YMCA India

YMCA Officials meet with Mahatma Gandhi in 1924

That was the philosophy of Spencer Hatch, the agriculturalist sent by YMCA World Service to Southern India in 1921, to head up the Rural Reconstruction Center in Martandam, an extremely impoverished area.

Hatch believed in teaching poor families practical skills that would double their incomes, such as bee-keeping and raising poultry or goats. By producing their own honey, eggs and milk, families could rise out of poverty.

Local YMCA leaders administered the program and were in charge of a school set up to teach practical courses, such as sanitation and health, leadership, improvement of livestock and co-op marketing.

In 1875, India was the first country outside of Europe and North America to establish a YMCA (located in Bombay Mumbai). Within decades, YMCAs were founded in population centers, such as Madras (Chennai), Calcutta, Bangalore, Hyderbad, Allahbad and Jamalpur. YMCA buildings were always strategically located to serve every class, since the caste system was not recognized inside the YMCA.

By 1903, YMCA World Service had sent more personnel to India than any other country. In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi personally requested the president of the National Council of YMCAs in India, Dr. S. K. Datta, to serve as a member of the Unity Conference on relations between Hindus and Mohammedans.

In addition to rural reconstruction, the YMCA has conducted numerous educational courses on topics such as family health care, hygiene and vocational training. It has sponsored crusades to end hunger, literacy programs, job training and recreation for all children, including the blind. The YMCA has also established boys' homes, youth hostels and facilities for the disabled and destitute.

This tradition of YMCA World Service continues through efforts initiated and carried out by the people of India themselves, without regard to religious or political affiliations.