ABOUT US

Sadhu Kuppuswami Memorial College, formerly known as Nadi Secondary School, was founded in 1958.

In 1958, the number of students at the Sarda Girls’ Hostel decreased to a sustainable level and this was seen as an opportunity by Swami Rudrananda to use that premises as the new Nadi Secondary School. To manage the affairs of this new school, Swamiji formed the Nadi Education Society, with Dr. C. T. Mehta as the President; Mr. H. M. Lodhia (Manager); Mr. Krishna Murti (Secretary/Treasurer) and a few other members. Some time later, due to his demise, Mr Krishna Murti was replaced by Mr. M. K. Pillai.

The pioneer Principal of the school was Mr. Shantilal N. Patel, with Mr. Satya Mani Masih and Pandit Vivekanand Sharma as his assistants. The school had a roll of sixty-eight students during its first year. At the beginning of term three, 1958, Shri Vivekananda High School , which was located on the bank of the Nadi River (the site of the old Nadi Temple), moved to its present site in Malolo. Nadi Secondary School moved into that premises, flourishing in the warmth of the temple environment. Mr. S. N. Patel resigned as the Principal in 1962 and he was succeeded by Mr. S. Sadasiwan. 1964 saw the introduction of a form five in the school. The student population had increased to around four hundred. In 1965, Mr. Sadasiwan resigned to join the government service. He was succeeded by Mr. J. R. Achal in 1966.

1967 witnessed yet another significant event; Nadi Secondary School was handed over by the Nadi Education Society to T.I.S.I.Sangam Central Board. This was followed by the election of a new Board of Governors: Rev. Swami Rudrananda (Manager); Mr. Shankaran Nair (President); Mr. Venkat Swami Naodu (Secretary); Mr. M. K. Pillai (Treasurer) and Messrs. Ram Sami Pillai, Jag Nath Naidu, Nacovi Narayan, Chinnaiya Gounder, Pullaiya Dass, R. Raman, V. S. Naidu and Changaiya Naidu (Committee Members).

Later, in 1969, the school moved into its new premises, where it is since located. On receiving a substantial building grant, a double storey building consisting of nine classrooms, two science laboratories (Physics and Chemistry), a library and a Home Economics Room, was constructed. Mr. Amraiya Naidu succeeded Mr J. R. Achal in 1974 and during his short stay, there was a tremendous progress in the school. He was the strength behind the infrastructural development; the construction of a new four classroom concrete block and the workshop for Industrial Arts. He also made provisions for the school playground and equipped the school library with the much needed resources. Results in the external examinations soared high, thus leading to the introduction of a form six, in 1976.

At the end of the first term, 1976, Mr. Amraiya Naidu, upon his request was transferred to Labasa and Mr. A. C. Dass filled in the vacant position as Acting Principal until the appointment of Mr. Narayan Reddy in 1977. It was during Mr. Reddy’s principal ship that the school was renamed Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswami Memorial College, in honour of the dedication and commitment of the founder of the Sangam Organisation, Sadhu Kuppuswami, towards the education of the children of the indentured labourers in Fiji.

1980 saw another milestone; the introduction of Form Seven, elevating the school to level one. The school continued to progress in terms of academic and infrastructural development till today.

FOUNDING FATHER

SEVAK Ratnam Sadhu Kuppuswamy who was the founding father of Sangam, son of Govind Swamy Naidu was born in 1890 in the district of South Arcot, Konoor, Madras, India. At the age of 22 he arrived in Fiji on April 12, 1912 on the ship Sutlej III and served his indenture on Francis Sahib’s estate in Yaladro, Tavua.

After completing his five year term he acquired a piece of land in Tavua and began farming but gave up after a short while.

After leaving Yaladro, Sadhu Ji made a trip visiting Suva, Levuka, Savusavu and other places and then took up employment in one of the cane estates in Navua. Around 1920 he moved to Rakiraki to join the Melbourne company as a double horse ploughman in Caulasi, Rakiraki.

After witnessing the state of the welfare of the South Indians he resolved to set up schools to teach South Indian language to the children of the Girmitiya. In 1921 K.S. Raman built a bure school on his estate in Mullau Rakiraki and Sadhu Kuppuswamy commenced teaching of Tamil language at this school for four years.

In 1924 the Mullau school closed after the lease was not renewed. Sadhu kuppuswamy also taught at the Penang primary school and Wairuku Primary school for a while after the closure of the Mullau school.

The birth of Sangam

During his term in indenture Sadhu Kupuswamy observed the atrocities mooted out to the Girmitiya. Towards the end 1922 T.A.J. Pillay organised a 48 day Shiva Puran Katha meeting at K.S. Raman’s house near the Vaileka creek in Rakiraki.

On January 10 1926, a four day celebration was organised near the residence of K.S. Raman in Rakiraki to observe the birth of Swamy Vivekananda.

After completing the formal part of the celebrations the gathering discussed the various issues affecting the lives of the South Indians and hence some resolutions were adopted unanimously. The motions included: that an organisation be formed named “Sanmarga Sangam”; a letter be written to the Shree Ramakrishna matt in Chennai India requesting for a Sanyasi to teach religion and culture in Fiji and assist Sangam and that the Thaipoosam be celebrated at the Subramanya Swami temple in Nadi.

On January 30 1926, a meeting was held at the Nadi temple and resolved that a group of prominent Sangam members visit each settlement to discuss the resolutions of the Nadi meeting.

Following the various meetings it was resolved that a grand convention be planned to be held in Nadi. A four day convention was held in Nadi from May 21 to 24 in 1926 where the foundation for the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam was laid and thereafter several schools and temples started to be established in most of the districts around Fiji.

Sadhu Kuppuswamy was elected as the first and the lifelong president of TISI Sangam; late M.N. Naidu as a vice-president and T.A.J Pillay as the first general secretary and Nadi was chosen as the head quarters for Sangam. Sadhu Kuppuswamy breathed his last breath on August 2, 1956.

Today Sangam is the trustee for eight ECE centers, 21 primary schools, five high schools, one tertiary institute-the Sangam College of Nursing consisting of five campuses, three national temples, 19 district temples, four freehold estates, several leaseholds and investment properties. All our schools and temples are open to people of all religious, cultural and ethnic groups and have benefited nationally to all the communities around the nation.