ALUMNI

SREE SIDAGANGA MATH OLD BOYS AND WELLWISHERS ASSOCIATION (Regd)

The Alumni Association of Sree Siddaganga Math was established on 4th October 1954 with the blessings of His Holiness Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu. His Holiness was the President of the association ever since it came into existence till January 21, 2019.

President : Sree Sree Siddalinga Swamigalu, Revered President
Sree Siddaganga Math.
General Secretary : Dr. M. N. Channabasappa
Secretary : Sri K. H. Shivarudraiah

Aims and Objectives of the Association:

  1. To recognize the services and confer awards/titles on eminent personalities who have made extraordinary achievements in the field of Education, Social, Kannada Literature, Culture, Music, Art etc.
  2. To construct and maintain Guest House, Dharmashalas meant for use of pilgrims, students and general public.
  3. To Construct and maintain Public toilets at Sree Siddaganga Math meant for use of pilgrims, students and general public.
  4. To work for Socio-economic advancement of women in any possible manner.
  5. To provide training and awareness on conversation and management of natural resources for environment rejuvenation.
  6. To create awareness to conserve and growth of forest produces, medicinal plants and the protection of wild animals.
  7. To establish and maintain research and training centres for promotion and furtherance of education and learning in all specialisations.
  8. To Provide grants, scholarships, fellowships and other forms of financial assistance to the needy and deserving students for pursuing education, vocational training, skill development etc.

Membership of the Association:

At the time of inception, there were only 200 members in the association and now the association has 20,000 life members. At the time of establishment, the association was named as ' Sree Siddaganga Math Old Boys Association' and only the old boys of Sree Siddaganga Math were the members. Later, the association felt that it should grow far and wide and become a mammoth organisation and decided to allow the well wishers of Sree Siddaganga Math who are also contributing to the growth of the Math to become members of the association. Now the name has been changed as Sree Siddaganga Math Old Boys and Well-Wishers Association.

The life membership fee is Rs.500=00.

Local Chapters of the Association:

The association has the local chapters at Bangalore, Mysore, Bellary, Bidar, Hassan, Gulbarga, Chamarajnagar Districts and the respective chapter office bearers are working in tandem with the main association.

Premier Programs undertaken

  • Siddaganga Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition
    With the blessings of His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji, the association started Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition in the year 1963. Every year during Shivaratri - Siddalingeswara Swamy Jatra, the Exhibition is held for 15 days. The main purpose of this exhibition is to provide information and create awareness among the public about the developments taken in the field of agriculture and industries.
  • Siddaganga Monthly Magazine
    With the blessings of His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji, the association also started publishing a monthly magazine, Siddaganga from the year 1965. Articles on cultural, social, education, health and others are being published along with the activities/programmes organised in the Math and institutions. The membership fee details are as here under.
    Chief Patron : Rs.10000=00
    Patron: Rs.5000=00
    Life Member : Rs.1500-00 (more than 10,000 members have taken life membership for the magazine).
  • The Major Functions organised since 1930.
    • Silver Jubilee Celebration of Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji assuming the Viraktashrama in 1972.
    • Golden Jubilee Celebration of Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji assuming the Viraktashrama in 1982.
    • Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji assuming the Viraktashrama in 1997.
    • Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji assuming the Viraktashrama in 2005.
    • Centenary Celebration of Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji in 2009.

All the above celebrations were organised by the Old Boys Association and devotees with utmost devotion and reverence. The members of the association served as volunteers in the functions.

Awards

In addition to the above activities, the Old Boys and Well-wishers Association has instituted awards in recognition of the persons rendered yeoman social service and exemplary achievers in literature, religious and cultural fields.

  1. 'Siddaganga Sree' - This award carries a cash prize of Rs.1.00 lakh and is given to a person who has exemplary work in the field of Kannada literatue every year. The first award was given to Rashtrakavi Dr. G. S. Shivarudrappa, an alumnus of our association.
  2. 'Siddaganga Shivakumara Shree' - This award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,000-00 and is given to the public who have contributed immensely to Social and literary fields.
  3. 'Sangha Siri' - The Certificate of Honour is given to 3 to 4 devotees of Math who have put in selfless service to Siddaganga Math.

Maintenance of Cleanliness and Public Toilets at Sree Siddaganga Math

In the Math, more than 10000 students are being provided with hostel facilities. Also, everyday 2000-3000 devotees/pilgrims are visiting the Math. Although, sufficient bathrooms and toilets for these students and devotees/pilgrims are not available but maintenance of them is as important as Annadasoha.

The association strongly believes in the saying, Shuchitvave Shivatva (Cleanliness is Godliness). With the blessings of His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji, the Association has taken up the maintenance and cleanliness of the campus of Sree Siddaganga Math on top priority. To support the activities 'Sidaganga Gurukula Development Trust' was established in the year 2004, through which the old boys and well-wishers collected contributions and created corpus. With the interest earned, the expenditure of maintaining 5 toilet blocks and cleanliness in the campus has been met. This service of the Association is appreciated by the devotees and general public. We need to extend this service to students hostels also which require more funds.

The contributions made to the Trust are eligible for income tax exemption under 80G.

Chief Patrons: Rs.10 lakh and above
Patrons : Rs.5 -10 lakh
Mahadaanigalu : Rs.1-5 lakh
Daanigalu : Rs.10000=00 to Rs.1.0 lakh
Any amount less than 1.0 lakh is also accepted
A unique type of contribution - Many old boys, well wishers and devotees wished that they would live for 100 years and contributed Rs.36500=00 (based on one rupee per day).