ARYAN BENEVOLENT HOME COUNCIL

General information

The history of the Aryan Benevolent Home goes back to 1918, when Mr DG Satyadeva witnessed a policeman assaulting a homeless old Indian man for taking shelter overnight in a public toilet in Durban.

Deeply distressed by this incident and inspired by the teachings of the Arya Samaj of India, whose ninth principle states that everyone must see his own welfare in the welfare of others (a parallel to the African idea of Ubuntu) – Satyadeva and his colleagues, Messrs Nayanah Rajh and Singh, resolved to provide an alternative home for the City's neediest.

Three years later, the first home – a small wood and iron house in Cato Manor – opened its doors to three homeless beggars, and soon became a refuge for elderly, disabled and chronically ill people in need. In 1933, a larger and more permanent structure was built to serve the growing needs of the organisation.

Our headquarters now occupy a 10 acre site in the heart of Chatsworth, on which is built our Dayanand Garden Home for the Aged and Disabled, the cottage system Bhai Rambharos Home for Children, our children's creche, nurses training centre and administrative and communications hub.

We have also established branches in Gauteng, Western Cape, Northern KZN and Umzinto on the South Coast.

Throughout our history, the work of the ABH has been supported and made possible through countless donations – both large and small – from caring individuals, community members and local businesses.