P. Parameswaran

Parameswarji
Personal details
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Hindu

P. Parameshwaran (പി. പരമേശ്വരന്‍) is a renowned Hindutva thinker in Kerala, an orator^[1] and a social philosopher. He is the director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendra and the president of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari. He is also one of the founder members of International Forum for India's Heritage (IFIH).^[2] He is also known as Parameswarji (പരമേശ്വര്‍ജി).

Childhood

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Born at Cherthala village in Alappuzha district in the year 1927, Parameshwaran after his schooling at his birthplace, continued his studies at SB College Changanassery and graduated from University College, Thiruvananthapuram with distinctions in BA (Hons.) in History. From early childhood, he had a great inclination towards the study of Hinduism. He was intimately connected with most of the Hindu social and cultural organizations. [1]

Ideology

He came into contact with the world's largest voluntary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during his student days, was also a favorite disciple of Swami Agamananda. Parameshwaran became an RSS[2] "Pracharak" (full-time organizer) in 1950. As per the direction of M.S.Golwalkar (Guruji)[3], who was the Sarsanghchalak of RSS, He served as organizing secretary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1957. In 1968, he became and All‑India General Secretary and later Vice‑President of the Jan Sangh. He was jailed during the Indian Emergency (1975-1977). In 1977, Parameshwaran moved from politics to the sphere of social thought and development. He worked as director based in New Delhi for [Deendayal Research Institute][4] a premier Grassroot organisation started by Nanaji Deshmukh for four years. P. Parameshwaran, a bachelor, who doesn't have a house of his own, is residing in the Vicharakenram head quarters, Thiruvanthapuram.

In 1982, he came back to his home state Kerala and gave shape to a new organization; [Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram][5] aimed at national reconstruction through study and research. It has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram and has units all over the state. He is currently the Director of Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram. It functions also as a center for moulding public opinion in favor of national needs and concerns. He has also been associated with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial[6]]] and [Vivekananda Kendra][7], Kanyakumari and has served in various capacities in the governing body of the Kendra. He is the patron of Geetha Swadhyaya Samithi, which promotes the ideology of Bhagawad Geetha amongst youth. He was closely associated with Marxist Leader and philosopher E. M. S. Namboodiripad and the ideological dialogues between them made Kerala's political and social environment vibrant.

He took initiation from Ramakrishna Mission and was a close associate and disciple of Swami Agamananda [8] social reformer and founder of Advaita Ashrama at Kalady, the birth place of Adi Shankara. Well entrenched in the philosophy of Vedas, Upanishads and Gita, he has followed in detail the thoughts and writings of Western thinkers like Karl Marx and Arnold Toynbee and the Indian seers like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Sree Narayana Guru, Mahatma Gandhi and Deendayal Upadhyaya.

He has been ceaselessly writing articles and books on social, cultural and religious themes. He is also a gifted orator, with a great command of words and a greater depth of insight. He has delivered lectures all over the country on national issues. He participated in the Centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's address at the World Parliament of Religions[9]]] held at Chicago in [1893][10].

Social Thoughts

Parameshwaran is looked upon as a saint in the Kerala social scene albeit without the saffron robe. In the eighties, he took the initiative to call for an end to the mindless political violence in Kerala and put forward the idea of Ideological debate in the place of armed conflict. This was widely welcomed by the wisemen of Kerala and set the trend to end the bitter violence. He is an acclaimed scholar and propagandist of the vision of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. His biography of Sri Narayana Guru is one of the well‑written studies on the life and teaching of the reformer saint of Kerala.

In 1998, as an answer to the rising crime rate, delinquency and other social evils in Kerala, Sri. Parameshwaran proposed observation of a 'Gita decade'. Popularizing the Bhagavad Gita as a comprehensive life science was his solution to the social problems of Kerala and the whole of India. This suggestion was well received by other social and religious leaders and organizations. By a joint effort of several social and religious organizations, a massive movement for spreading Gita awareness has started in Kerala. The recently conducted two‑day Gita Sangamam at Trichur attracted around two thousand youths from all over Kerala. Eminent personalities like Padma Subrahmanyam, Justice Sukumaran etc. attended the function, which was formally inaugurated by Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports. The programme of conducting one Gita Shibir in each panchayat of Kerala is on.

The International Seminar 'Bhagavad-Gita Gita and Modern problems' held at Thiruvananthapuram from 7th to 4th December 2000, in which 1500 youths, scholars and saints from all over India and abroad including Murli Manohar Joshi, Union HRD Minister and his Holiness The Dalai Lama participated, was a high watermark of the Gita Movement organized by the Gita Swadhaya Samithi under the able guidance of P. Parameswaran. It is an on going movement with active participation of the youth from the universities and also from every walk of life. [11].

Awards and recognitions

Parameshwaran was awarded the Hanuman Prasad Poddar Award instituted by Bada Bazar Library of Kolkata Calcutta in 1997, in recognition of his effort in teaching the lofty principles of Hinduism to the common man.

Parameshwaran has won many awards and recognitions. He was appointed as the member of the Court (Senate) of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2000.

Awarded the "[Amritha Keerthi Puraskar][12]" by Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Math [13] on 26 September 2002, for outstanding service to the society. In 2004, the President of India awarded him the 'Padma Shri' upon him as recognition of his valuable contributions to the society. He has authored many books in Malayalam and English. "Beyond all isms to Humanism" is one of the famous works.

P. Parameshwaran has authored several books on Indian philosophy and society. He was the editor of the journals ‑ 'Kesari' and 'Manthan'. Currently he is the editor of the monthly 'Yuva Bharathi' and the quarterly 'Vivekananda Kendra Patrilka'. His books on Sri Aurobindo, Marx and Vivekananda, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Swami Vivekananda's teachings are well acclaimed. He wrote many patriotic songs which are very popular in RSS.

He also keeps his close association with sri ramakrishna math [14] and Advaita Ashram, Kalady.

Works

Sri. Parameshwaran has authored several books on Indian philosophy and society. He was the editor of journals‑ 'Kesari' and 'Manthan'. Currently he is the editor of the monthly 'Yuva Bharathy' and the quarterly Vivekananda Kendra Patrilka and Chief Editor of 'Pragati' Quarterly Research Journal.

Books by him are:

1. Sri Narayana Guru the Prophet of Renaissance.

1. Sri Aravindan Bhaviyude Darsanikan.

1. Vishwa Vijayi Vivekanandan.

1. Marx and Vivekananda.

1. From Marx to Maharshi.

1. Bhagavad Gita - Vision of a New World Order.

1. Beyond All Isms to Humanism.

1. Heart Beats of a Hindu Nation (Compilation of selected editorials in Yuva Bharathy).

1. Yajna Prasadam (Selected Poems).

1. Disabodhathinate Darshanam (Selected Essays in Malayalam).

1. Bhagavad-Gita The Nectar of Immortality (Collection of Essays on Gita).

1. Marunna Samoohavum Maratha Mulyangalum.

See also

• David Frawley
• Koenraad Elst
• Michel Danino
• Alain Danielou
• Girilal Jain
• Vivekananda Kendra
• Vivekananda Rock Memorial

References

1. ^ http://www.amritavarsham.org/summit/women/paramesh.htm
2. ^ IFIH's Founder Members

External links

• speech at Mata Amitrananda Mayi madom
• Sangha Pariwar home page
• Guruji Golwlkar home page
• Dendayal research Institute homepage
• Viveknanda Kendra
• Parliament of world religions
• Vivekananda rock memorial
• Parliament of world religions 1893
• Amrita keirti puraskar
• International forum for India's Heritage
• Bharateeya vichara kendram

Persondata
Name	Parameswaran, P.
Alternative names
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Date of birth	1927
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death