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.