Swami Rudrananda

Swami Rudrananda (11 March 1901 – 30 June 1985), born Muthukrishnan, was an Indian Hindu monk and a disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic, Swami Shivananda, the direct disciple of Ramakrishna. After moving to Fiji in 1936 he became one of the country's most respected Indo-Fijian leaders, and was a founder of the National Federation Party.

Early life Born into a wealthy family in the village of Manalmedu in Thanjavur district, he was the first son of Kothandaraman and Bhagyam.

He implemented several measures, notably that Sangam work for all people instead of serving only south Indians. A saffron colored flag was designed for Sangam. Education and Temple constructions were considered as primary needs.

He acquired properties for Sangam including freehold land at Savusavu (130 acres) and Madhuvani, Rakiraki (1037 acres). The Sangam Sarada Printing Press was started, on 15 August 1948, to address the educational needs of the community at large.

Publications like Sangam in Tamil, Pacific Review in English, Jagriti in Hindi, and Na Pacifica in Fijian were published and circulated to give voice to the Indian community.

Although Rudrananda initially refused to take part in union or political activities, he worked with A. D. Patel to help found the Maha Sangh. During the 1943 strike, the government restricted his movements amid calls for deportation to India. He remained an active member of the Federation Party. During the strike, he was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor along with Patel.

In 1951, Rudrananda attempted to amalgamate the Sangam and Ramakrishna Mission into a single organization. This was seen by some South Indians as an attempt by the mission to take over the assets of the Sangam. There was widespread protest, although the founder of the Sangam, Sadhu Kuppuswami, supported Rudrananda. A compromise was reached when the Sri Vivekananda High School was transferred to the Mission and the Sangam ran its schools.

Tirukkural in Fiji He got Dr. Berwick to translate the Thirukkural into Fijian.