How it Started...
The Endowments Department issued a Notification to appoint the Board of Trustees on 12th March 2006.
Chief Priest Dr. Soundara Rajan ji conducted eleven days of NIRASANA (fasting and addressing people) against it. Unfortunately, his efforts were futile.
On Maha Shivarathri, 26th February 2006, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Dr. Soundara Rajan ji gave a press note, "If the Endowments Department appoints the Board of Trustees on 12th March 2006, we will not hand over charge to the Political Trust Board, but will lock the Temple and hand over the keys to none other than the Honorable Chief Minister himself."
Devotees were coming for Dharshan till late evening. I could not read the Press Note at the time it was given. Alankara Seva started at 7 pm and went on till 12 o’clock midnight.
Later that night, at 12 o’clock midnight while Jagaran, I got time to read the Press Note, "If the Endowments Department appoints the Board of Trustees on 12th March 2006, we will not hand over charge to the Political Trust Board, but will take the Temple keys and hand over them to none other than the Honorable Chief Minister himself." I was shocked, and could not digest Dr. Soundara Rajan ji’s withdrawal.
I walked out of the temple, sat under the Banya tree front of the temple, and kept thinking of the possibilities to support Soundara Rajan ji, such as initiating some agitation, staging Dharna in front of Secretariat, Hunger Strike till Death, etc. which is not wise. It is also impossible as I am alone, so I prayed to Lord Balaji to show me some way to get through this and swore to go any extent to protect the Temple...
Within JUST 10 minutes the Miracle happend
A couple (Mr. & Mrs. RAJENDERAN) from among 200 to 300 people, walked towards me and said, "We heard temple authorities are facing a conflicting situation with the Endowment Department trying to take over. We are devotees of Lord Balaji-- is there any way we can protest?" He introduced himself as the Director of SOFTWARE COMPANY.
I requested web space from him, so that I can protest online. He immediately agreed, and the very next day I have launched the Website. Mr. Rajenderan has supported my ideas, and his staff also worked on this site.
Thus started www.protectchilukurubalajitemple.com - our Online Petition has collected more than 42000 signatures; the site has been viewed by 70015 people from all around the world. Visit - www.webstats4u.com/s?tab=1&link=1&id=3929035
www.protectchilukurubalajitemple.com - 2 Years Struggle:
20th Feb 2006: Notification to appoint the Board of Trustees.
26th Feb 2006: "We will lock the Temple and handover the keys to Honorable Chief Minister." Press Note - Dr.Soundararajan.
28th Feb 2006: www.protectchilukurubalajitemple.com launched.
10th Mar 2006: 550 applications in single day.
23rd Mar 2006: "Sadhus and Sanths Dharna" & "Management of Religious institutions" - Dr.Soundararajan.
26th Apr 2006: "Sarpa digbandhanam"
30th Apr 2006: Appeal to Supreme Court.- Dr.Soundararajan.
6th May 2006: Secret information.
12th May 2006: "We will lock the Temple and handover the keys to Honorable Chief Minister." Press Note - Dr.Soundararajan.
13th May 2006: Honorable Chief Minister agreed to Dr.Soundararajan's proposal.
17th May 2006: RangaReddy Dist.Court STAY ORDER.
18th May 2006: Endowments Officials got suspended.
27th May 2006: High Court gave status quo till 4 weeks.
30th May 2006: High Court gave stay order on Temple Land takeover for Indirammapadhakam.
9th Jun 2006: Three Member Expert Committee presided by Sri P.V.R.K. Prasad.
21st July 2006: 3 Member Expert Committee approved "Online Opinions"
27th July 2006: Dharmasamsthapana "On Road Public Opinions"
29th July 2006: 3 Member Committee honored "Online Opinions & On Road Public Opinions".
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20th Feb 2006: Notification to appoint the Board of Trustees.- |
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Endowments Department issued a Notification to appoint the Board of Trustees on March 12th 2006.
26th Feb 2006: "We will lock the Temple and handover the keys to Honorable Chief Minister" -
On Maha Shivarathri, Dr.Soundara Rajan gave a press note "If the Endowments Department appoints the Board of Trustees on March 12th 2006, we will not handover charge to the Political Trust Board but will lock the Temple and handover the keys to none other than the Honorable Chief Minister himself."
| 28th Feb 2006: www.protectchilukurubalajitemple.com launched. |
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I was alone, praying Lord Balaji to show some way to get through this...
Within JUST 10 minutes, Mr. & Mrs. RAJENDERAN met me at 12 'o'clock mid night on Mahasivarathri. Mr.RAJENDERAN is the Director of Fisher Electronics Pvt Ltd.. Introduced myself, I am Web designer and Art Director. As I told him my plan, creating a website spread news across the world to all other devotees who can join us in this online protest.
He immediately accepted and the very next day I have designed and launched www.protectchilukurubalajitemple.com. Online Petition has got more than 42000 signatures, site was viewed by 70015 people from all around the world.
| 10th Mar 2006: 550 applications in single day. - |
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Sudhir Naidu, Mahesh, volunteers of Dharma Samsthapana and few devotees had filed more than 550 applications. The idea of applying in many numbers was just to delay the constitution of Trust Board Members by Endowment Dept.
Comments from Mass media:
"ProtectChilukuruBalajiTemple.Com (Dharma Samsthapana) members have sent applications to the R.R.Dist. Endowment Department expressing their interest to be appointed as members. But bombarding the endowments department with hundreds of applications will serve another purpose - officials will be so busy with paper work and follow-ups that the idea of forming a trust will be set aside for some time. - Times of India
"NO temple trust has ever received so many applications in the state". Said Endowments Asst. Commissioner, Ranga Reddy Dist. Mr.Vasudevan - Times of India
The protest of devotees against the decision of the Endowments Department to takeover Chilkuru Balaji Temple has gone Hi-tech. The number of signatures on the online campaign is increasing every minute with the devotees from India and abroad responding to the online petition placed on the net by a devotee Mr.Kishore. - The Hindu
| 23rd Mar 2006: Sadhus and Sanths Dharna & Management of Religious institutions! - |
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"Sadhus and Sanths Dharna for Temple Protection Movement". A Public meeting was addressed by Saadhus, Sanths, Peetadhipathis, Mattadhipathis of A.P.
"A Symposium "Management of Religious institutions!" Role of Govt. Addressed by Dr.M.V. Soundara Rajan.
ProtectChilukurubalajitemple.com has campaigned and volunteered both meetings spread the news, made the events successful.
| 26th Apr 2006: Sarpa digbandhanam - |
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"Sarpa digbandhanam"(Binding a Venomous Serpent) click for details - A.P. Archaka Samaikhya (Priests) from all parts of the A.P. State undertook a 24-hour Dharna (laying siege, a kind of "sit in") at endowments department office in the city demanding revise in Endowments Acts and 30/87 legislation.
ProtectChilukurubalajitemple.com has played a vital role campaigned and participated, requesting people to join as volunteers and support.
Eventually in the process I have lost my job. I was working as Creative & Graphics Team Head in Commlab India P.Ltd., is a online learning software development company. My leave application (to participate in Sarpa digbandhanam) was denied and also I've been threatened to termination of job if not I attend office on the day by any mean. I have got no other choice than giving up my job.
Event made successful Endowment Dept. agreed to most of the demands of Archakas.
| 30th Apr 2006: Appeal to Supreme Court - |
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Dr.Soundara Rajan appealed to Supreme Court against Endowments Department misleading High Court Judgement for appointing Trust Board Members to Chilkur Balaji Temple.
Supreme Court ORDER - "Having heard the parties, we are of the view that the Court has not dealt with the contention of the petitioner that there was no Question of appointment of Board of Trustees. We are further of the view that even this issue as to whether there should be a Board of Trustees or not should be left for being decided by the State respondent."
Dr.Soundara Rajan called me up (on phone from Supreme Court - Delhi) and said "Congratulations Kishore. Supreme Court has given judgement in our favor. Seen 41,500 signatures in online petition on your web site Protectchilukurubalajitemple.com. I bless you for your wonderful selfless services."
| 6th May 2006: Secret information. - |
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Protectchilukurubalajitemple.com has got secret information "Endowment Department will be forming 6 members Trust Board and that they may come any time to takeover temple."
| 12th May 2006: "We will lock the Temple and handover the keys to Hon.C. M.". - |
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Dr.Soundara Rajan again announced in a press release "If the Endowments Department appoints the Board of Trustees on 13th May 2006, I shall not handover Temple to the Trust Board but I will lock the Temple and handover keys to the Honorable Chief Minister".
| 13th May 2006: Locking the Temple avoided.- |
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Protectchilukurubalajitemple.com has spread the news to every devotee requesting protest against locking Temple. Assembled in Temple at 5 am. to prevent the event.
Following eminent people:
Swamy Dhayanandha Saraswathi -Chennai
Swamy Jyothirmayananda Swamy - Mangalore
Sri. Venkatanarayanan - Acharya Sabha - Delhi
Sri. Govindha Hari - Kanchi Peetam - Hyderabad
Sri. Krishan Bhatnagar - USA - www.bharathjagaran.com
Sri. Kamal Kumar - A.P. Devalaya Parirakshana Samithi
Sri. Nagendra Prasad - A.P. Devalaya Parirakshana Samithi
& many others called me and supported the Protest against "Handing over temple keys to the Honorable Chief Minister."
13th May 2006 1pm: Dr.Soundara Rajan handed over a proposal letter to Chief Minister "Requesting Chief Minister's intervention to refer the Chilkur Balaji Temple issue to the Three Member Expert Committee presided by Sri P.V.R.K. Prasad that dealt with the 1000 Pillar Manttapam issue at Tirumala, to solve Chilkuru Balaji Temple issue." Letter
Lord Balaji heard to our prayers again, Honorable Chief Minister agreed to the proposal. Temple was not locked on that day.
| 17th May 2006: RangaReddy Dist.Court STAY ORDER.- |
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Dr.Soundara Rajan appealed to RangaReddy Dist.Court against Forming Founder Trustee for ChilkurBalajiTemple, got the stay order.
Same day late evening, We have got information that "Endowments Officials and the New Trust Board Members are coming on 18th May to administer Oath" despite Stay Order of Ranga Reddy Dist. Court and also against Honorable Chief Minister's acknowledgement to Dr.Soundara Rajan's proposal, we spread the news to the devotees by every mean Phone, SMS and Mails and to the MEDIA that this will be protested by us, as their approach is illegal.
| 18th May 2006 - 8am: 2 Endowments Officials got suspended.- |
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Dr.Soundara Rajan was sitting at the chilkur Village entrance to stop the Endowments Officials and New Trust Board Members. Mr.Ranga Rajan & Mr.Muralidharan (Sons of Dr.Soundara Rajan) were inside the temple addressing devotees about the illegal approach of Endowments Dept. Dr.Soundara Rajan also called Police to restrict their entry.
At 10.30am: Endowments Officials and New Trust Board Members with their supporters have entered temple forcibly even manhandled. Police could not restrict their entry as they had Commissioner's letter to perform duty.
Mr.Ranga Rajan locked himself inside Gharba Gudi (Main shrine) addressing devotees. We all shouted Govindha, Govinda, Govinda (Another Name of Lord Balaji or Krishna) in protest. Police could neither save nor stop the act of Endowments Dept. officials.
Even at this dire situation Endowments Officials have performed their duty without listening to us or respecting court orders.
We were shouting Govindha, Govinda, Govinda, till 2.00 pm.
At 2 pm: we got the news "2 Endowments Officials got suspended for dishonoring the Court Order and the newly formed 6 Member New Trust Board has been cancelled".
Lord Balaji answered our prayers, it is possible only because of Him.
| 27th May 2006: High Court gave status quo till 4 weeks.- |
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The District Court vacated status quo order which was in force till 26th May 2006 for Chilkur Temple. We have moved the House Motion in the High Court. The Vacation Judge Honorable. Justice Appa Rao gave status quo till 4 weeks. This will prevent the Endowments Dept. from installing their committee with the so-called founders.
30th May 2006: High Court gave stay order on Temple Land takeover for Indiramma scheme.-
A Division Bench of the High Court restrained the Government from taking possession of the temple lands in the State in the name of house sites for the Indiramma scheme.
Two separate writ petitions filed by functionaries of Devalaya Parirakshana Samithi and A.P. Archaka Parishad.
| 9th Jun 2006: Three Member Expert Committee presided by Sri P.V.R.K. Prasad. - |
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Honorable Chief Minister has signed the G.O. to constitute the Chilkur Balaji Temple issue to the Three Member Expert Committee presided by Sri P.V.R.K. Prasad."
Sri P.V.R.K. Prasad, IAS (Retd.)
Former Special Chief Secretary to Govt. of A.P and Former E.O to TTD.
Sri A. Chegappa, IAS (Retd.)
Former Commissioner of Endowments
Sri Y. Chakradhar Rao IAS (Retd.)
Former Joint Executive Office TTD.
3 Member Expert Committee has been constituted for the conclusion of Chilkur Balaji Temple issue.The same three-member panel also constituted by the Andhra Pradesh Government to go into the row over the demolition of the Tirumala `Veyyi Kalla Mandapam'. (For details visit http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/20/stories/2004112005360500.htm)
| 21st July 2006: 3 Member Expert Committee approved "Online Opinions".- |
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Initially Open Public Opinion Meet was scheduled for 3 days 27th to 30th July, then shortened to ONE DAY 27th July 10 am to 4 pm, later too reduced to 1 pm to 4 pm. This explains A.P. Govt. & Endowment Department's interest in Public Opinions.
I've met 3 Member Expert Committee with a request and to accept. - "Most of our Chilukur Balaji Devotees are blessed by Visa's and settled abroad and around A.P". They sure wish to attend Public Opinions Meet in person, but can not. For those devotees I shall provide an Email facility.
3 Member Expert Committee heart fully agreed.
| 27th July 2006: Dharmasamsthapana "On Road Public Opinions".- |
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27th July being a working day and most of the Devotees may not attend "Open Public Opinions Meet" I took up "On Road Public Opinion" with a Camera. Along with few volunteers, we went on Roads, Offices and to the People who could not attend meeting to share Opinions.
| 29th July 2006: 3 Member Committee honored "Online Opinions & On Road Public Opinions".- |
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A.P.Govt and Endowments Dept. provided nothing but 3 hours time for Public Opinions.
"Email Opinions" and "On Road Public Opinions" are my personal efforts and a channels to Protect Chilukuru Balaji Temple.
I have got tremendous response for "Online Opinions" from all around the WORLD. The most Eminent People and Hindu Organizations also sent their comments and suggestions to the Committee. All the mails got printed, binded in bundles and in CD's submitted to the Committee.
3 Member Expert Committee has accepted and honored.
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