Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (ശ്രീനാരായണ ധർമ്മ പരിപാലന യോഗം), commonly known as S.N.D.P. Yogam (എസ്.എൻ.ഡി.പി. യോഗം), is a foundational social service organisation in Kerala, India. Officially registered under the Companies Act on 15 May 1903, it was founded by Dr. Padmanabhan Palpu. The social reformer Sree Narayana Guru served as its first and lifelong chairman, while the poet Kumaranasan was its first secretary.

The establishment of the Yogam marked the first organised effort for social equality in Kerala and played a pivotal role in the state's renaissance. Its primary objectives were to propagate Guru's ideals, guide oppressed communities towards social and spiritual advancement, and establish educational institutions and monasteries. The organisation grew out of the Vavoottu Yogam, a committee managing the Aruvippuram temple founded by Guru.

Today, the SNDP Yogam has a significant presence in Kerala's social and political spheres. Its influence extends globally, with members and branches in the Gulf countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Sree Narayana Trust The Sree Narayana Trust was founded by the SNDP Yogam to start, and manage educational, social, and economical institutions with the vision of Narayana Guru. Combined both the Yogam and the Trust present annual budgets of about ₹2,000,000,000 (INR 200 crore or US$24 million).

Currently, the organization runs several educational institutes, hospitals, and other institutions.

Mission The SNDP Yogam is based on the principles and philosophy of Narayana Guru. Guru devoted his life to working against the social and economical inequality, casteism, and superstitions in the Kerala society. The Yogam has the moral responsibility and the social duty to model the Sree Narayana dharmas.

History SNDP was founded in 1903 by Padmanabhan Palpu with the guidance and blessings of Narayana Guru. SNDP was the first organization to envisage Kerala as a whole.

Vavoottu Yogam expanded and formed an organization known as Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam. The Aruvippuram Temple Society, known as Vavoottu Yogam emerged in 1888.

During the 1890s, there was an oppressive caste system in Kerala. Palpu started working towards ensuring the rights of the then identified backward communities. With the 1891 Malayali Memorial Revolt, he took the leadership of the then oppressed community named Ezhava, and attempted to begin an organization called Ezhava Sabha. In 1896, he created the organization's by-laws and published the law in Malayali, a newspaper published from Thankussery. He organized a few meetings at Paravur and Mayyanad, before the movement failed.

On 7 January 1903, a special meeting of Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam was conducted. They decided to enlarge the organization to support the progress of all backward communities religiously and materially. Thus, on 15 May 1903, with Narayana Guru as its president, Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam was registered as Aruvippuram Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam according to the Indian Companies Act, No. 6, 1882.

The Sree Bhavaneeswara temple, dedicated to Shiva, was consecrated by Guru on 8 March 1916 (24 Kumbham 1091 M.E.). After the ceremony, he laid the foundation stone for the Lower Primary School under the SNDP.

List of presidents

+ List of SNDP Yogam presidents No Name Years 1 Narayana Guru 1903–1928 2 Madavan Vydyar 1929–1933 3 C. Krishnan 1933–1938 4 M. Govindan 1939–19405 K. Ayyappan 1940–19436 V. K. Panikkar 1943–19447 V. K. Velayudan 1944–19458 M. Govindan 1945–19519 P. N. Narayanan 1951–195310 K. Sukumaran 1953–195411 R. Sankar 1954–195612 V. G. Sukumaran 1956–196013 K. I. Velayudan 1960–196114 M. Achuthan 1961–196615 C. R. Kesavan Vydyar 1966–197016 Administrator rule 1970–197117 K. T. Achuthan 1971–197318 N. Sreenivasan 1973–197819 P. S. Velayudan 1978–198220 M. K. Ragavan 1982–198821 K. K. Viswanathan 1988–199222 K. G. Sreenivasa Panickar 1992 23 K. K. Rahulan 1992–199624 A. S. Prathapsingh 1996–199925 C. K. Vidhyasagar 1999–200626 K. Kamalasanan 200627 M. B. Sreekumar 2006–200728 M. N. Soman 2007–

List of General Secretaries The following is a chronological list of the General Secretaries of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam since its registration in 1903.

No. Name Tenure 1 Kumaran Asan 1903–1915 2 N. Krishnan 1915–1916 3 Kumaran Asan 1916–1919 4 N. Kumaran 1919–1927 5 C. V. Kunhiraman 1927–1929 6 M. Govindan 1929–1930 7 K. Narayanan 1930–1931 8 C. V. Kunhiraman 1931–1932 9 K. M. Keshavan 1932–1933 10 C. Kesavan 1933–1935 11 Thazhava Kesavan 1935–1936 12 V. K. Velayudhan 1936–1941 13 K. N. Kunju Krishnan 1941–1942 14 V. K. Velayudhan 1942–1944 15 R. Sankar 1944–1954 16 K. Karthikeyan 1954–1956 17 R. Sankar 1956–1957 18 K. R. Narayanan 1957–1961 19 K. M. Raghavan 1961–1970 20 Mankuzhi Madhavan 1971–1973 21 Prof. P. S. Velayudhan 1973–1978 22 P. S. Prathap Singh 1978–1982 23 K. Gopinadhan 1982–1985 24 A. S. Prathap Singh 1985–1992 25 K. Gopinadhan 1992–1996 26 Vellappally Natesan 1996–2026

See also List of Ezhavas Sivagiri, Kerala

References

External links Sree Dharma Paripalana Yogam website