Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam


Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, commonly known as S.N.D.P. Yogam, is a foundational social service organisation in Kerala, India. Officially registered under the Companies Act on 15 May 1903, it was founded by Dr. Padmanabhan Palpu. The social reformer Sree Narayana Guru served as its first and lifelong chairman, while the poet Kumaranasan was its first secretary.
The establishment of the Yogam marked the first organised effort for social equality in Kerala and played a pivotal role in the state's renaissance. Its primary objectives were to propagate Guru's ideals, guide oppressed communities towards social and spiritual advancement, and establish educational institutions and monasteries. The organisation grew out of the Vavoottu Yogam, a committee managing the Aruvippuram temple founded by Guru.
Today, the SNDP Yogam is a powerful and influential organisation with a significant presence in Kerala's social and political spheres. Its influence extends globally, with members and branches in the Gulf countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Sree Narayana Trust

The Sree Narayana Trust was founded by the SNDP Yogam to start, and manage educational, social, and economical institutions with the vision of Narayana Guru. Combined both the Yogam and the Trust present annual budgets of about ₹2,000,000,000.
Currently, the organization runs several educational institutes, hospitals, and other institutions.

Mission

The SNDP Yogam is based on the principles and philosophy of Narayana Guru. Guru devoted his life to working against the social and economical inequality, casteism, and superstitions in the Kerala society. The Yogam has the moral responsibility and the social duty to model the Sree Narayana dharmas.

History

SNDP was founded in 1903 by Padmanabhan Palpu with the guidance and blessings of Narayana Guru. SNDP was the first organization to envisage Kerala as a whole.
Vavoottu Yogam expanded and formed an organization known as Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam. The Aruvippuram Temple Society, known as Vavoottu Yogam emerged in 1888.
During the 1890s, there was an oppressive caste system in Kerala. Palpu started working towards ensuring the rights of the then identified backward communities. With the 1891 Malayali Memorial Revolt, he took the leadership of the then oppressed community named Ezhava, and attempted to begin an organization called Ezhava Sabha. In 1896, he created the organization's by-laws and published the law in Malayali, a newspaper published from Thankussery. He organized a few meetings at Paravur and Mayyanad, before the movement failed.
On 7 January 1903, a special meeting of Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam was conducted. They decided to enlarge the organization to support the progress of all backward communities religiously and materially. Thus, on 15 May 1903, with Narayana Guru as its president, Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam was registered as Aruvippuram Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam according to the Indian Companies Act, No. 6, 1882.
The Sree Bhavaneeswara temple, dedicated to Shiva, was consecrated by Guru on 8 March 1916. After the ceremony, he laid the foundation stone for the Lower Primary School under the SNDP.

List of presidents

NoNameYears
1 Narayana Guru1903–1928
2Madavan Vydyar1929–1933
3C. Krishnan1933–1938
4 M. Govindan1939–1940
5 K. Ayyappan 1940–1943
6 V. K. Panikkar 1943–1944
7 V. K. Velayudan 1944–1945
8 M. Govindan 1945–1951
9 P. N. Narayanan 1951–1953
10 K. Sukumaran 1953–1954
11 R. Sankar 1954–1956
12 V. G. Sukumaran 1956–1960
13 K. I. Velayudan 1960–1961
14 M. Achuthan 1961–1966
15 C. R. Kesavan Vydyar 1966–1970
16 Administrator rule 1970–1971
17 K. T. Achuthan1971–1973
18 N. Sreenivasan 1973–1978
19 P. S. Velayudan 1978–1982
20 M. K. Ragavan 1982–1988
21 K. K. Viswanathan1988–1992
22 K. G. Sreenivasa Panickar1992
23 K. K. Rahulan1992–1996
24 A. S. Prathapsingh1996–1999
25 C. K. Vidhyasagar 1999–2006
26 K. Kamalasanan2006
27 M. B. Sreekumar2006–2007
28 M. N. Soman 2007–