Abalashram was founded at the dawn of
20th century by the late
Smt and Sri Venkatavarada
Iyengar as a "Home" for total orphan girls and women with post-marital problems. Sri Iyengar paved the way for establishing Abalashram by marrying
Smt.Krishnamma, a childhood widow. The burning ideals of Arya
Samaj, his personal zeal for helping deprived women and the
support he received from his life partner sowed the seeds. Both of them resolved
to make a beginning in a small way and converted their
own modest home, which was located at Basavanagudi,
Bangalore, into a santuary for abandoned women and totally orphaned
girls in 1905.
Soon the need was felt to expand the activity and Abalashrama moved to its own spacious premises on Dr. D.V.G Road
(formerly know as Nagasandra Road) in 1911. It was registered as a society in 1943-44 and when an elected body took over the reins to run the organization, it started functioning as a full-fledged formal institution. Since then, it has not only been providing
shelter and food for the residents, but also has strived to integrate
them into the social mainstream by providing education and
vocational training. It has also successfully arranged
marriages when suitable boys approach it, after thorough
scrutiny, there by providing a whole new meaning to their lives.
