Army Veteran Gifts ₹4 Crore Property to Tamil Nadu Temple Amid Family Dispute
In a remarkable gesture of faith and protest, S Vijayan, a 65-year-old retired officer of the Indian Army, has donated property valued at ₹4 crore to the Arulmigu Renugambal Amman Temple in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. This substantial donation, consisting of original property documents, was placed into a temple hundi after Vijayan reportedly experienced persistent pressure from his daughters to hand over the assets to them.
The unexpected discovery was made during a regular bi-monthly offering count at the temple, situated near Arani town. Among the contributions, officials found legal documents pertaining to 10 cents of land and a single-storey house close to the shrine, accompanied by a handwritten note expressing Vijayan's willingness to donate the property.
Reports indicate that Vijayan, hailing from Kesavapuram village, has been a devoted follower of the temple throughout his life. Living alone for nearly ten years after separating from his wife, he claims to have received no support from his two daughters, who are married and live in Chennai and Vellore.
Speaking to local media, Vijayan expressed his distress, saying, “I was humiliated by my children even for daily expenses. I will not go back on my word. After consulting temple officials, I will legally transfer my properties to the temple.”
The mere donation of documents does not immediately confer legal ownership of the property to the temple. The incident has been reported to senior officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. These documents are currently in the department's possession, awaiting formal registration.
M Silambarasan, the Executive Officer of the temple, stated, “The devotee has to register it with the department for the temple to legally claim the property.”
This unusual act underscores both the veteran's disenchantment with familial relationships and his unwavering devotion to the temple he has cherished since childhood. The event has ignited discussions online concerning elder care, property rights, and the emotional impact of family disputes in India.
