Kundan Singh Kush
Encyclopedia
Thakur Kundan Pal Singh Kush (1881–1967) was an Arya Samaj
missionary
and teacher
who arrived in Fiji
, from Muzaffarnagar
, Uttar Pradesh
, India
in 1928. He first taught at the Dharamshala School in Nausori
where he later became the founding Head Teacher of Vunimono Arya School in 1929. He taught in a number of Arya Samaj
schools which included Gurukul Primary School
near Lautoka
in 1939, Arya Samaj Girls' School in Saweni Lautoka from 1940 to 1945, Swami Shraddanand Memorial School in Suva
, Vunikavikaloa Arya School in Ra
and Veisari Primary School near Suva.
The Arya Samaj Centenary Publication, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Arya Samaj, made the following statement about the abilities of Kush:
The Fiji Government, however, was so worried about his activities that it repeatedly inquired into his fitness to teach school children, removed him from control of one school (see below), temporarily suspended his teaching licence and censored his mail, especially his imports of Arya Samj literature.
Kush was the principal force behind the shuddhi (conversion) and sangathan (religious unions) efforts. On 29 June 1930 at a meeting of the Hindu Maha Sabha
in Nausori, Kush was elected President. Resolutions passed at the meeting asked Hindus to organize themselves and to adhere to the teachings of the Hindu Dharam regarding diet and to boycott a rival newspaper (Vriddhi). As part of his shuddhi efforts, Kush made house to house visits among isolated Muslims and he with others was labelled as troublemakers by the police.
In the 1930s, Kush was dismissed as a teacher from Samabula Indian School in Suva
, and the Government took over its management, when Muslim and Christian parents objected to the Arya Samaj influence in the school committee.
Kush followed the principles of the Arya Samaj and supported marriage of widows, himself marrying a widow, Shiwa Bai and had three children: Usha, Uma and Narendra. He continued his religious work in Suva until his death in 1967.
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
who arrived in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, from Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar is a major city and a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was established in Mughal period by a Sayyid Jagirdar, Munawar Lashkar Ali, and so named in honour of his father, Muzaffar Ali Khan. It is the headquarters of the Muzaffarnagar district. It is a...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1928. He first taught at the Dharamshala School in Nausori
Nausori
Nausori is a town in Fiji. It had a population of 47,604 at the 2007 census, the most recent to date. This makes it the fourth most populous municipality in the country. Situated 19 kilometers out of Suva, it forms one pole of the burgeoning Suva-Nausori corridor.Nausori grew up around Fiji's...
where he later became the founding Head Teacher of Vunimono Arya School in 1929. He taught in a number of Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj (Fiji)
The Arya Samaj was the first religious, cultural and educational Fiji Indian organisation established in Fiji. From its inception, in 1904, it attracted the young, educated and progressive Hindus into its fold...
schools which included Gurukul Primary School
Gurkul Primary School (Fiji)
Gurkul Primary School was the first substantive school for Fiji Indians established in Fiji in 1918. Its establishment, coincided with the formation of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, the Arya Samaj organisation that manages the school...
near Lautoka
Lautoka
Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...
in 1939, Arya Samaj Girls' School in Saweni Lautoka from 1940 to 1945, Swami Shraddanand Memorial School in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Vunikavikaloa Arya School in Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
and Veisari Primary School near Suva.
The Arya Samaj Centenary Publication, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Arya Samaj, made the following statement about the abilities of Kush:
Thakur Kundan Kush came to Fiji in 1928 as a teacher, served the Arya Samaj with distinction. He conducted debates and lectured ably. His logic and method of presentation of arguments were really very marvellous and worthy of remark.
The Fiji Government, however, was so worried about his activities that it repeatedly inquired into his fitness to teach school children, removed him from control of one school (see below), temporarily suspended his teaching licence and censored his mail, especially his imports of Arya Samj literature.
Kush was the principal force behind the shuddhi (conversion) and sangathan (religious unions) efforts. On 29 June 1930 at a meeting of the Hindu Maha Sabha
Hindu Maha Sabha (Fiji)
Hindu Maha Sabha was an organisation representing various Hindu organisations and was formed in Fiji in 1926, following the formation of All-India Hindu Maha Sabha in India. The formation of the organisation both in India and Fiji occurred after the assassination of Swami Shraddhanand, a Hindu...
in Nausori, Kush was elected President. Resolutions passed at the meeting asked Hindus to organize themselves and to adhere to the teachings of the Hindu Dharam regarding diet and to boycott a rival newspaper (Vriddhi). As part of his shuddhi efforts, Kush made house to house visits among isolated Muslims and he with others was labelled as troublemakers by the police.
In the 1930s, Kush was dismissed as a teacher from Samabula Indian School in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, and the Government took over its management, when Muslim and Christian parents objected to the Arya Samaj influence in the school committee.
Kush followed the principles of the Arya Samaj and supported marriage of widows, himself marrying a widow, Shiwa Bai and had three children: Usha, Uma and Narendra. He continued his religious work in Suva until his death in 1967.
See also
- Arya Samaj in Fiji
- Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of FijiArya Pratinidhi Sabha of FijiThe Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is the national body for all the Arya Samajs in Fiji. It was formed in 1918 and registered as a religious body through the efforts of Manilal Doctor, who was in Fiji from 1912 to 1920 at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi to provide legal assistance to the Fiji Indians...
- Hindu Maha SabhaHindu Maha Sabha (Fiji)Hindu Maha Sabha was an organisation representing various Hindu organisations and was formed in Fiji in 1926, following the formation of All-India Hindu Maha Sabha in India. The formation of the organisation both in India and Fiji occurred after the assassination of Swami Shraddhanand, a Hindu...