>Tom.Reding at 20:20, 22 April 2021

2021-04-22T20:20:52Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Bharat Sevashram Sangha<br/>ভারত সেবাশ্রম সংঘ<br/>भारत सेवाश्रम संघ
| image = BSS logo.jpg
| size =
| caption = [[#Emblem|Emblem]]
| motto = In service to humanity is service to God<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Organization: Motto |url=http://www.bharatsevashramsanghajammu.org/organization.html |website=www.bharatsevashramsanghajammu.org |publisher=Bharat Sevashram Sangha |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref>
| founder = [[Swami Pranavananda]]
| formation = 1917
| purpose = Educational, Philanthropic, Religious Studies, Spirituality
| headquarters = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| region_served = Worldwide
| website = {{URL|http://www.bharatsevashramsangha.org/}}
}}

'''Bharat Sevashram Sangha''' ({{lang-bn|ভারত সেবাশ্রম সংঘ}}) ({{lang-hi|भारत सेवाश्रम संघ}}) is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] charitable [[non-governmental organisation]] in [[India]]. It was founded in 1917<ref name="speakerloksabha">{{cite web | url = http://www.speakerloksabha.nic.in/Speech/SpeechDetails.asp?SpeechId=283 | title = Address on, Secularism and National Integration, at the Annual Celebration Day of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, New Delhi, 24 October 2008 | date=24 October 2008 | accessdate = 25 November 2008 | publisher = The Office of Speaker Lok Sabha | quote = Bharat Sevashram Sangha, with the goal of universal emancipation, has been tirelessly working for the uplift of the downtrodden and the neglected sections of our society, ever since its foundation in 1917. Its efforts in reaching out to the people in distress, particularly during natural calamities are most commendable. The extensive relief and rehabilitation works undertaken by the Sangha during the Bengal famine, Midnapore cyclone, West Bengal Floods, Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Andhra Pradesh Cyclone, Orissa Super Cyclone, the devastating tsunami and the recent floods in Bihar, to name some of the occasions...}}</ref> by [[Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj]].<ref name="organiser">{{cite news | url = http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=250&page=15 | title = Bharat Sevashram Sangh | author = Deepak Dasgupta | date = 17 August 2008 | publisher = Organiser | accessdate = 25 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110527044708/http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=250&page=15 | archive-date = 27 May 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The Sangha has hundreds of [[ashram]]s in India and other countries including the [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]], [[Guyana]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Canada]], [[Fiji]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Centres {{!}} Bharat Sevashram Sangha |url=https://www.bharatsevashramsangha.org/list-of-centres/ |website=www.bharatsevashramsangha.org |date=1 December 2019}}</ref> It has initiated several missions to [[Africa]]n countries, [[Malaysia]], and [[Indonesia]]; monks from the Sangha have accompanied [[United Nations]] delegations to [[Syria]] and [[Lebanon]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

==Activities==
The Sangha is recognized for their community work, helping poor and providing healthcare to those in need.
[[Image:Bharat Sevashram Sangha - Delhi.jpg|thumb|Bharat Sevashram Sangha centre in [[New Delhi]]]]
The Sangha has responded to natural calamities in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] states, the [[Bengal famine of 1943]], the [[Bhopal disaster]], the [[2001 Gujarat earthquake]], and the [[2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]].<ref name="speakerloksabha">{{cite web | url = http://www.speakerloksabha.nic.in/Speech/SpeechDetails.asp?SpeechId=283 | title = Address on, Secularism and National Integration, at the Annual Celebration Day of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, New Delhi, 24 October 2008 | date=24 October 2008 | accessdate = 25 November 2008 | publisher = The Office of Speaker Lok Sabha | quote = Bharat Sevashram Sangha, with the goal of universal emancipation, has been tirelessly working for the uplift of the downtrodden and the neglected sections of our society, ever since its foundation in 1917. Its efforts in reaching out to the people in distress, particularly during natural calamities are most commendable. The extensive relief and rehabilitation works undertaken by the Sangha during the Bengal famine, Midnapore cyclone, West Bengal Floods, Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Andhra Pradesh Cyclone, Orissa Super Cyclone, the devastating tsunami and the recent floods in Bihar, to name some of the occasions...}}</ref> At times of political unrest such as the [[Partition of India]], the Sangha has set up refugee camps and war evacuee camps in the border areas.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

It has organised several projects to help impoverished Indian tribal people. One such project involved providing schooling for children of the [[Sabar (people)|Sabar tribe]] and providing them with housing and healthcare.<ref>{{cite news | title = The winds of change – Tribes at crossroads | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050518/asp/jamshedpur/story_4753015.asp | date = 18 May 2005 | author = Sanjay Ojha | publisher = [[Calcutta Telegraph]] | accessdate = 15 November 2008}}</ref> It also hosts courses to train youths in [[information technology]] to enable them to find jobs which require IT skills.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050319/asp/ranchi/story_4510392.asp | title = Dreams crash for tech band – Tribal youths face uncertain future after completion of computer course | date = 19 March 2005 | author = Jayesh Thaker | publisher = Calcutta Telegraph | accessdate = 15 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101209145758/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050319/asp/ranchi/story_4510392.asp | archive-date = 9 December 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]], the Sangha's monks proposed to set up a school for [[orphan]]s at a cost of [[Indian rupee|Rs.]] 4250,000s, an orphanage at Rs.6020,000, and 200 houses at Rs.30 millions on the [[Andaman Islands|Andaman]] and [[Nicobar Islands]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/15/stories/2005021507910500.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103124547/http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/15/stories/2005021507910500.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 November 2012 | title = Monks to take up rehabilitation in Andaman and Nicobar | date = 19 February 2005 | work = [[The Hindu]] | accessdate = 15 November 2008}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu]] state, where the tsunami killed more than 7,000 in the districts of [[Cuddalore]], [[Nagapattinam]] and [[Chennai]], the Sangha was one of the first to begin massive relief operations by building nearly 200 new houses at Sonankuppam village in Cuddaloer. Fishing boats and nets were also distributed to locals who had lost everything to the sea.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

The Sangha actively provides shelter, food, medical treatment and public safety services to [[pilgrim]]s at various places of worship and religious fairs in India, such as the [[Kumbha Mela]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} It operates free hospitals at Barajuri and [[Kolkata]], mobile dispensary and medical units in sixty-four locations, a free residence for patients and their families in [[Navi Mumbai]], and four hospitals and homes for [[leprosy]] patients.<ref name="Staff Reporter">{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100405/jsp/calcutta/story_12301586.jsp | title = Hospital for poor opens doors | date = 5 April 2010 | author = Staff Reporter | publisher = Calcutta Telegraph | accessdate = 16 November 2010}}</ref> A 500-bed hospital at Joka, Kolkata was inaugurated in 2010 by the Indian Finance Minister as an example of private-public partnerships in healthcare.<ref name="Staff Reporter"/>

In May 2020, the Sangha was one of the few organizations who extended help to the people after the destruction caused by [[Cyclone Amphan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=West Bengal: Thousands of People Get Help from Organisations After Cyclone Amphan Devastates State |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/west-bengal-thousands-of-people-get-help-from-organisations-after-cyclone-amphan-devastates-state-2635527.html |work=News18 |date=24 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=World |first1=Republic |title=Cyclone-hit people get help from various organisations |url=https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/cyclone-hit-people-get-help-from-various-organisations.html |work=Republic World |language=en}}</ref> They also provided relief work to almost thousands people per day with food at different parts of the country due to [[COVID-19 lockdown in India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus in Delhi: Today's news from your locked-down city {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/coronavirus-in-delhi-latest-news-updates-on-delhi-corona-cases-deaths-31-march-2020/articleshow/74904255.cms |work=The Times of India |date=31 Mar 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bharatsevashramsangha.org Bharat Sevashram Sangha]
*[http://www.bsshospitalkol.com/ Bharat Sevashram Sangha Hospital]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Charities based in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Hindu organizations]]
[[Category:Hindu organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Hindu relief organizations]]
[[Category:Hindu new religious movements]]
[[Category:Hindu religious orders]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in British India]]

Bharat Sevashram Sangha - Revision history

>Tom.Reding at 20:20, 22 April 2021