature, fine arts, sculpture, music, recitation, films etc.

41 ((b) Intellectual pursuits i.e. education, science, philosophy,) religious mythology and other disciplines of knowledge. (c)

Material pursuits in socioe-conomic fields i.e. politics (including independence movement) administration, economics, business, industry, trade and commerce and other professions.

(d)

Study of history, biographies, social, economic and religious life of people, etc. Religious, charitable, social service, cultural and other institutions engaged in alleviating economic hardships amongst various regional group of the society.

(e)

(f)

professional, trade, commerce and other institutions, associations and clubs.

(ii) Yes/No.

(iii) (iv) NatureInstitution/ Period of movement of Activities etc. association

(v) Interest

(i) (ii) (iii) IV. Family

We subscribed to the following (mention names and languages). (a) Dailies. (b) Weeklies.

Monthlies. Others.

10.

Mrrriage outside the varna divisions and castes;

(a)

In my household ----------- (number) male and ------------(number) female has/have married outside the varna/caste divisions, (mention varna/caste of the. family of the couple married)

(i)

Her/their present names.

(ii)

Relation with me.

(iii)

Present address.

11.

Some of us in the household own the following: (give details where applicable). If not applicable mention Nil).

(a)

Manufacturing units.

(b)

Trade and commerce-firm/shop/repair shop

(c)

Transport-passenger/goods.

(d) (e)

Agricultural farm. Immovable properties in urban area.

(f)

Immovable rural area.

12.

The number of persons in my household pursue the following hobbies. If not applicable Nil).

properties

(buildings)

villages

and

mention

(a)------ ------ (b)--------- (c) ------------ (d) --------- (e) -----------13.

The

following

members

family

are

43 countries outside India. Their names, and addresses are: 1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 14. The following members of my family are in states outside the Branch/Region fore more then 5 years.. Their names and addresses are : 1.

2. 3. 15. The following members of my family have come from outside states from Branch/Region during the last five years. Their names and previous addresses outside are : 1.

3. 16.

The following members of my family are engaged in literary, writing and research activities. Their names, names of publications, writing and research, work are as follows : 1. 2.

17. The following members of my family have gone and settled in cities/towns (with population more than 25,000,000 in search of employment and a living during last 10 years. Their addresses and employment particulars . are as follows : 1. 3. 18. The following members of my family observe daily Nityavidhis and Nitya karmas (i. e. Sandhyavandana â&#x20AC;˘etc.) 1.

2. 3. (i) Sandyyavandana

(ii) Yes/No

(iii) Indicate whether any assistance in its proper observation or under standing its meanings and relevance to daily life, etc.

19. The following members of my family go regularly to temples/Dharmic Centres/Religious Institutions, 1

Name of the member 3

Periodicity of visit

Name and address of institution 4

Remarks : Any assistance needed

45 (average per year)

from the community for the concerned institution.

20. The following members of my family have good knowledge of vedas, vedic literature, shastras or any other kind of religious literature. The field of specialisation/ interests are as follows :

1 Neme of the member 3 Description of kind of interest taken

2 The field of specialisation/ interest. 4 Remarks:

Any assistance needed from the community in respect of study in the subject. 21. The following members of our family have taken I keen interest in literature and research work. The details are as follows :

1 'Name of the members

2 The filed of special interest

3 The publication and books and regular work problem

4 Whether any assistance needed from the community in the field on voluntary basis.

22.

taking keen interest in social service work and are willing, to assist collaborate with the AISCO on any project on mutually agreed terms.

1 Name of the member 3 The extent of service offered on voluntary basis.

5 Any other conditions, if any regarding the offer.

2 The filed of special interest. 4 Whether expects any remuneration or is willing to do service on honorary basis.

CHAPTER II Opratinon Census ; 1971 and Historical Background

A census of population is defined as the total process of collecting, compiling and publishing demographic and social data pertaining to all persons in a country or delimited territory at a specifited time. An official census is sponsored by the Government of the country. An essential and irreplaceable approach to the study of society is provied by the population census, which is taken in most of the countries at regular intervals, ususally of ten years. COMMUNITY CENSUS : ITS SCOPE AND MEANING The census of a community such as that of Chitrapur Saraswats has its own importance in the scheme of things, providing, as it does, useful data for the formulation of policies and programmes of operations for the betterment of the community in economic, cultural and social spheres. Family history and communal traditions play a. large part in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x;s life. Such a periodical stocktaking provides a continuous vigil which is indispensable to planned progress of the community.

CENSUS OF 1896â&#x20AC;&#x201D;CHITRAPUR PANCHANG

In 1896, a synchronous enumeration of the entire; community was attempted for the first time under the auspices of the Chitrapur Club, Bombay. The agency for this purpose was the local committees appointed by the Shri Chitrapur Math at several centres. The results of this census were published in 1896, in the first issue of the Saraswat Annual of the Chiraapur Club-Chitrapur Panchang as it was called. Besides the Hindu calendar of the year, it contained a list of our temples, a brief accocnt of our poets, names of those who had passed university and other examinations, a guide to certain places of pilgrimage and population statistics at different , places. Census of 1911

In November 1911, there was transformation of the Friendâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Club into the Kanara Saraswat Association,. Bombay. The Association soon after its coming into existence resolved to take a census of the entire community in Bombay and its suburbs and then to extend it to other places in the light of the experience gained. The census was commenced and completed in 1912. Though confined to Bombay, this enumeration was wider in scope than the one of 1896. The operation, however, could not be extended to other areas for want of active public cooperation. Census of 1922 In 1920, the Association published a Directory of its

47 members. This was followed in February 1922 by another census for Bombay and suburbs. The report of the operation appeared in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Kanara Saraswatâ&#x20AC;? issue of 1922. Census of 1932 The census taken in June 1932,. covered the entire community. To ensure success, wide publicity was given to it by the late Shri H. Shankar Rao. The Chitrapur Saraswat Directory prepared by him was the outcome of this undertaking. Census of 1945. In 1945 another attempt was made by the Kanara Saraswat Association. However, these efforts did not materialise due to lack of the requisite cooperation and response from the community. Census of 1956 The census of 1956 was more through and complete as compared to any of the previous censuses organised by the community. It was systematically organised and broad-based for collecting essential data such as housing, education, civil condition, occupational pattern, level of income, etc. The analysis was of a high standard and gave abundant evidence oftechnical expertise brought to bear on it by the Census Working Committee. Census of 1971 Coming to the present census of 1971, the data collected are largely on the pattern of the 1956 census. In order to maintain uniformity and for the purpose of com-

â&#x20AC;˘48 parative study, in relation to the preceding censuses, it was felt necessary to have as much conformity as possible between these two censuses. However, slight modification were made therein and one additional schedule, viz., the Household Schedule, was incorporated to elicit information on perquisities, reading habits, hobbies, etc. To keep up the convention of decennial censuses, the present one should have been conducted in 1966. But as the Kanara Saraswat Association was preoccupied with many other pressing projects at that time, the issue of conducting the census was deferred. Subsequently the Managing Committee decided in 1970 to 1970 to undertake the census operations in 1971 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee year of the Association. To begin with, the Managing Committee appointed at Hon. Secretary for the Census and authorised him to form appropriate committees consisting of persons with requisite experience or expertise for conducting the -census. Accordingly, an Advisory Committee and a Working Committee were formed. These Committees held a number of meetings and evolved a planned programme for conducting the census operations. The new questionnaire introduced a few innovations so as to facilitate highlighting some more aspects of the socio-economic life and progress of the community. The questionnaire and instructions were printed and got ready for despatch to all centres by March, 1971. Field Organisation As in the 1956

Census,

members of the Local Sabhas

49 of Shri Chitrapur Math and social institutions and social workers including those in foreign countries helped us in this onerous task. Estimates of Requirements of forms

The number of questionnaire and instructions to be printed was determined on the basis of our population estimates. A list of villages, towns etc., to be covered was prepared with the help of “the Chitrapur Sunbeam” and the membership list of the Association. In all, 10,000 forms were printed. The Local Sabhas and other agencies such as social institutions and knowledgeable persons who offered cooperation in this work were contacted through letters. In a few cases, monetary assistance was given to them to meet travelling and other expenses. Calendar of Census Operations

A calender of census operations was prepared to ensure satisfactory progress and completion of work according to schedule, as far as possible. Publicity Wide publicity was given to this project in the issues of “The Kanara Saraswat” by way of editorials, special articles and appeals. The message from His Holiness Shrimat Parijnanashram Swamiji blessing the Organisation in conducting this census was published in “The Kanara Saraswat”. Smt. Malini Karkal, of the Demographic Training and Research Centre, Bombay, also a member of the Census Working Committee, gave a talk on the importance of the census.

The response, by and Jarge, was quite encouraging 50 it called, occasionally, for persistent reminders by though way of persuasion of appeal. Enumeration The enumeration commenced on April 4, 1971 and according to the calendar was to be concluded on April 15, 1971. However, for obvious reasons, the last date had to be extended by 15 days. The filled-in forms as and when received were recorded in a Register to ascertain whether all centres had sent their forms. By the middle of May, 1971, 8,500 forms, i. e., about 75 per cent of the expected number, were received. Sporting and Tabulation

The schedules, on their receipt, were scrutinised. In a number of cases, the schedules were not filled in properly. The types of discrepancies noticed were: Names of places were not written to distinguish as to which place the forms belonged. Age, educational qualifications, economic status, etc., were also not mentioned. The rectification of discrepancies such as these delayed coding and sorting. According to the programme, the coding work was to be completed by the end of June 1971, but this work was started only in that month, pending receipt of all forms. By then we had received schedules from 4223 families covering 19,820 persons or 90 per cent of the expected number. The card design was prepared to cover all the items mentioned in schedules and a team ofvolunteers was

given training in the method of coding. The work of coding was started in July, 1971, and was completed by August, 1971. The coded schedules were punched on the IBM machines. After the cards were punched, the data were processed on the tabulator. Ten punch operators completed the work in 220 man-hours. The tabulation was completed by the middle of October, 1971. The appeal of the President of the Kanara Saraswat Association made in his usual „Letter from the President‟ in the September, 1971 issue of “The Kanara Saraswat” brought to us 168 more forms, covering about 822 persons. These forms could not be processed on the tabulator as by this time the entire work of coding punching and tabulation was over. Hence, these were manually compiled and added to the processed tables. This consumed a lot of time and put off our target date for sending the material to the Press. The Chirtrapur Saraswat Register Just as there is a National Register of Citizens maintained by the Government, the Kanara Saraswat Association has kept a Register showing Name, Age, Sex, Marital Status, Educational and Economic Status of persons enumerated in the census. This was taken up in June 1971. For each family, one independent card is maintained and all these cards are arranged alphabetically placewise. This serves as a permanent record with details of all the family members including children, while in the Census Directory, names of persons above the age of eighteen only are published. This work was assigned

52 to seven persons in July, 1971 middle of October, 1197. DRAFTING OF CENSUS REPORT

and

completed

the

The data processed on the mechanical tabulator was decoded and final tables were prepared. These tables are the main basis of the Census Report which in the respective chapters presents brief tables summing up the statistical position in respect of the aspects analysed. The draft report was ready by the end of January 1972 but, as the chapters embodied the labour of different persons with different approaches and view points, It was considered necessary to smoothen out these differences by arranging a number of discussions among the contributors themselves on the draft. Prior to each of these meetings, the draft chapters were circulated and suggestions, if any, mainly with a view to bringing about a uniformity in approach and presentation were called for. This stage of finalising the report took a couple of months.

CHAPTER III The AISCO and Secular India Need for a census of Kashmri Saraswats Karmayoga J.L.K.Jalali Kalakendra, Srinagarâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Kashmir. KALOHAM (I am time)

Pranams to Swamijis.

It was a moment of indescribable joy when 1971 I received an intimation from my young friend, Shri J.S. Rao, that it had been decided to inaugurate the All-India Saraswat Cultural Organization shortly. Earlier, my friend Sopory had introduced me to the preparations that were being made to give shape and form to it in order to consolidate and unite the Saraswats of the country right from the north to the south, from the east to the west, and revive the traditions of Saraswatism that had for centuries built and rebuilt India in different departments of political, social, cultural, religious and economic life. When the invitation did not come after all in 1972 and I was made to attend the inaugural function of the Organisation, I saw it was a dream realised. In the cosmompolitan city of Bombay, in the park named after that great pillar of INDIAN MIGHT and LEADERSHIP, I mean the Shivaji Park, the celebration of the first ceremony under the patronage and with the blessings of the four Mathaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Repres-

54 entatives in person. I found that something secularly national was being organised to invigorate collective Indian life. Detractors called it anti-secular, partitive, communal and what not. That only betrayed their ignorance of Indian life itself. Today we are celebrating the third meet. On the second at Mangalore, I could not be present because of an unexpected tragedy at home. My daughter Swarajya, who had accompaied me to Bombay, had met with an accident and parted for ever from me. That parting became all the more acute because while she was with me she had imparted a joviality and cheer to the Bombay function which most of the members who had participated in that function expressed at the close of the celebrations. To have missed Mangalore when so much has been achieved there both in quality and quantity, matter and matterial, stability and the will to endure, is really a regret. But it could not be helped. Today I wanted to be with you at any cost but I cannot say definitely whether my age and circumstances will permit me to undertake this delightful journey to Cocnin, a historic place for Saraswats and Saraswatism. If I cannot, still I am with you, and shall only wish that Third Annual Meet succeeeds, and succeeds well, to the satisfaction of all, to the delight of all the Saraswats assembled here and helps in the real integration of the Saraswats and one Body (not community, because community conotes either a commune or a foreignerâ&#x20AC;&#x;s ill-coined term denoting religious saparatism and, factional existence). I have in the calumns of The Smukta Saraswat dwelt on and made this integration a vital issue. And on

55 that integration I want you all to concentrate your attention first of all, and then take up ot-ier matters for consideration. From what I have seen, heard and learnt during the past three years, it is evident that although Saraswats came from the north and spread Saraswatism in the south, east and west, the religious-cultural base they made in the south is the permanent base, and on this base the fabric we want to build will become enduring and will withstand the wind and weather of varying intensity. This base has the undeniable advantage of being reinforced by the cultural patronage of the four saraswat Maths which the North has yet to find and establish. So if the Southern Saraswats remain united, integrated, and cooperatively cohered and cohesive, in course of time the east the west and the north will find that the magnificent mansion erected on the solid foundations notwithstanding the nearness enough to claim and contain all the Saraswats and provide them with collective ayatanas (Shelters) in different parts of the country. Again, it annual Saraswat meets are far some time more spread out in the south and then by and by held in the upper reaches of Bharat, the integration of Saraswats will become a reality and a forceful factor in the national life at different levels, in different departments of one Indian nationlism. The Punjab which was the home of Saraswats in the beginning Has to be reawakend and reorganised with this spirit of Saraswatism first and then and then alone the rest of the Saraswats in the north are sure to fall in line with us.

From my talks with several Saraswats in the Punjab, in Delhi, in Jammu and other places, it appears that secularism is being misinterpareted and misunderstood. A sort of apprehensive dread, a sort of anti-nationalism, a sort of communlism seems to haunt them when mention of the AISCO is made. Why ? It means that we have to gird up our loins and do an intensive propaganda to dispel the fears of such good darasat friends:. Arya Samajik revivalism, I fear has been to an appieciable extent responsible for the unhingement of Saraswatism in the Punjab and consequently in the north. Sanatana Dharma Sabhas which were dotted all over the north and Central India, in my Kashmir and Jammu, and others parts, have practically dwindled and disappeared now, especially during the past 29 years since Independence under a false notion of secularism as stated above. Does secularism taboo Saraswatism and looked upon it ? It Saraswatism inconsistent with nationalism ? This has to be explained. Unless that is done the AISCO will find it an exercise in intellectual thinking only, and â&#x20AC;&#x17E;The Samyukts Saraswat which is at present the vehicle of advanced thinking of those intellectuals will be simply an organ of intellecutal discussions and dissertion, without serving the purpoes for which it has been founded and is intended. Therefore, a complete reorientation is needed, so that the AISCO emerges as the unignorable national force wherein each 8. and every Saraswat, man woman and child, is an emblem of collective nationatism and Indianism. How to do that is for this august assemblage to ponder, discuss and formulate.

57 I had during the course of my speeches delivered at T Bombay and in my writings thereafter made a definite request that we should start with the counting of Saraswat heads first. The India Census Report of 1971 is a disappointing document. It takes Hindus lumbered as one community against Sikhs, Christians, Budhists, Jains or Muslims. It is an incorrect way of assessing the potentialities of different classes of the vast majority of Hindus composing them, and so Sancifully agglomerated by the whimsical Census Office under one head. If I ask for breaking np of the so-called Hindu community into different constituents in order to show which of the constituents is progressive and in what way or has contribute tothe national life in a given way, militarily, administratively, industrially, commercially, culturally, etc., I am only asking for the right thing, for what I have, for example, seen form the present Census Report, it is not clear what I or my Kashmiri Saraswat community, known as Kashmiri Pandits, has contributed to or done for the overall national life of my Jtate and the country. How my community in Kashmir fares, one can never know form the said Cenus report. It does not say that since transfer of power, forty thousands of my Kashmiri Saraswats have been forced by circumstances economic, administrative and political to leave Kashmir, and an appreciable number of them is complelled to go to distant lands of America, Canada, the UK, Germany, Africa, Australia, etc. Why, I am not satisfied with the Kashmir Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x;s report, and he has disappointed me even when I had requested him in the beginning to count and tabu-

late the Kashmiri Pandits as a separate class under Hindus,, in Kashmir, Jammum and Ladakh. We Saraswats want that we should be shown as a separate constituent in every State, so that as a part of the whole, it can be stated about us what and how we contribute to national life, its progress and development. It is an incorrect way of huddling us together. Each State has its own characteristics. In Kashmir, we were 3o lakhs in the beginning; proselytisation has reduced us to a hundred and sixty thousand (as at present) in and outside the State. Ours is an important minority; which cannot afford to be so ignored. So is it with other Saraswats in India. Unless we take a count and compile a believable list of Saraswats, how can be know that we are a force, a strength that cannot be discounted ? If it appeals to the honourable members here, they should devise ways and means to do that. For my Kashmir, I can safely say that we are at present 115 thousand; so it comes to 125,000 Kasiimiri Jaraswats. About other Saraswats in Jammu. I am not certain. Friends there have some objection to the Saraswat and non-Saraswat differentiation. W h y ? I cannot say. Later on, when I have met them and discussed the question, I shall be able to say definitely what is what. As for other parts of India, friends from the North, East and West should come forward and say whether they are in favour of this proposition or not. If they are, they shall have to do it as best as they can not find a way of doing that. This countiug of heads will give us just like the Census operations a fair idea of what our Saraswat brothers and sisters are doing and how they

59 are situated, and what our general economic, social and cultural conditions are. Otherwise these annual meets becoms an intellectual affair only, and for a couple of days create a mild stir in a section of the population in that locality where the meet is held. Secondly, we have to integrate the Saraswat at the socalled lower rung and make him and her feel that thay are a part and parcel of a bigger whole which in turn is an important constituent of the National Integer. If we eannot do that, the propaganda of the Samyukta Saraswat alone cannot go a long way; for it is a vehicle in a tongue which the majority of Sarasgats are not well conversant with, we have to distribute cheap literature from time to time preferably in the understandable language of the region concernd, if Hindi or English is not intelligible. This sort of propaganda will prove helpful in awakening consciousness of Saraswatism and integrating the Saraswats of the country. We have to explain to them that we are not anti-national, anti-secular, but that nationalism and secularism are our chief aim, and have to be properly understood. As for my part, I have established a Branch of the AISCO at Srinagar in the hope that it will either become the centre for the north Region Saraswats or induce the Saraswats of the Punjab and Haryana to set up an AISCO centre at a suitable place. Thirdly, we have to invite our youth and apprise them of what we are doing and what objective we have in view. They shall become our messengers. Our youth alone can do that and thay can advise us what we should do further and what not to do in each region. State or locality. Other

suggestions which I have already made in my paper read before the MANGALORE MEET are there for your consideration and discussion provided you have time and think they will in any way help serve the purpose for which we meet and have met today. I close with the prayer that the great Mother Saraswati may preserve us all, and crown our humble efforts with success. Reproduced from the III AISCO Conference, Cochin, Jan, 1975 Souvenir)

AISCO and AISF Publications (Upto 12th March, 1976) I. Saraswat Sanmarg Series of Books and Tracts:

1. Our Sacred Crest by D.N. Nadkarni

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2. Community and Communion: The Saraswat Experience by K. Guru Dutt

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3. The AISCO and Manav Dharma Parishad —A Plea for Collaboration by J.S. Rao

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4. Census of All-India Saraswat Community —A Suggested Scheme—by J.S Rao 5. The AISCO and Legal Aid to Needy Sections of the Community and the Nation —by J.S. Rao and A.P. Kumtakar 6. Archaeological Survey and Research in Temple Worship—by J.S. Rao & Guru Raj Bhat 7. The AISCO and its Industrial Training & Self-employment Projects—by I.M. Pai 8. Our Publications:—A Classified Index to AISCO & AISF Literature (upto 12th March, 1976)—by AISCO Kurukshetra Conference Committee II.

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Rs. 2 Rs 2

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AISCO Conference Souvenirs: 1. The Souvenir of the Inaugural Conference Bombay (December, 1972) by AISCO Conference Committee

2. The Souvenir of the II Conference Mangaalore (December, (1973) by AISCO Conference Committee. 3. The Souvenir of the III Conference Cochin (January, 1975) by AISCO Conference Committee. 4. The Souvenir of the Inaugural Function and Conferencee of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab Branches New Delhi. (Supplement to the Samyukta Saraswat Quarterly Journal April, 1976 issue) by AISCO Kurukshetra Conference Committee. III. AISCO Constitution and Rules & Regulations :

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1. Faith and Works of the AISCO Constitution of All India Saraswat Cultural Organisation, Bombay—by The President AISCO 1st Edition. 1972 Re. 1 2. -do- 2nd Edition 1976 Re. 1 3. Dimensions of the Foundation—Constitution of All-India Saraswat Foundation, Bombay—by AISF Re. 1 4. Rules and Regulations for AISCO Branches and Local Sabhas in the North Indian Region—by The Vice-President, AISCO, Incharge of Northern Zone Re.l IV. Annual Reports of AISCO Branches & Committees : I. Annual Report to the AISCO Governing Council, Conhin, December, 1974— by Punjab & Haryana Pradesh Committee 50 np.

63 2. Annual Report on Activities for the period May, 1975 to March, 1976 —by AISCO Kurukshetra Conference Committee In English

50 p.

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In Hindi

4. Annual Report on Activities with audited accounts for the year 1974-75 (July, 1975) —by Punjab & Haryana Branch Committee In English 5. -doIn Hindi 6. Report on the Inaugural Function of Jammu and Kashmir Branch, Srinagar, 7th September, 1975-by Jammu & Kashmir Branch Committee V. Other Publications—General : 1. All-India Saraswat Cultural Convention, Bombay, 20—22 November, 1971—Prospectus-by The Preparatory Committee, Kanara Saraswat Association, Bombay. 2. A Pledge and Plea—An appeal for memership by/the President AISCO,Bombay 3. II AISCO Conference, Mangalore, December, 22-24, 1973—Complete proceedings by The Editor, PANCHKADAYI Konkani Monthly Journal, Mangalore In Konkani with Kannada script

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4. What is AISCO ? An appeal for membership Delhi, Haryana and Punjab BrancheSâ&#x20AC;&#x; New Delhi-by The Vice-president, AlbCU, In-charge of Northern Zone In English In Hindi 5.

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THE FOUNDATION OF CULTURE Man is not born free. He is born with a multiplicity of obligations to a variety of individuals and institutions contributing to the domestic environment and the structure of civilisation in which he must have his being. The ancients called it the triple debt, owed to the gods, to the ancestors, and to the men of wisdom. Ironically, man is left comparatively free to honour or disown these obligations. Their voluntary acceptance in the regulation of life is the spirit of manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture. It leads man to the noble path : to the Saraswat Sanmarg. That is true of individual, as also of the community, and of the group of communities known as the nation. To them all, the Saraswat Sanmarg is the path of self-fulfilment on the material as well as the spiritual plane. He who looks at the marvellous harmony in the anatomy of the universe, as well as his own, is inclined to deflate his ego and devalue his individual interests. He seeks the path of social harmony, which is indeed the Saraswat Sanmarg. The cultivation of this way of life is the objective of the All-India Saraswat Foundation. Contemplation of the harmony is the object of the Saraswat Sanmarg series of publications.