Preserve Vivekananda Ashram The Soul Of Brickfields

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The fate of the iconic Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, hangs on a precarious balance.
Despite its designation as a national heritage site in 2016, following a concerted campaign by civil society and concerned citizens, the Ashram has now been rezoned as “main commercial” under the latest Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040.
Property developers have long eyed the site. Have they been given fresh hope?
This rezoning poses a direct threat to one of the city’s most important spiritual and cultural landmarks.
ADSCentury of service and spirituality
The Vivekananda Ashram was established in 1904 to commemorate the visit of Swami Vivekananda to Malaya just a few years earlier.
It stands as a living memorial to his teachings of Vedanta, selfless service, interfaith unity, and universal compassion.
The Ashram is owned by a company limited by guarantee and is managed by a group of trustees.
Its membership is small, but its mission is broad, encompassing educational, cultural, spiritual, and charitable activities, and its constituency is large.
It serves as the custodian of four Tamil schools and is involved in religious education, community welfare, and the empowerment of the underprivileged.
Yoga and meditation are taught here, and devotional songs and daily prayers are part of its vibrant spiritual life.
Vivekananda’s enduring vision
Swami Vivekananda is venerated not only in India but across the globe for his transformative vision of religion, tolerance, and nation-building.
He presented Hinduism as a tolerant and inclusive faith, emphasising the unity of all religions.
He fiercely opposed caste-based discrimination and the neglect of the poor, and he championed education and the empowerment of youth and women.
The Ashram in Brickfields embodies that legacy. It is not merely a structure—it is a symbol
ADSof Malaysia’s pluralism, Indian heritage, and multicultural promise.
A trust to be honoured?
As concerned citizens rightly point out, the trustees are stewards, not owners, of the Ashram. 
Their primary duty is to ensure the corporation remains faithful to its founding objectives.
Any act that causes the Ashram, or the corporation, to cease fulfilling those objectives would be a breach of trust. That includes, arguably, the sale of any portion of the land. 
The construction of high-rise commercial buildings on the site would irreversibly damage the character, serenity, and spiritual purpose of the Ashram. It would also disrupt the operation of the school located adjacent to the site.
Sacred space for all Malaysians
This responsibility is not owed solely to Hindus - it is a public trust owed to all residents of Brickfields, to all Malaysians, and to anyone who values our spiritual, cultural, and historical heritage.
The Ashram is an integral part of the landscape of Little India and one of the oldest surviving cultural and spiritual edifices in Brickfields.
More than bricks and mortar, it represents over a century of worship, community service, and sacrifice.
It honours the contributions of the Indian community to Malaysia’s development and reflects the spiritual diversity of the nation.
Spirituality over commercialisation
To allow a tower block to rise on this sacred site would be to dwarf the Ashram, literally and symbolically.
Relocating the Ashram would sever its deep, historic link with the Indian community in Brickfields and diminish its meaning as a public spiritual sanctuary.
The trustees must resist the temptation to monetise the land. They must place spiritual values above commercial ones.
The Ashram is a sanctified space. The public must continue to have free and easy access to it.
Protecting our heritage
The Ashram’s heritage status provides it with some legal protection, but this alone is not enough.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall must ensure that this iconic historical, cultural, and spiritual site is preserved and protected for future generations. And the trustees must honour, not betray, the sacred trust they hold.
Let us not allow development to bulldoze over memory, meaning, and identity. - Mkini
DAVID DASS is a lawyer, Malaysiakini subscriber, and commentator.
Y SIVALOGANATHAN grew up in Brickfields and learned yoga at the Vivekananda Ashram.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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