Dayalbagh

Dayalbagh is a suburb of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Dayalbagh is the headquarters of the Radhasoami Faith religion. The city is also home to Dayalbagh Educational Institute. It comprises various Colleges, prominently among them being Dayalbagh Engineering College.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census^[1], Dayalbagh had a population of 3324. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. In Dayalbagh, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Ambience

The Dayalbagh Educational Institute is located amidst the tranquil environs of Dayalbagh, a self-contained colony renowned for its serene environment and secular establishments, in which its inhabitants lead an active, disciplined and co-operative community life dedicated to service, conforming to the high spiritual ideals of their faith. On the outskirts of the historic city of Agra, the campus is situated in garden settings, away from the din and noise of the city. Nestled between lush green fields, it provides an excellent ambience and academic setting that is in harmony with nature. This, along with a simple, disciplined and principled life, undoubtedly contributes to the strength of the social, moral and spiritual fiber of the institute's educational system.

Community life

A house in the residential streets of Dayalbagh. This is the way all the houses in dayalbagh are constructed

A Peacock seen in the residential areas of Dayalbagh. It is Considered to be one of the most commonly found creatures in Dayalbagh

Small Shrubs planted by the House. It is considered to be a part of their main and important activity, the environmental protection moment

The Colony of Dayalbagh, which translates as "Garden of the Merciful," was founded on the Basant Day in 1915 by Huzur Sahabji Maharaj, the fifth Revered Leader of Radhasoami Faith by planting a (shahtoot ka poadha)mulberry tree, as an Ashram or the spiritual home of the followers of the Faith. The headquarters of Radhasoami Satsang Sabha are located here.

The colony is laid out in an open garden setting. The land where the colony was established once consisted of sand dunes. For more than 60 years residents of the colony - men and women, young and old - have worked with quiet dedication in a vast programme for reclamation of land launched in 1943 by Huzur Mehtaji Maharaj, the sixth Revered Leader of the Faith. The result is a lush green 1,200-acre (4.9 km²) farm where food-grains, oil-seeds, fodder, and vegetables are grown.

Nobody owns any property in Dayalbagh individually. The land, the houses and institutions all belong to the community as a whole. People also live and work as a community. For example, the residents share various responsibilities like cleaning up the colony and arranging night security. The colony has its own water supply, electricity distribution, and civic services. The colony's dairy provides most of the milk that is needed, and a community kitchen that supplies food free to pilgrims. The residents can also obtain meals from there and free themselves from household chores.

There is a hospital with a maternity ward. Facilities exist for ophthalmic and dental treatment, ultrasound, ECG, and pathological testing. All consultations and treatment are free for everyone. The majority of patients are from outside Dayalbagh. There are also homeopathic and ayurvedic dispensaries.

Small-scale industries known as the Model Industries were established in 1916 to provide employment and a source of livelihood to the persons residing in the colony. It has done some pioneering work in the country. The industries have now been decentralized and cottage scale production of goods of daily necessity is taking place in units set up by Satsangis all over the country.

The Radhasoami Urban Cooperative Bank and the Dayalbagh Mahila Bank cater to the financial requirements of various organizations and individuals in the colony. The Dayalbagh Printing Press prints Holy Books and the two Satsang weeklies, one in English (also available in its e-version) and the other in Hindi.

The day in Dayalbagh begins with congregational prayers, followed by physical fitness exercise and work on the farms and in colony by way of service, where after people go to their respective vocations. The day ends with prayers in the evening.

Genesis of Dayalbagh Educational Institute

The foundation of a school was laid the very next day after the foundation of the colony. The school has grown in course of time to become a Deemed University-Dayalbagh Educational Institute-with various faculties with facilities for research. The education system followed is unique and provides value-based multi-disciplinary education with work experience. In addition, the colony has a diploma level Technical College, a Women's Polytechnic, a nursery, primary level schools and secondary level colleges for boys and girls; a school of Languages; a School of Art and Culture; a Tailoring School; a School of Dress Designing and Interior Decoration; a Day Boarding School; a Training Center for Indian Music; and a Leather Working School.

Other Non-University Institutions of Dayalbagh

There has been a social transformation of the community. Literacy among boys and girls is complete. There is no caste system. Marriages are simple. The community is organized through 11 Regional Associations in the country and three Associations abroad comprising over 500 Branches and Centers. There are several schools and dispensaries being run in different parts of the country and intensive tribal welfare and uplift work is being done in district Harda of Madhya Pradesh.

1. Radhasoami High School, Timarni, Madhya Pradesh

2. Schools in Rajaborari Estate, Madhya Pradesh

 i.  Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Rajaborari

 ii. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Temrubahar

 iii. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Kachnar

 iv. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Kairi

 v. Radhasoami Adivasi Higher Secondary School, Rajaborari 

 vi.  Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Mahagaon

 vii. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Salai

 viii. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Gulardhana

 ix. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Mogradhana

 x. Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School, Dabri

3. Radhasoami Free Aided Elementary School, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

4. Radhasoami Primary School, Melathiruvengadanathpuram, Tamil Nadu

5. Madurai Primary School, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

6. Soami Nagar Pre-Primary School, New Delhi

7. Roorkee Model School, Roorkee, Uttaranchal

8. New Model School, Daudhar, Punjab

9. Chandigarh New Model School, Chandigarh

10. Model Primary School, Dhariwal, Punjab

11. Prem Nagar New Model School, Ludhiana, Punjab

12. Soami Nagar Model School, Delhi

13. Mullanpur New Model School, Mullanpur, Punjab

14. Radhasoami Boys Primary School, Timarni, Madhya Pradesh

15. Radhasoami School, Murar Bihar

16. Satsang Training Employment and Rural Uplift Institute, Murar, Bihar

17. Vocational Training Centres for Adivasi and Other Weaker Sections in Timarni and Rajaborari, Madhya Pradesh

Other colonies in Dayalbagh suburb of Agra

Numerous new residential colonies have developed in Dayalbagh suburb of Agra in last few decades, viz. Adan Bagh, Sarla Bagh, Heera Bagh, Kabir Nagar etc. The residents of these new colonies follow religions of their choice.

References

1. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

Coordinates: 27°13′N 78°01′E / 27.217°N 78.017°E / 27.217; 78.017