In Unprecedented Sale, Mother Teresa Women’s University Buys Meenakshi Temple Land in Madurai

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MADURAI, INDIA, December 5, 2003: The Tamil Nadu Government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) has approved the unprecedented sale of lands of the famed Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple to the Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal. The university has purchased 2.29 acres of lands owned by the temple in Valayangulam at a cost of US$20,000 to house its extension center in Madurai where several post-graduate programs are offered to the girl-students under the regular stream. Speaking at a joint press conference convened by University Vice-Chancellor Anandavalli Mahadevan and HR&CE Joint Commissioner P Baskaran on Thursday, the VC said that a proposal on land acquisition was sent in July, 2002, and the orders were received in September last facilitating registration process, which was completed on Thursday. Baskaran defended the sale, “For the very first time, some land of the Meenakshi temple has been sold, but for a cause. The sale was done as per guidelines. The proposal got a nod as it would help women’s empowerment. The land yielded an annual revenue of $87 from tamarind trees.”