Big trouble in little Southall
Generosity and honesty; these are some very basic teachings of Hinduism. So you would expect them to be practiced by mandir committees and helpers, right?
I think most Hindus that attend their local Mandir have experienced or at least heard of committee elections. These are meant to be democratic with the aim of electing people that will look after the day-to-day functioning. In many cases, however, the committees seem to see their role in an entirely different way. I have a hunch that all of you have heard of some form of in fighting or some dubious dealings with mandir finances. My local Mandir in Slough has been known for in fighting ever since I can remember. Just recently, a member of the committee was believed to have acquired substantial sums of money from the Mandir, and together with his family never seen at the mandir since.
But the real reason I decided to write this article was sparked by a recent trip to a very well known mandir in Southall…
May 31st, 2007 at 3:04 am
Temple Watch.
We all devotees must be vigilant. Protecting temple money and property is an act of Dharma. It is not intermeddling. A budget of temple activities must be made in anuual general meeting and allocation of funds for various activities must be made. There should be sub committees for monitoring the work. Temple administration standards must be set separately like ISO . TAS Temple administration standard should be formulated which will set standards of entire administration , accounting and Dharma traditions, worship and Dharma activities.
those interested in temple watch program may contact me . My mail address can be published.
May 31st, 2007 at 3:25 am
I do think mandirs should look at their aims in a very fundamental way, considering their goals and how these can be most effectively achieved. I had one unpleasant experience approaching mandir administration. Once a large a number of educational leaflets on Ram Navmi (explaining in English the significance and traditions associated with this festival) came my way and I thought it would be useful to give these to my local mandir in Kenton for distribution…
However, I was met by a stone wall in the form of the mandir secretary who said that permission would never be granted for distributing “outside” material. He was also disrespectful in the way he assumed incorrectly that I was promoting some sect. This relatively small incident demonstrates how administrators can be closed-minded or have a warped impression of the role mandirs should play in communities.
May 31st, 2007 at 8:14 am
It is typical of Hindu everywhere thanks to people like Gandhi who taught a lesson of non violence even under threat to your lives in your own home in hands of others. We are the only nation who has no unity like others, hence a ridicule of the world at present, with inferior complexity. Majority of Hindu never dare talks to another Hindu in Hindi unlike other nationals.
Regards temple at Lady-Margaret Road, some months ago I noticed a horrid smell near the Shiv Statute due to milk and others offering being carried out by the devotees with no cleanliness. I suggested the secretary to install a simple water pump which will aspirate the debris to waste and install a blue fly catcher from hygiene purposes. He jumped at the idea and as I don’t live in the area whether this had been implemented or not.
If this isn’t e then I might as well talk to the brick wall like others. What one need is change in committee by the public and get rid -off of vested interested parties who only has their own axe to grind
May 31st, 2007 at 10:13 am
When people were asked to leave Uganda, my family were on bad times . They went to trustees of one of the tamples to help them out to buy the tickets to England >>> the answer was the money was GODS? No if the money is not used for good cause but fills up te trustees pockets.
Since than, I have always said god is everywhere >>> meaning >> You really dont need to go to the tample.
When will we , Hindus , learn , and insted of tamples build schools hospitals yes we can have small temples within them?
May 31st, 2007 at 1:10 pm
this article is so true, this was the case at our mandir too but luckily it wasnt to do with missing money or the sort but more like a power struggle between a group of men who had loyalties against eachother, but in the end justice was served and the presidency went to a man with a shakha background, he has been at the helm for a few years now and the mandir has literally transformed into a place that is alive with people, different activities day in day out, luncheon club even youth club had opened up again! my only hope is that this great man’s successor is the same as I have had enough of people wanting to look good as president but no actually doing anything or contributing anything to the mandir.
Radhe Krishna
June 1st, 2007 at 8:34 am
Your guts are recognised for bringing out this informatuion and as such could this be brought to the committee of the Mandir concerned?
June 1st, 2007 at 9:11 pm
I know exactly who that president is.He’s well known a total fraudster in the area.The fat scumbag needs to be kicked out along with the other fraudsters at that temple.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:26 pm
i know this mandir, went to it quite a few times. I heard theres a lot of dubious things going on when it comes to money management and general caretaking of the temple and so on. the president should be ashamed really.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Yeah, I think this was the mandir who turned in 2 hindus who attacked somalians trying to attack that mandir. Some mandir heads called the police to turn in the Hindus that tried to defend that mandir. If it is this mandir it deserves to get the condemnation it is going to get. Karma sometimes comes to haunt you.
June 2nd, 2007 at 3:59 am
In most of the Hindu Temples, ( all over the world, from India to America )
The ” ALMIGHTY GODS ” are nukly ( artificial made of Stones ), but ,
The Thieves are Real.
Beware of these management committees.
Truth is GOD. Speak up.
” RAM Nam SAT Hai ”
Truth will Win.
Satya Mav Jayante.
Refer to Court Case in California Dhir VS Vedic Dharam Samaj (HIndu Temple in Fremont California ).
Join the Samaj Sudhar Committee.
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:20 am
Dear all,
I cannot defend (and not even try to defend) acts of so called Pundits and Poojaris who use Mandir as their place of residence, income and way to get UK passports. However, if we look at ourselves, the youths…
(Do not look at these points as accusations or blame, look at them as a points where we can improve ourselves).
1) When did youth every got united and did something worthwhile?
2) When did any youth(s) called for a united effort in resolving an issue?
3) How many times have you said - It is not my problem, I just come here to worship and go!
4) How much active roles do youth play in any Hindu activities?
5) When was the last time they did any service to their community or mandir. Did anyone ever picked up a broomstick to clean the floors?
6) When was the last time you actually visited Mandir other then Ramnavmi, Holi or Janmastami or Bestu Varas?
These pujari’s are there everyday and we need to tell me what their role is and if they do not keep Mandir clean, finances clear and keep their conscience clear, they will be booted out in an appropriate manner.
Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
Remember who said that - HE was a youth too!
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Dear Hindus
We must stand against the injustice in any form especially in our holy places of worship like temples. Those who just watch with folded hands are more to blame than the actual fraudsters and criminals - if we stand united and speak up these wrong-doers don’t stand a change.
Let’s unit.
June 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Southall came to Slough today!!!!………yes that is true!!!!!!…..to discuss that everyone in the Hindu community is to blame accept for the Mandir Committee……..I’m sure part two “Bigger trouble in little Southall transported to slough!” will be published soon………….can’t wait…………
…..
June 3rd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
BIGGER TROUBLE IN LITTLE SOUHTALL……. COMING SOON !
June 7th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Meaning of the word ‘Mandir’ is house (Gruhe pure ch). Krishna Bhagwan’s house is Krishna Mandir, Ram Bhagwan’shouse is Ram Mandir … and so on.
The all-prevalent Omnipotent Omniscient supernatural power in Hindu parlance is called Brahm. It is synonymous with the Vedas, Knowledge and Dharma. In that way, Mandirs have always been (and they have to be) places for the dissemination of knowledge of Dharma and allied subjects like Yoga, Holy Books and our language. They are not just for gaining Deity’s Darshanas and receiving Prasaadam, for, isn’t Knowledge also a Bhagwat-Prasaadam? Didn’t Arjuna receive the same from Bhagwan Krishna on the field of Kurukshetra?
I fully agree with the author. The authorities in the temples ought to make arrangements for the teachings and dissemination of the knowledge of Dharma and Hindi-Sanskrit on a regular basis, for, otherwise, how would it be a Temple? We should remember, Bhagwan is Sat, Chit and Anand, where Chit means Knowledge or Gnaan?
June 10th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Well this does not surprise me, who are these committee members and where the hell did they spring up from ??? The recent opening of the adjacent hall was a total farce, invitations were sent to the select few, many Trustees were not invited, the very people that introduced and vouched for the President of the Mandhir were ommitted from the invitation list….
alot of politics going on and zero activities for the future generations…
June 27th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Haribol
I am partially not surpised by this. I am a South London girl, yet i go to Southall Mandir on a regular. I haven’t been to any of the bhojans, but i must say, what is said in this article, is very likely to be true. People work voluntarily, yet treat it as a job. They act very stone faced aswel, i personaly do not like it. However i wish to reply to Ghanashyam Master’s comments. your first statement, fair enough, the majotiry of us, we, as Hindu Youths do not fufil our dharma, I accept that as a fact, however, i feel your being a bit biased, irrational, and its not fair. We as a group don’t get involved, fair enough, but you cannot lable every one of us as not prepared to work for our dharma, or volunteer/sewa type. Not all of us deserve this lable, and its not fair. I am a Hindu youth, and I am prepared to do any sewa work, I am a active participating member of Sewa International ect. I am prepared to work in a Mandir volentarily, yet i have no local Mandirs to do so. I am sorry Ghanashyam Master, but you played it unfairly. There are loads of youths out there, who work for it, yet we recieve no reconization as such, no praise as such, no respect or dmiration of any, that majority of us begin to loose intrest. We have to be fair to say things like that.
Jai Hind
June 27th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Sejal, some of us are active in the east london area if you ever want to meet up to do some Hindu work.
June 28th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
This is naturally the problem i have, I cant travel far, at the age of 14, i cant really drive or travel alone long distances. Is it possible that work is also available to be done from here near croydon/south london? Does anyone know any more organisations i can work with, other than Hindu Sevika Samiti/ Hindu SwayamSevak Sangh? which is also in croydon/south london?
June 28th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
“Does anyone know any more organisations i can work with, other than Hindu Sevika Samiti/ Hindu SwayamSevak Sangh? which is also in croydon/south london?”
Tell you the truth there isn’t any good Hindu organisations in those parts.But if you’re travelling to Southall on a regular then east london area shouldn’t be a problem now should it.
July 1st, 2007 at 5:13 pm
nahh, when i say oftan, i mean, with my family, on the weekends. We go southall ect, to meet family, oftan to go mandir ect
July 10th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Good effort Nidhi to take out your time and highlight these irregularities. Keep it up.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
If you are having this vision of righteousness and holy in temples then its just something that is taught in holy scriptures.
In reality its very difficult to practice.
Take your own lives for example. Do you or your nearest and dearest really live by the Hindu code?
Having just criticized the temples in part two of this article here Im trying to understand the temple point of view.
Perhaps these are some of the reason for temples doing what they do.
1] Free food in temples—you have to agree they work really hard to make you food. Its free and by volunteers. They cant predict how many people are coming to the temple that day to eat. If they gave everyone a full restaurant size or even a home size portion of meal then they wont have any food for the other devotees.
So surely the onus is on the devotees understanding that what they get offered is simply a Prasad portion? Don’t come to the temple just because you could be bothered to cook or you want some freebies.
2] The temple runs on donations. You say they don’t care but surely they do. The business, sorry the Temple; depends on the number of visitors to the temples!
So they are doing their utmost by holding religious events venues, weddings etc to run the temple for your benefit.
Afterall its giving you a place to come and worship, isn’t it? During the many festival periods where else can you go?
3] Its all very well bringing your leaflets from outside the temple to distribute to devotees. But if everyone brought in their leaflets then it would mean they would have to be read to see if they are correct.
The Temple could be blamed for any misinformation on leaflets distributed inside or outside their premises.
4] The other point to remember is that yes you are bringing fantastic educational leaflets on Ram Navmi but what group is publishing these leaflets?
Sometimes they don’t know who these people are and so its better to have a policy of no outside material then risk approving material they have no control over and sects and groups whom they don’t know about.
For example one person wanted to advertise Brahmkumari philosophy, when you read it, it’s a wonderful piece of writing, but we know that these groups claim that Krishna did not write the Bhagvad Gita or that there is no such thing as Hinduism. How can such material be allowed, wonderful as it may be, by this group which goes against the beliefs of Hindu Dharma and philosophy.
5] Again many leaflets are produced just for the sake of advertising that group. I could advertise my Take Away by producing lovely Hindu texts. Whether thats right or wrong is a matter for each individual temple.
6] Other Religious Hindu events outside the temples cannot be posted since they are not sure if they are for free or whether fees have to be paid. Again they cannot advertise events they know nothing about. Who knows what they are sending their devotees to?
Im sure they will post those events they know about.
7] If you find health and safety issues a concern then report it your council anonymously if you wish, but don’t try to bang your head with the temple authority.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
These are excellent points. Temple officials can use this kind of information to devise a policy. Also, in my view Temple authorities should set themselves certain objectives in terms of educating our community about Hinduism and a plan as to how these objectives will be met. In my experience both Youth and the Adults need educating in religious matters.
The fact of the matter is that Temple officials tend to be reluctant (even obstructive) to take on educational activities. Also, the type of issues you are highlighting are often used as excuses by the Temple authorities to not do anything. Irony is that the most popular activities (religious/social gatherings and preparing/serving food) are also the highest risk activities. Also, both of these bring most people into the temple and more donations. Therefore, Temple authorities are naturally prepared to support these and they do take a great deal of care in managing their risks. However, my perception is that youth are more interested in learning and doing practical work like sewa than the traditional things like going to temple for a gathering and food. So it is the interest of temple authorities to revisit their strategies. Otherwise, we mind find a lot of temples to become just empty places in the next 2 decades.
Finally, those who are really serious about learning about Hinduism, I am sure will find a way around even if they have to learn outside of the temple. Although there is no doubt that the support from the temple officials could make access to these activities easier and safer.