ORIGIN, EVOLUTION AND LOCATION:

Sevashram is a charitable society registered in March 1995.It was launched by Fr. Kuriakose Mampilly, a priest of the catholic archdiocese of Ernakulam – Angamaly. The Major Archbishop Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil appreciated and encouraged his initiative as he discerned it as a special apostolate inspired by the Divine Spirit. It had informally come into existence as an indigenous initiative in people’s development. Its beginning was in 1984 when a small self-help group of women was formed with the objective of enabling people of the lower income groups to improve the quality of their lives through various means. The small savings of self-help groups of motivated women gradually turned into a solid financial launch pad for a variety of programmes of the Sevashram as it is today. Sevashram has, at present, five houses in Kerala, located at (1) Angamaly in Ernakulam district, (2) Vaikom in Kottayam district, (3) Swasrayagram, North Thuravoor panchayath in Ernakulam district , (4) Cheruvaloor, Kadukutty panchayath in Thrissur district and Maruthorvattam, Thanneermukkam Panchayath in Alleppey District. Sevashram reaches out to the people of four districts in Kerala (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottayam and Alappuzha).

OBJECTIVES:

Statutorily Sevashram is a charitable society registered in March 1995. The objectives of the society, articulated in the Memorandum of Association, are: (1) to evolve an alternate 'SANYASA', rooted in Indian culture, by a group of people committed fully to the service of fellow human beings, men and women, belonging to different religions, walks of life and regions; and (2) to empower the marginalised and unorganised masses to become aware of their rights and duties as citizens and contribute their share towards the building up of a just society, drawing inspiration from the grama swaraj of Gandhiji's dreams and the kshema rashtra envisaged in the Constitution of India, and tapping locally available resources to the maximum..

The fact that the ashram is open to all irrespective of caste and religion shows that the organisation has responded to the context of the heterogeneity of the Indian society with a truly secular perspective. One finds the tenets of most religions that had their origin in India inscribed at various locations of the ashram, and pictures of various religious leaders prominently displayed. The multi-religious prayer that is recited by the residents of the ashram contains invocations offered by different religions.

MISSION OF HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT

Sevashram's goal is to build up a community of brotherhood based on human values through the holistic development of all those whom it is pledged to serve. Helping people lead a holistic life is the mission of the ashram. It is not a merely spiritual centre; spiritualism assumes a different form at Sevashram. The services of Sevashram are meant not only for human beings, but for the whole universe.

The Sevashram community believes in the Upanishadic insight: "God resides in all creatures here."(Isa vasyam idem sarvam). It prays for the well - being of all forms of life in the universe (Loka samasta sukhino bhavantu). All its activities are considered performance of God- willed duties without expecting anything in return, aimed at the reinstation of dharma (Dharma samsthapana). This idea is conceptualized and envisaged as establishment of the Kingdom of God by Christians, Rama Rajya by Hindus, Classless Society by Marxists, Poorna Swaraj by Gandhians and Kshema Rashtra by the founder-fathers of the Constitution of India.

Trusting entirely in divine providence and raising funds locally through human resource development programmes and eco-friendly micro level community based projects, without accessing foreign money, the members of Sevashram dedicate themselves to the cause of building up a community of love.

'Janasabha', the expansion of which is "Jesus Apostles' New Association for Service Aimed at Basic Human Awakening", founded in 1980, was the forerunner of Sevashram. It had people belonging to different denominations, castes, and creeds, males, females, young, middle- aged and old, single and married, as members.

The focus of the activities of Sevashram is on human resource development as an empowerment process of the people, which is neither project-oriented nor money-oriented. Money does not ever become a bottleneck for any of Sevashram's projects. When projects and programmes are to be implemented, in response to the felt needs of the target group, funds are generated through sheer hard work and eminently ethical means.

For all who are willing to accept the challenge of holistic human development, Sevashram provides a congenial atmosphere to lead a life of genuine karma yoga. Anyone, regardless of age, sex, state of life, family and educational background, position in society, caste, creed or political affiliation, can aspire to be an ashramite by espousing the noble cause of securing "social, economic and political justice, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equality of status and opportunity, fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and integrity of the Nation", for all citizens of India, with a preferential love for the unorganised, exploited and marginalised masses, in the process, without seeking security or reward of any kind, in return. The end an ashramite should have in mind is the realisation of lasting peace and tranquillity, which are the fruits of pure 'BLISS' (ananda/ moksha).

In a world where people are engaged in the rat-race for riches, pleasure, power and position (boga), Sevashram provides the possibility of leading an alternate life style for those who dare to be different. It offers them an opportunity to practise self - denial (tyaga) and live a truly Indian version of 'sanyasa'.

There are in all, five Swasrayagrams, operating under the auspices of Sevashram. The first is at Pullani of N.Thuravoor Panchayath in Ernakulam District, the second at Cheruvaloor of Kadukutty Panchayath in Trichur district, the third at Maruthorvattom of Thannermukkom Panchayath in Alleppey District, the fourth at Ambikamarket of Vechoor Panchayath in Kottayam District and the fifth at Cherai of Pallipuram Panchayath in Ernakulam District