HISTORY OF THE GUYANA SANATAN DHARMA MAHA SABHA ASHRAM

History & Heritage

The Founder: A dedicated profile of Dr. Jung Bahadur Singh, the founding president.
Historical Timeline:
- 1934: Founding of the GSDMS.
- 1954: Formal incorporation under Ordinance No. 42 by the British Guiana Parliament.
- 1960s: Expansion to 128 affiliated mandirs and the hosting of the first annual Diwali Fair.
- 1967: Opening of the first secondary school at the Lamaha Street Ashram.
- 1996–2000: Construction and opening of the Georgetown and New Amsterdam Maha Sabha Mandirs.

The Guyana Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, the first Hindu organisation to emerge in Colonial Guyana, was founded in 1934 by Dr. Jung Bahadur Singh, who served as president for several years and helped to shape it into one of the country’s most respected Hindu institutions.
In its formative years, the Maha Sabha’s membership consisted primarily of pandits, among them leading figures such as Pandit Oudit Narine,and Pandit Gowkarran Sharma.
As time passed, membership expanded as more Hindus across the country began enrolling and participating in the organisation’s activities. The Maha Sabha was formally incorporated under Ordinance No. 42 of 1954 by the British Guiana Parliament, marking a historic milestone in the establishment of Hindu religious and cultural life in the colony.

During the 1950s, the organisation experienced significant growth and development. It encouraged the establishment of branches throughout the country and promoted the building of temples and Hindu schools, especially in the sugar estates and rural communities where descendants of Indian immigrants were concentrated.
The Maha Sabha quickly became the backbone of Hindu promotion and preservation, training pandits to conduct religious rites, officiate marriages, and guide the Hindu community according to its cultural and spiritual traditions.

Recognising the need for a central headquarters and a dedicated place of worship, the Maha Sabha acquired a small property on Cowan Street, Kingston. This was later sold, and another location was obtained on Regent Street before finally transitioning to a building at Lamaha Street.
As attendance at satsangh and prayer services expanded, even this facility proved insufficient. It was during this vibrant period that the Youth Arm of the Maha Sabha was also formed, adding new energy and leadership to the organisation.

By the 1960s, the Maha Sabha had achieved remarkable success, boasting affiliation with 128 mandirs across Guyana. Its status as the premier Hindu body was solidified when it hosted the first annual Diwali Fair.
Education remained a priority, and in 1967, the Maha Sabha opened its first secondary school at its Lamaha Street Ashram headquarters, followed shortly by the establishment of another secondary school at Lenora on the West Coast of Demerara. The organisation also began publishing its monthly newsletter, “Amar Jyoti,” which became its official organ and provided wide coverage of religious, cultural, and social activities.

In the 1990s, the Maha Sabha continued to play a leading national role under the stewardship of the late Justice Ramraj Jagnandan, who served as president. Under his guidance, the foundation stone of the Georgetown Maha Sabha Mandir was laid on 3rd October 1996, and the completed mandir was officially opened on 12th May 1997.
Around the same time, the organisation embarked on the construction of the New Amsterdam Maha Sabha Mandir, whose cornerstone was laid on 15th October 1997 under the chairmanship of Ramesh Rajkumar, Attorney-at-Law. The temple was officially opened on 20th July 2000, marking yet another significant achievement.