41st Foundation Day: Narayan Seva Sansthan Provides New Life to the Needy

The land of India has always been imbued with compassion, service, and philanthropy. Making this spirit a life’s motto, a movement began in 1985 on the sacred land of Udaipur that transformed millions of lives. Today, as Narayan Seva Sansthan celebrates its 41st Foundation Day, it is not just a celebration but a symbol of humanity’s continuous journey, in which service is spiritual practice and philanthropy is worship.

A Seed That Became a Banyan Tree

The foundation of Narayan Seva Sansthan was laid by His Holiness Gurudev Shri Kailash Ji ‘Manav’. It is often seen that people with disabilities in society neither receive proper treatment nor find a place in the mainstream of society. At such a time, Gurudev decided his life’s direction: “Service to mankind is service to God.” What he began on a small scale by serving the needy has now become a global service movement. It is striving to bring new light to the lives of people with disabilities in India and across the world.

Objective of the Institute

The primary objective of the Narayan Seva Sansthan is to help the physically and economically disadvantaged. It provides free treatment and corrective surgery to patients with congenital disabilities and those who have lost limbs due to accidents or diabetes. After treatment, prosthetic limbs are also provided to those in need, enabling disabled individuals to live a normal life.

Hospital

The Sansthan has a large 1,100-bed hospital in Udaipur. Patients come from across the country and the world. This hospital is especially known for its corrective surgery for people with disabilities. Medical services are provided to patients here completely free of charge.

Foundation Story

Narayan Seva Sansthan was founded on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami on October 23, 1985, by revered Gurudev Padmashree Kailash Manav Ji. Gurudev was then working in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, Government of India. When he saw a patient in a government hospital eating one roti from the food plate provided by the hospital and placing the remaining three rotis under his pillow, he asked, “Aren’t you hungry?” Standing there, Kisan Ji, sobbing, replied, “I can eat eight to ten rotis. I’m that hungry. But my two brothers and my father are with me. All four of us eat one roti each from this plate and go to sleep with a cloth tied around our stomachs to avoid hunger.”

This incident shook Gurudev. He felt compelled to arrange food for the families accompanying the patients to the hospital. So he purchased 20 oil cans from a junk dealer, cut off the lids, washed and cleaned them, and placed the oil cans at the homes of employees of the Post and Telegraph Department, praying to the mothers to put a handful of flour in the canisters every morning and evening for the sake of the patients’ families. I will come to your house every day to collect flour, prepare rotis and vegetables, and serve them to the people accompanying the patients in the hospital. And so, for 13 years, Kailash ji continued to provide food to the relatives accompanying the patients at the government hospital every morning and evening. Thus, the foundation of the institute was born.

Rehabilitation of the Specially abled

The institute works to provide complete rehabilitation to people with disabilities. This includes providing treatment and teaching them to walk on their own feet, as well as taking steps to establish their families. To date, the institute has organized 44 mass marriage ceremonies for the disabled and the poor. These ceremonies provide free marriages for the disabled.

The institute has organized several talent shows for the specially abled. It also organizes wheelchair cricket tournaments, blind cricket tournaments, para-swimming, and para-tennis tournaments. All these programs are part of making people with disabilities active and self-reliant in society.

Education and Skill Development

The institute provides education and training to children with disabilities and special needs. Deaf and blind children are provided free education and meals. Skill development programs are also offered for people with disabilities. This training empowers them towards employment and independent living. Over 650 students are receiving free education at the English-medium digital school run by the institute.

The Institute’s Goal

To enable people with disabilities to stand on their feet through surgery.

To provide prosthetic limbs made with modern technology to those who have lost limbs in accidents.

To empower the disabled through vocational training.

To provide opportunities for the disabled through sports so that they can perform at the national and international levels.

To ensure equal rights for the disabled in society.

To realize the vision of an accessible India.

Narayan Seva Sansthan is a symbol of inspiration and hope for society. It demonstrates that service and compassion can bring about positive change in society. This journey of 40 years has proven that service is the true religion.