It is said that great leaders do not command excellence, but build excellence. Such is the calibre of the spiritual leaders of our temples, the men of the cloth who have persevered, worked with resilience and strengthened communities over the years by their unswerving spirit of sacrifice and commitment to duty. The last two decades have seen several innovations and transformational initiatives across the landscape of Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago that have impacted most positively on its climate and culture. Most certainly, the pioneering efforts of the pundits of SWAHA have opened up newer and more creative media of learning and re-engineered platforms of expressions of our time-honoured traditions and practices of our faith.
Such dynamism of our pundits was recognised during SWAHA’s 20th anniversary celebrations, which was held recently at SWAHA Sukh Shanti Bhakti Mandali. This function saw the coming-together of members and spiritual leaders who, by their unswerving sacrifice, have been tilling the soil of Sanatan Dharma in this country for decades. The anniversary proceedings, which were led by Spiritual Head of SWAHA, His Holiness Paramacharyaji Pt. Hardeo Persad, commenced with havan and included kirtan, bhajan and stotra as well as messages that reflected on the journey of SWAHA through two decades of unremitting industry, assiduousness and consistent enterprise.
Members present from the various centres and branches of SWAHA were given an insight into the travails of SWAHA through twenty years of resilience, perseverance and commitment by the pundits who guided their followers towards building the true foundation blocks of life. Without a doubt, it was through the inspiration of the founding father, Shankaracharyaji Pt. Hari Prasad, in establishing SWAHA that the shackles of inertia and religious lethargy were shaken off. Without a doubt, it is through the astute leadership of Paramacharyaji, together with the hard-working spiritual leaders of SWAHA that efforts were intensified in strengthening the service-oriented, educational, social and physical components in communities and, at the same time, providing meaningful direction to Hindu institutions, ensuring their continued relevance and sustainability in an ever-changing society.
The vehicles for enabling such objectives have been the various structures that are spread across the length and breadth of the country. SWAHA centres, branches, educational institutions, a Children’s Home, all with foundations firmly entrenched in the warm embrace of Mother Earth, have been built mainly with the ingredient of Swaha or sacrifice. One, two, three and even four-storied facilities have landmarked themselves far and wide, stretching from Sangre Grande in the east to Diego Martin in the far west, from Madras to South Oropouche, from St Augustine to Penal and from Aranjuez to Preysal. Today, these buildings, service providers in many ways, are fast becoming the heartbeat of the communities and the standard-bearers of true progress.
As SWAHA sets foot into its third decade, its spiritual leaders continue to ensure that, amidst rapidly changing global trends, the dynamism harnessed by the rich philosophical underpinnings of Hinduism remain the key factor to continuing progress in communities. In the words of Paramacharyaji, “Much has been accomplished. However, there is still much more to do. By the collective efforts of all, the sky is the limit of achievement. Aagey chaley. Keep going forward!”
