The seed of the organization was sown by a
handful of far sighted members who made no mistake in having done the
job. Today stands this mammoth body bearing the name Hindu Youth
Organisation. Proudly tracing back the history of this body, one cannot
forget the youth spiritual Group organisation which is today the
pioneering body of Hindu youth movement in Malaysia (Formerly known as
Malaya).
Here again one must pause to see who were responsible for the
organization. The name that stands out is none other than K.Satkunam a
feeble looking determined youth with deep religious outlook. Surprising
that an early age when most youth would have been thinking of playing
with kites and tops; this feeble youth was determined to establish the
youth spiritual group. He was morally supported, then by Messrs. S.
Selvarajah and K. Selvanayagam, M. Balasundran, G. Shanmuganthan, S.
Navartnam and S. Panchacharan. (The 12 founders were all students of the
Methodist Boys' School, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur).
Although a band of youths were responsible for the formation,
the support and the real magnetic force behind that band was none other
than Swami Satyananda PH.D., J.P., now President of the Pure Life
Society, Puchong, Selangor. Swamiji has always been the person who
encouraged and, gave courage and spiritual thoughts which guided
correctly in achieving the aims.
The first meeting of these youth was convened by Master
K.Satkunam and S.Shanmuganathan. This meeting took place in the veranda
of the Chettiar's Hall, lpoh Road, Kuala Lumpur on a fine Sunday morning
in the 1949, a group of interested youngsters were present. The result,
the youth spiritual Group was formed and a protem committee was
selected under the leadership of Master K. Selvanayagam the first outing
of the youth spiritual group was the presenting of estables to the
orphans at the leper Group ('Y.S.G) rendered services at the Thanir
Panthel at Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival.
At the second informal meeting of the Y.S.G. a skeleton constitution was drafted.
After years of ups and down the Y.S.G established itself on
firmer grounds, The object of the H.Y.O (Hindu Youth Organisation) since
its establishment in 1949 has been to strengthen the spiritual, social,
cultural and moral outlook of Hindu Youths. The religious background of
the HYO has been the secret of its success and throughout its record of
public seryice, it has proved to be a model what young people can and
should do towards the betterment of the country.
The first Annual General Meeting of the HYO as held at
Thambusamypilllai Tamil School, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur on 17th August,
1952 al3.30pm. The meeting was declared open by Mr. K. Ramanathan, B.A.,
B.L., B.L. at this meeting the HYO was affiliated to the Malayan Saiva
Sithantha Sangam (M.S.S.S.) as a youth section and was known as the HYO
Kuala Lumpur.
The second Annual General Meeting was declared open by Geraic
Hawkins, Esg.O.B.E, who paralysed the organization for the all-round
activities and said that the organisation should continue to contribute
to serve its own community. This year, the HYO was affiliated to the
Selangor Youth Council. At this meeting we were honoured by the presence
of George carter, Asia Secretary of the world Assembly of Youth, Mr. A.
R. Allen, Youth service Adviser, Federation of Malaya, Mr. Fred
Arulnandam, President of the Malayan Youth Council (now Malaysian Youth
Council) and Mr. Eric Wee, President of the Singapore Youth Council.
The 3rd Annual General Meeting was declared open by the
honourable Mr. Musthapa Albakari, member for social and industrial
Relations, federation of Malaya on 8th August 1954, at the Vivekananda
Ashrama. In his opening address he said "your services are admirable,
your motto shows it. Though your organisation shows that you are
creating for the betterment of youth movement in Malaya.
Mr. T. Sivapragasam, M.B.E., an Adviser in his speech said,
"Three years ago twelve men requested me to address on the formation day
of the organisation. Since then your organization has been growing
rapidly and the growth has reached a stage when you should come out and
stand on our own legs, you should register yourself as an individual
body."
The 4th Annual General Meeting was held on 20th August 1955, at
Vivekananda Ashrama. The Meeting was declared open by the Deputy Chief
Social Welfare Officer, Capt. Mohd Saleh Bin Haji Sulleiman, M.B.E. In
this speech he praised the organization "in the previous years I note
with great pleasure that the committee carried out its mandate. I was
happy to see that the members of the organization were religious
conscious.
The 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Annual General Meeting were held
at Kishan Dial School, British Council hall, Vivekananda Ashrama
Selangor, Ceylon Tamils Association and the Appar tamil high school
respectively.
This movement was an experiment to verify whether there was any
necessity for a youth body to cater for the needs of the Hindu Youths.
Strange enough, the answers is heartening, for from out this, burst
forth the formation of the various branches of the Federation of Malaya
Hindu Youth Council (now known as Malaysian Hindu Youth Council)
