Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (SSKMC)

History

Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswami Memorial College, formerly known as Nadi Secondary School, was founded in 1958, when Shri Vivekananda High School (now Shri Vivekananda College) became a grant aided school. During those days, Shri Vivekananda High School was the only secondary school in Nadi and being a grant-aided school it could not enroll students who were unsuccessful in their Fiji Secondary School Entrance Examination. Thus, the need arouse for another secondary school, to retain the youths in school. It was Swami Rudrananda’s timely initiation that led to the opening of another secondary school, Nadi Secondary School, as a sister institution to Shri Vivekananda High School. In 1958, the number of students at the Sarda Girls’ Hostel decreased to a sustainable level and this was seen as an opportunity by Swami Rudrananda to use that premises as the new Nadi Secondary School.

To manage the affairs of this new school, Swamiji formed the Nadi Education Society, with Dr. C. T. Mehta as the President; Mr. H. M. Lodhia (Manager); Mr. Krishna Murti (Secretary/Treasurer) and a few other members. Some time later, due to his demise, Mr Krishna Murti was replaced by Mr. M. K. Pillai.

The pioneer Principal of the school was Mr. Shantilal N. Patel, with Mr. Satya Mani Masih and Pandit Vivekanand Sharma as his assistants. The school had a roll of sixty-eight students during its first year.

At the beginning of term three, 1958, Shri Vivekananda High School , which was

located on the bank of the Nadi River (the site of the old Nadi Temple), moved to its present site in Malolo. Nadi Secondary School moved into that premises, flourishing in the warmth of the temple environment.

Mr. S. N. Patel resigned as the Principal in 1962 and he was succeeded by Mr. S. Sadasiwan. 1964 saw the introduction of a form five in the school. The student

population had increased to around four hundred. In 1965, Mr. Sadasiwan resigned to join the government service. He was succeeded by Mr. J. R. Achal in 1966.

1967 witnessed yet another significant event; Nadi Secondary School was handed over by the Nadi Education Society to T.I.S.I.Sangam Central Board. This was followed by the election of a new Board of Governors: Rev. Swami Rudrananda (Manager); Mr. Shankaran Nair (President); Mr. Venkat Swami Naodu (Secretary); Mr. M. K. Pillai (Treasurer) and Messrs. Ram Sami Pillai, Jag Nath Naidu, Nacovi Narayan, Chinnaiya Gounder, Pullaiya Dass, R. Raman, V. S. Naidu and Changaiya Naidu (Committee Members).

Later, in 1969, the school moved into its new premises, where it is since located. On receiving a substantial building grant, a doublestorey building consisting of nine classrooms, two science laboratories (Physics and Chemistry), a library and a Home Economics Room, was constructed.