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:: Our Founders ::
FOUNDING THE MOVEMENT …….
When Varghese Alengaden was the Youth Director of Madhya Pradesh Regional Bishops’ Conference, he got an opportunity to lead an Indian contingent of youth to Taize, in France. Here he met and interacted with youth of different christian denominations from various countries and was impressed with their ability to live harmoniously together. Varghese stayed for two months and had frequent opportunities to interact with Brother Roger, the founder, and his community. Here too he found a diverse community who lived a harmonious community life of prayer, contemplation and cordial service to people.. In his own prayer and reflection, he felt the desire to start a similar group in India. He even drew up preliminary plans for a project for the formation of a youth group on similar lines, which he would name, ‘Harmony’. After a few months of his return to India , however, he was transferred to a remote village of the State. He had no more opportunity to realize his project with the youth . Hence he had to be put it in cold storage till better times.
In 1992 the nation was traumatized by the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya, followed by the Bombay serial bomb blasts. The bloodshed and agony polarized the nation, creating a fear complex and a communal divide. These tragic events once again prompted Alengaden to launch his dream project. He and John Sachidnand from Hyderabad, who had similar dreams, launched the Movement on the 16th July,1993 at Indore. After a couple of years Sachidanand left the Movement to organize his own programmes. For almost three years Alengaden was a one-man army, indefatigable in addressing groups of students and teachers, who were his first target groups, devising creative programs, like the ‘Knit India’ gatherings at the regional and national level, writing books, composing inspirational songs and dramas on relevant themes . The weed ‘Besharam’ was his mascot, because he ‘bloomed where he was planted’ and his motto was, ‘Struggle, Smile and Stay.
Gradually he was able to nurture associates who shared his vision and dream. Few of them have been permanent, but he is buoyant, nonetheless, because he believes that they can help carry the message to more people and beyond his reach. The national office of the Universal Solidarity Movement at Indore is an open community, where people are welcomed and honoured, irrespective of their social and religious differences and given a sense of belonging and friendship. The décor is unique as is the life style and the people. Come, See and Share’.
To-day the Universal Solidarity Movement counts among its members people young and old, belonging to different religions, social strata, largely from India but also from Europe as well. They are all zealously building a civilization of Love.
