Ou comment Chari gère le foncier de la SRCM ?
Après les nouveaux centres de méditation acquis au Canada, à Singapour et au Qatar cette année, Chari a inauguré le 1er septembre 2013 le premier ashram de la (Grande) Russie, localisé à Minsk (Belarus). La fièvre acheteuse de la SRCM n’en finira donc jamais…
Après les ashrams et centres de méditation, les centres de retraite ou de formation (CREST), l’Omega school (LMOIS), après l’immobilier Chari s’attaque au foncier. Tout le monde le sait, Chari l’a dit, la SRCM est plus riche de foncier que d’immobilier ou de moyens financiers pour bâtir : “I don’t want more and more land holdings without money to build ashrams.” (discours aux ZIC du 10 janvier 2009). La Mission a tant de terres que Chari ne sait plus combien elle en possède exactement : en Inde, une enquête est en cours pour les recenser !
Alors que faire ? Que faire de ce trop-plein de foncier ? Et comment le rentabiliser ?
Qu’à cela ne tienne, Chari a trouvé la solution. Il s’agit de créer des lieux de vie, enclaves ou colonies du Sahaj marg, comme il les appelle. Une idée qu’il développe amplement dans Echoes of India de novembre 2013 (voir extraits ci-dessous).
La SRCM s’est transformée en agence foncière et immobilière. L’idée n’est pas nouvelle, je l’annonçais déjà en janvier 2009 dans Une petite entreprise qui ne connaît pas la crise.
Le principe est simple : la Mission recherche les bonnes affaires, achète du foncier (quand il n’a pas été légué gratuitement) et revend ensuite des parcelles de la colonie à ses abhyasis pour couvrir l’acquisition du foncier, la construction d’un ashram, d’un cottage pour le maître, voire d’éventuels bénéfices.
Santosh Khanjee et PR Krishna dénichent les bonnes affaires, à l’aide de Comités de projets immobiliers locaux. Dans chaque pays, des avocats spécialisés, architectes et professionnels de l'immobilier réfléchissent aux montages juridiques et fiscaux les mieux adaptés. Puis ils montent ces projets d’achat et de revente sous couvert de sociétés de droit privé, dans le but officiel de créer des "lieux de vie" pour les abhyasis…
Petite organisation spirituelle ou vaste entreprise d’investissements fonciers et immobiliers ?
Un modèle à suivre : la "Hosur Abhyasi Colony" ou "Pragati Enclave", largement cité dans Echoes of India de novembre. La recherche d’une terre y avait débuté en 1995 mais c’est en 2010 que la Mission a acquis près de 6 hectares dans le petit village d’Avalapalli, à proximité d’Hosur (district de Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu). Deux hectares ont été réservés pour la construction d’un ashram, le reste étant divisé en 102 parcelles d’environ 220 m² revendues à des abhyasis pour construire et s’installer dans cette colonie. Trois ans plus tard, 10 maisons sont achevées, 2 en cours de construction, et d’autres devraient bientôt suivre…
Chari a décidé de promouvoir largement cette expérience au sein de la Mission et surtout de la développer. Cet exemple doit donc servir de modèle, sa visite est recommandée et Echoes of India en fait la publicité. Mais c’est déjà loin d’être le seul cas de figure de ce genre. En 2012, MG Brothers real estates a acquis 20 ha pour créer la "Sri Parthasarathi Nagar residential colony" à Kolakaluru dans l’Andhrah Pradesh, selon Echoes of India. Là encore, près de 8 ha sont réservés à l’ashram, les 12 ha restant sont destinés aux colons abhyasis.
Last but not least, fin septembre, Chari a signé pour l’achat par la SMSF de plus de 45 hectares de terres à Tiruvallur, à 45 km à l’ouest de Chennai (Tamil Nadu). C’est son fils PR Krishna qui doit coordonner les actions de cette future colonie, notamment sur le plan agricole. Mais le projet comprend aussi un centre de santé, une salle de méditation et tant d’autres choses…
Trois exemples et une montée en puissance de 6 à 20 puis 45 ha ! L’ambition de Chari est sans limites…
Coïncidence : sur un site de vente immobilière, j’apprends à l’instant que la SRCM possède 300 ha (750 acres) à Timmapur, dans la banlieue d’Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), à proximité de l’aéroport international de Shamshabad.
Depuis toujours, les abhyasis sont tentés de se regrouper, ce n’est pas nouveau. Un sentiment naturel et compréhensible que Chari a su une fois de plus mettre à profit. Pensez aux appartements de Garden of hearts face au Babuji Memorial Ashram de Manapakkam détenus par les abhyasis. C’est aussi le cas au Danemark dans la localité de Vrads où réside une importante colonie d’abhyasis autour d’un ashram/centre de retraite.
Sous couvert de spiritualité, Chari exploite un besoin naturel de ses adeptes à des fins commerciales et financières…
Liens :
Extraits de Echoes of india, novembre 2013 :
“ (…) The next two days [23-24/09/2013], Master was busy with the purchase of the Tiruvallur land about 45 kms west of Chennai, for the Mission. All the family members who were owners of the land came to “Gayathri” and Master met them personally and made sure everyone had food. Signing the agreement and sale deed papers was a mammoth task with about 300 signatures to do and there was a smile on Masters face as he worked through all the documents finally completing the work late in the night on both days. Master really enjoyed doing this, teaching us that when we enjoy what we do, it is no longer troublesome. (…)
Visit to Tiruvallur
In the past few days, registration of 113 acres of land [45,7 hectares] in Tiruvallur district about 45 kilometres west of Chennai was registered in favour of SMSF. Master wanted to visit the property and volunteers led by Br Vinay Krishna made arrangements over-night to put up a shamiana for meditation, Master’s tent and portable toilets for abhyasis. Around three hundred abhyasis from Chennai and adjoining areas of Tiruvallur had gathered there.
On 28th September Master arrived in his Mercedes van fitted with the special seat at the venue, around 8.30 a.m. He offered prasad and came to the meditation hall. He gave a sitting for about 45 minutes and addressed the gathering. He did some loud thinking about the uses to which the land would be put – a health centre, a meditation hall, agriculture, dairy farming and so on. He said that the main activity, however, would be meditation. The Collector of Tiruvallur district, Br Veeraraghav Rao, a new abhyasi, promised all assistance from the district administration. Some thirty members of the families that had sold the property came and met Master who gave them prasad and posed for a photo with them. Abhyasis brought a chocolate cake which was cut by Master and distributed to all. Though arrangements were made for Master to take rest, he did not rest, but sat in his wheelchair and had his breakfast. The entire area acquired has been under cultivation of paddy, banana and coconut trees and looks completely green. It has a good number of open wells and bore wells. Master then left for Chennai after he had viewed the property as far as he could go on the few roads available. (…)
Br P.R. Krishna left for Tiruvallur on October 4 along with other abhyasis to inspect the land and come up with a preliminary plan. Master said that Br P.R. Krishna would be handling all the efforts related to this property where Master mainly wants to focus on agriculture for the time being. (…)
Regional Ashram at Kolakaluru, A.P.
Around fifty acres [20 hectares] of land was acquired by the M.G. Brothers real estates at Khajipeta, Guntur to cater to the spiritual needs of abhyasis from Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri. About 18.75 acres of the land [7,6 hectares] was earmarked for the ashram and the remaining for Sri Parthasarathi Nagar residential colony for abhyasis.
With Master’s blessings the foundation stone was laid on 2 February 2012 by Br Madhu Kothapalli (ZiC). The ashram was inaugurated by Master through live telecast from Chennai on 8 September at 11.00 a.m. and was dedicated to Pujya Babuji Maharaj. Master mentioned that, “The ashrams should be utilized and they should not become like schools without students.” Abhyasis at Kolakaluru celebrated the occasion with fervent hearts. Regular satsanghs and full-day programmes are now being conducted here. (…)
Hosur Abhyasi Colony : An example of good planning and execution
The abhyasi residential colony which is coming up fast with required infrastructure and ambience for quality life for abhyasis is a model for other abhyasi colonies. Detailed financial planning and team work of abhyasis has resulted in a model colony as an adjunct of the ashram in Hosur.
Hosur is an industrial centre promoted by Tamil Nadu government located just twenty-five kilometres east of Bangalore. Search for ashram land at Hosur started way back in 1995. The fruit of the search could be realised in 2009 at Avalapalli village facing Kelavarapalli Dam, around 5 kms from Hosur bus stand. Br C. Rajagopalan, then ZiC, visited the place and gave the green signal to proceed further.
His Vision
Years ago, when an abhyasi wanted to donate land for Hosur ashram, Master gently replied, “Hosur needs in acres.” His vision could be realised when with his blessings 13.8 acres of land [5,6 hectares] was acquired out of which 4.75 acres [1,9 hectares] were reserved for the ashram and the rest was formed into an abhyasi colony. The ashram land was registered on 22 January 2010 by Br A.P. Durai, Jt. Secretary. Master was delighted by the team work and named the housing colony as ‟Pragati Enclave‟.
Core Team
A Core Team of seven members was formed for making decisions regarding finance, infrastructure, legal issues, etc. The team coordinated with the abhyasis and made decisions after deliberations. They designed the methodology for the cost of plots keeping in mind the cost of the land, housing infrastructure, donation to buy ashram land, ashram infrastructure and long term maintenance.
Infrastructure
There are 102 plots in this layout with each plot approximately 2400 sq.ft. [223 m²]. The infrastructure available currently includes the compound wall, storm water drains, overhead tank of capacity one lakh cubic litres from two bore wells and water line connection for all plots, concrete roads, a community hall (currently used as the meditation hall), playground for children and common parks. Around 700 avenue trees were planted which adds to the beauty of the ashram. Provision for power connection has been provided for each plot. A 24x7 security is provided by a German shepherd dog. Future plans for the project include the installation of solar lamps throughout the layout and completion of rain water harvesting.
Community Living
In a short span of three years, ten houses have been completed in the layout. Two more are under construction and a few more may come up very soon. Abhyasis are happy to live in the ashram atmosphere. Everybody realizes that this is a great opportunity given by Master to live together as a big family by developing brotherhood and tolerance. The serene and peaceful atmosphere helps them to introspect and refine themselves towards being ideal abhyasis. The general feeling among all has been that once they come inside the campus they don’t feel like going out. The children living in the community are enjoying the most in terms of the natural space to play and explore, bonding with each other and living in a balanced environment.
The seasonal vegetation and the cereals grown in the ashram land are also taken care with the help of the abhyasis. The produce from individual kitchen gardens are also shared. The main benefit of living in such a community has been that all the abhyasis are living to achieve a common goal, attain higher level of brotherhood, mutual trust and tolerance. The serene, clean and eco-friendly atmosphere is most welcoming for anyone who visits the place.
Ashram Project
Master has given his approval for the ashram construction. The final design and approval is in progress at HQ which includes a meditation hall, dormitory and dining hall. At present, satsanghs are being held in a semi-permanent hall which will be converted to some other use. Similarly, temporary kitchen and a guest room also have been set up. Colony planners in other centres/ashrams will profit from a visit to this colony and ashram.”
