November 6, 2014

Tourism and Culture Minister willing to take matter to court if need be.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today stressed that the land surrounding the 110-year old Vivekananda Ashram building in Brickfields should be declared a national heritage site.

He said the National Heritage Department has once again offered the Vivekananda Ashram Board to gazette it as a national heritage site recently even though the offer made on November 13, 2008 was turned down.

We are awaiting a reply from the board to keep the historical site as it is more than 100 years old. We will also be meeting Federal Territories Minister (Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor) to discuss how to ensure the site is maintained and not to allow the developer to carry out any demolition of the historical building, he told reporters after visiting the site in Brickfields, here today.

He said any artifacts and building structure which is more 100 years old is a national heritage.

Nazri said the ministry did not rule out the possibility of bringing the matter to court if discussions and efforts to keep the heritage site was not successful.

According to media reports, the Vivekananda Ashram board of trustees plan to redevelop the site in Brickfields into a 23-storey apartment had sparked off a spate of controversies including protests from the Indian community in the area.

The board of trustees defended their action that the move would provide funds for schools and charity homes under its care and for its future plans.

For the Indian community, the Swami Vivekananda Ashram is a symbol of its presence in the country with the first school built by Ashram in 1914.

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Nazri: Vivekananda Ashram should be preserved

Swami Vivekananda was ahead of his time in fostering interfaith dialogue and we should preserve his memory.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Swami Vivekananda Ashram in the Brickfields suburb of Kuala Lumpur, currently at the heart of a struggle between developers and the heritage conscious, has won a vote of confidence from Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan, the Jesuit-educated prelate who heads the Malacca-Johor diocese.

The ashram was built in 1904 to mark the visit of the venerable Swami Vivekananda to Malaya.

Swami Vivekananda was ahead of his time in fostering interfaith dialogue, and because that effort is so important to our country now, we should preserve his memory, preferably in the form we find it today, said Bishop Paul. The swami introduced Hindu philosophy to the West and helped interfaith consciousness.

The ashram is a venerable building and gives character and resonance to an area where there are several places of worship.

If the ashram site is redeveloped, lamented Bishop Paul, it will be a loss not only to Hindus but also to Malaysians in general because Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian places co-exist here side by side.

The Bishop noted that the Brickfields area in general, where Little India dominates, is a wonderful testimony to our countrys multi-religious character and should be preserved.

This is what makes us unique, added the Bishop.

Parliament heard on Monday that the people who own the land on which Swami Vivekananda Ashram sits have plans to develop the site into a 23-storey condominium block and eight-storey car park.

They have apparently refused an offer by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to gazette the Swami Vivekananda Ashram as a heritage site.

Link:
Bishop Paul Tan wants ashram preserved for posterity

Ia berkenaan tapak warisan Hindu Vivekananda Ashram yang berusia 110 tahun kerana isu berkenaan termasuk di bawah bidang kuasanya

PETALING JAYA : Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) Malaysia menggesa agar Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor tidak mengamalkan sikap lepas tangan berkaitan tapak warisan Vivekananda Ashram kerana isu berkenaan termasuk di bawah bidang kuasanya.

Menurut Exco Sayap Pemudanya, Jestin Raj Savarimuthu, bangunan warisan Ashram yang berusia 110 tahun itu adalah merupakan simbol ikon spiritual di mana ia merupakan sumber kebanggaan masyarakat India di Malaysia

AMK membantah keras berkenaan isu ini di mana kami turut berkongsi sentimen komuniti dan identiti mereka di Malaysia.

Kami juga menuntut Lembaga Pemegang Amanah untuk bekerjasama bersama-sama Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan bagi menggazetkan bangunan tersebut kerana mereka telah ditawarkan untuk menggazetkan bangunan itu pada April 2008 tetapi tawaran tersebut ditolak oleh pemegang amanah pada November 2008, katanya pada sidang media di Ibu Pejabat PKR di sini hari ini.

Baru-baru ini, media melaporkan kerajaan tidak boleh menghentikan projek yang dibangunkan pihak swasta di tapak warisan Vivekananda Ashram kecuali menasihatkan pemilik tanah mengekalkan bangunan itu.

Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor berkata, bangunan warisan Hindu itu terletak di tanah persendirian, oleh itu kementerian akan menasihatkan pemaju dan pemegang amanah untuk mengekalkan bangunan asalnya.

Jestin berkata, pihak Lembaga Pemegang Amanah seharusnya telus dan memberikan maklumat terperinci cadangan pembangunan kerana mereka menyatakan ia adalah untuk manfaat masyarakat India.

Dalam pada itu, Naib Ketua Angkatan Muda KEADILAN, Fahmi Fadzil berkata perkara tersebut merupakan salah satu masalah yang sering berlaku di Kuala Lumpur.

Umum kita mengetahui di Kuala Lumpur banyak mempunyai bangunan-bangunan bersejarah dan tapak warisan.

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Vivekananda Ashram : Tengku Adnan jangan lepas tangan

Welcome to Eat Pray Love Ashram. Here at the homepage we have shared a few different ideas we feel might be helpful to those who are on the path to awakening their inner-self. The major ideas we explore are:

If you would like to get a taste of what an ashram is like, please visit the following page: http://www.tureya.com which is one of the ashrams we recommend for spiritual seekers.

Like many of the curiously adventurous soul seekers that have emerged in the last century, I have been looking for answers. From meditation retreats to daily 6 a.m. yoga classes Ive been weaving through the prowls of material life looking for something that I know to be far greater than what my worldly life could encompass. There, inside of my heart, was a secret garden of wisdom that was waiting to bloom, it just needed a little sunlight, water, and nutrients.

And like many I have also done my fair share of travels, wondering through the vibrant rays of the holistically unique cultures dispersed throughout the world, each with their own beauty and wisdom. But for me, India was my resting ground. Like a seed in the wind waiting to find fertile ground to land upon, India presenting a pristine opportunity for me to plant roots and begin to sprout a key that could unlock my inner spiritual garden.

Although I had many premonitions of visiting, it was not until a train ride from Brussels to Madrid that my dream began to manifest itself as a reality. Ive been on European trains many times throughout my life, but what made this trip unique was my encounter with a kind hearted women from Italy who had with her a book published by one of her dear friends, Elizabeth Gilbert.

She was a diamond in the rough my co-traveller gleamed as she reminisced upon treasured memories of the past. You share the same eagerness to venture the depths of your soul as Elizabeth did.

Flattered by the possibility that I shared qualities with someone who had the knack to write a book about India, I asked my new friend if she would be willing to lend me the book. Of course she replied Ive already gone through it several times. Maybe it will shed some light on your own awakening she giggled.

She was right, and the eloquent dance of Elizabeths life in India set of a spark in heart that was so strong I could never consider turn back. I quit my job at the European Consulate and dove head first into a journey into the unknown world of a mystic life in India.

Elizabeth Gilbert was right: if you want walk the path of a yogi in India you need to visit an ashram. But there are so many to chose from, and if you spend even a few minutes on the internet you will find that most ashrams appear to be big frauds that pocket peoples money in the name of spirituality. One person ever writes about how ashrams are centres for drugged up hippies and trendy do-gooders.

But such an image of Indian ashrams is incomplete and narrow minded. It neglects to even entertain the simple fact of life that what is true for one thing may not be true for another. A basic example would be to compare a professor from some small town community college with a Department Head at Harvard University; they are both professors, but their ability to teach and their academic knowledge is going to vary quite drastically. Making a generalization that all things sharing the same name are good or bad is presumptuous and belittling.

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Eat Pray Love Ashram | Ashram in India

Welcome to Swami Dayananda Ashram

Dayananda Ashram Rishikesh is situated on the banks of the Holy Ganga, away from the major tourist attractions. It is a unique centre for the study of Vedanta and Sanskrit; unique in the sense that the classes are conducted in English yet the adherence and reverence to the ancient tradition of teaching (Sampradaya) is total. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Siva as Gangadharesvara facing the Ganga. The main lecture hall also faces the Ganga. There is a library with more than 5000 titles on various subjects, i.e. Vedanta, Sanskrit Grammar, Indian and western philosphies, Religion and Yoga. There is also a Yoga studio where regular Iyengar Yoga camps are conducted.

The ashram was established during the 1960s by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who is an internationally recognised teacher of Vedanta and foremost scholar of Sanskrit. Swamiji and his disciples conduct regular residential courses at the ashram with the focus on Bhagavad Gita and the ten principal Upanishads as commented upon by Adi Shankaracharya. These and selected ancillary texts are analysed and taught along with Sanskrit grammar in the Paninian style. Vedic chanting is also taught during courses.

In addition, throughout the year, a resident acharya holds daily discourses on the Upanishads, incorporating analytical examination of Adi Shankaracharya's commentaries.

Dayananda Ashram is the parent Vedanta institute of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam group, established by Swami Dayananda. Known as Arsha Vidya Pitham it means a centre of learning based on the teaching of the ancient rishis.

Registered with Swami Dayananda ashram? Click here to login

Original post:
Welcome to Swami Dayananda Ashram - Arsha Vidya Pitham ...

Waytha tells Tengku Adnan to act in the public interest instead of acting powerless.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf Chairman P Waytha Moorthy expressed his shock at the Federal Territory Ministers blatant ignorance regarding the laws and his responsibility to protect and save Malaysias heritage.

He said in a statement that Tengku Adnans claims that the government has no power to stop the private development and can only advise the land owner to retain the Vivekananda Ashram building in Brickfields clearly shows the minister is ignorant on the laws available and demonstrates his shallow attitude towards our national heritage.

Waytha pointed out that it was widely known that the National Heritage Department had gazetted the Ashram earlier in 2008 & 2009.

He said the argument put forward by the FT minister and KL mayor that the board of trustees could go ahead with the development plans while maintaining the heritage site was utter rubbish.

It does not take a rocket scientist to tell that the planned development would cause permanent destruction to the heritage building, said Waytha.

He was disappointed with Tengku Adnans lackadaisical attitude towards the fight to save the Ashram and accused him of making a mockery of Malaysias status as a committee member of the World Heritage Committee. The minister seems to have conveniently ignored and failed to consult the heritage department on the buffer zone requirement, and whether a prior study existed following the guidelines set by the relevant authorities.

As a Minister, he should not open his mouth if he is not aware of the facts, the laws and the need to protect our national heritage, said Waytha who felt that the public would not be so foolish as to accept his passing the buck statement.

He told Tengku Adnan to invoke his powers to suspend the development plan and to do what is best to serve the public interest.

The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.

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Hindraf: FT Minister must make a stand on Ashram

The FT Minister says his ministry cannot do anything as the ashram is on private land.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Ministry has no power to stop development at Vivekananda Ashram in Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, as it sits on private land.

Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the ministry would discuss the issue with the parties concerned.

We will talk to them (property owner, project developer and Vivekanda Ashram (board of trustees) and hope they listen to the public outcry (on development of the area).

We will advise them to retain the heritage elements but dont expect the government to take over the project. The people will be outraged, he told reporters after launching the Sarapan Pagi 1Malaysia programme organised by Federal Territory Wanita Barisan Nasional (BN).

News reports said that a 23-storey apartment building and an eight storey car park would be constructed on a 0.4 hectare land in the ashram area.

The ashram area has a facade over 100 years old and a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda.

The Vivekanda Ashram board of trustees reportedly sold the land to F3 Capital with commitment the ashram was retained while the funds obtained were to be used for operating SJKT Viveknanda (Brickfields) and SJKT Thamboosamy Pillai (Sentul).

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib who was also present said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) did not have the right to reject any application to develop the area.

As the planning authority, we have to process the developers application. If the public says it cannot be developed as it is sensitive and has heritage value, it is up to the trustees to reconsider the decision (development plan).

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Ku Nan powerless to stop ashram development