History of Gītā Swadyaya Samiti: A 25-Year Journey of Inner Awakening
The Vision Begins
The Gītā Swadyaya Samiti was founded in Kerala as a grassroots movement to inspire a deeper engagement with the Bhagavad Gītā, especially among the youth. The vision was seeded by the late Śrī P. Parameśwaran Ji, founder and director of Bhāratīya Vichāra Kendram, during a Gītā Jñāna Yajña organized in Kochi in 1997, under the spiritual guidance of Swāmī Tejomayānanda.
Witnessing Kerala’s moral drift and ideological confusion, Parameśwaran Ji envisioned the Gītā not just as scripture, but as a transformative force—capable of nurturing national consciousness, cultural clarity, and inner strength. He saw the need for a sustained, value-driven movement rooted in dharma, and thus the Gītā Swadyaya Samiti was born.
A Response to Ideological Crisis
The late 1990s were marked by disillusionment. The collapse of global communism and the unchecked advance of capitalism left a moral vacuum. Kerala’s youth, untethered from enduring values, were in search of direction.
In this context, the Gītā Swadyaya Samiti emerged as a countercultural and value-centric movement, offering a path rooted in timeless wisdom. Its core intent was to reclaim the Gītā’s message as a guiding light for individual growth and national purpose.
Milestones That Shaped the Movement
• 1998: The official launch occurred with a grand Gītā Jayantī celebration at the Kerala University Senate Hall, attended by over 2,000 youth.
• September 1998: A three-day residential Gītā Camp held at Śrī Rāmakṛṣṇa Āśram, Kālaḍi, drew an unexpected 500+ participants.
• 1999: A state-level youth camp was organized in Tṛśśūr, representing over 1,000 local units. The call for “Gītā in every home, Gītā camp in every pañcāyat” was launched.
• Message from Swami Raṅganāthānanda: “The Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā is not for worship alone—it is a scripture for action. It must reach every youth.”
International Gītā Seminar – 2000
A defining moment in the movement’s history was the International Gītā Seminar held in Tiruvananthapuram from December 7–10, 2000, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Theme: “The Bhagavad Gītā as a Solution to Modern Problems”
• Delegates: Over 1,400 participants and 100 speakers
• Inauguration: Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, then Union HRD Minister
• Valedictory Address: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The seminar drew wide participation from spiritual and cultural organizations and led to renewed public discourse on Gītā’s role in modern life. National media coverage, academic interest, and the publication of new commentaries followed.
Cultural Relevance and Transformative Impact
The Gītā was successfully repositioned in Kerala—not just as a spiritual text, but as a manual for life, action, and clarity. Discussions entered educational institutions and youth forums. For perhaps the first time, Kerala’s intellectual space widely recognized the Gītā’s national and global relevance.
2025: A Call for Revival
As we mark the Silver Jubilee of the International Seminar and the Birth Centenary of Parameśwaran Ji, Kerala stands at a critical crossroads. Challenges such as drug abuse, moral confusion, and ideological polarization affect the youth deeply. A disconnection from cultural and dhārmika roots has led to identity erosion.
The message of the Gītā is more urgent than ever. Parameśwaran Ji’s vision remains prophetic: only the Bhagavad Gītā can awaken the inner resolve needed to rebuild the soul of the nation.
The Silver Jubilee Campaign
To honour this legacy, Bhāratīya Vichāra Kendram is launching a statewide Gītā resurgence movement:
• Inaugural Event:
August 31, 2025, at Śrī Rāmakṛṣṇa Advaita Āśram, Kālaḍi — on the banks of the sacred River Pūrṇā (Periyar), the birthplace of Jagadguru Śrī Śaṅkarācārya.
• Campaign Goals:
Series of Gītā-related events through Gītā Jayantī (December 2025), engaging temples, āśramas, educational institutions, writers, and youth organizations.
• Action Steps:
Local satsaṅgas, seminars, cultural gatherings, and Gītā reading circles will be activated across districts.
Our Appeal
Let the youth of Kerala rise like Arjuna—equipped with strength, clarity, and a sense of dharma. Let the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gītā become their compass in these turbulent times.
We invite you to be part of this movement.
Let us once again make the voice of the Gītā resonate in every heart and home.