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BACKGROUND |
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Veerayatan is a non-profit, non-governmental
organization that strives to uplift and empower humanity
through the humanitarianism, education and inner
development. Our work is performed without regard to
caste, creed, race, religion or socioeconomic status.
Veerayatan began as a dream of the great Indian scholar
and Saint, Upadhyaya Shri Amar Muniji Maharaj. Inspired
by his vision, Acharya Shri Chandanaji nurtured this
seed into what is now considered one of India’s leading
development organizations. Established over thirty five
years ago in the hostile environment of Bihar,
Veerayatan has succeeded in bringing hope into the lives
of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
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Acharya Shri Chandanaji during the early days in Rajgir,
Bihar |
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Veerayatan Rajgir |
With
its world-renowned eye hospital and orthopedic center in Rajgir,
Veerayatan has become one of the most modern and best-equipped
centers of its kind in the entire state of Bihar. To date (end
of 2006), Veerayatan’s N.J.S.M. Hospital has provided cataract
and intraocular lens surgery to over 200,000 patients,
completely free of charge or at a highly subsidized rate. It has
also provided free orthopedic reconstructive surgery to more
than 2500 patients. With the resolute dedication of its
director, volunteers and doctors, Veerayatan has succeeded in
making the N.J.S.M. Hospital one of the best eye and polio
research and treatment centers in eastern India. |
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Veerayatan Vidyapeeth – Kutch |
Following
the devastating earthquake of January 2001 in Kutch, India,
Veerayatan established a network of educational institutions
throughout the region to care for affected children, widows and
adults. More than 7000 students took advantage of the top
quality education provided by the temporary schools created by
Veerayatan in Bhuj, Kutch. A residential dormitory, created for
orphaned or economically disadvantaged children, hosted more
than 100 children. In the 36 vocational training centers
established throughout Kutch, twelve different courses were
organized, including computer training, tailoring,
screen-printing and motor winding. By September 2003, more than
12,000 students had benefitted from Veerayatan’s vocational
training programs, furthering the process of rehabilitation.
Veerayatan’s efforts in Kutch prompted the New York Times—one
of America’s leading newspapers—to hail Veerayatan as “the
biggest, most honest and best organized private effort to
provide stopgap schools for children in the state…of
earthquake-torn Gujarat.”
The permanent educational and vocational training complex at
Jakhania, Kutch, spread over 23-acres, was completed in early
2003. Today, more than 500 residential students and 1000 school
students study there each year. To fulfill a longstanding need
for specialized higher education in Kutch and to ensure that the
people of the region could be competitive in India’s
increasingly globalized economy, in 2005, Veerayatan established
the first Pharmacy Degree College in Kutch. Veerayatan is
committed to creating more educational institutions for higher
professional and technical studies, including the creation of a
business administration and computer training college in 2008.
Ultimately, Veerayatan strives to provide innovative learning
opportunities to the entire region of Kutch, so that all
students, regardless of caste or socioeconomic status, can reap
the limitless rewards of a top quality education.
The
guiding philosophy behind Veerayatan’s third major site,
Navalveerayatan, is the belief that individual change leads
to societal change. Nestled amidst mountains overlooking a
lake, Navalveerayatan is the ideal location for people
seeking refuge from the clamor of modern life. In this
serene environment, Navalveerayatan’s staff provides classes
on yoga, meditation, stress management and new age health
therapies, using the most contemporary teaching techniques
and facilities. Special courses are designed for families,
women and corporate employees. By learning various methods
for effective self-introspection, participants learn to face
any situation with serenity. |
In
2002, in recognition of her nearly three decades of untiring
devotion to the cause of humanitarianism, the government of
India presented Acharya Shri Chandanaji with the coveted Ahilya
Bai National Service Award. This same determined devotion and
energy of Acharya Shri Chandanaji and her team of Sadhvijis and
volunteers has proven to be contagious. Veerayatan has now
entered the hearts of hundreds of thousands of well-wishers
worldwide, establishing centers in India, America, England,
Kenya, Singapore, Australia and Canada.
With such widespread support and following, Veerayatan has truly
inspired a world movement devoted to improving the health,
education and well being of all of humanity. |
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