Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of India

Although the contemporary history of Freemasonry in India can be traced to the year 1961, when the Grand Lodge of India was formed, Freemasonry was being widely followed throughout Europe and the English Colonies following the establishment of the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland and Ireland. The nobility, clergy, military personnel and men of influence sought to become part of the Fraternity.

British India was no exception. In fact, within just 12 years of the constitution of the Grand Lodge of England, constituted for the purpose of exercising supervision over the Lodges in London and its neighbouring areas, a petition was sent by a few Brethren in India to constitute a Provincial Grand Lodge in due form at Fort William, Calcutta. The petition having been granted, a Provincial Grand Master was appointed to supervise Masonic activity in India and the Far East in 1729.

In India, British influence gradually spread through its East India Company, and Lodges were established by the military, railways and bureaucracy, though the military played a more prominent role.

At the close of the French and Indian Peninsula wars there were, in addition to Military Static and Travelling Lodges, more than 100 Lodges warranted by the three Grand Lodges. Military Lodges greatly accelerated the growth of Colonial Freemasonry. It is no wonder that so many prominent military leaders of the French Revolutionary and Indian wars were Freemasons, such as Lord Nelson, Sir Charles Napier, Lieutenant General Sir Eyre Coote, twice Commander-in-Chief of British India, Lord Lake, Hastings, Dalhousie, the Duke of Wellington, Sir William Lockhart and Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, both Commanders-in-Chief of British India, and so on. Historical records indicate that the son of Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, was also himself a member of the fraternity.

Many Lodge had been set up in other major townships like Madras, Calcutta and Mumbai. By the next 150 years, some 400 registered Lodges were existing in India, but the figure diminished soon after India gained its Independence in 1947, when its strength came down to just about 290.

Amongst its prominent members Swami Vivekananda (initiated in 1884 under the name of Brother Narendra Nath Dutt, in Lodge ‘Anchor & Hope’, Calcutta); Motilal Nehru (father of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and grandfather of Indira Gandhi) – Lodge ‘Harmony’, Kanpur; C.Rajagopalachary (Governor General of India); Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyer (Divan of Travancore); Dr. P.V.Cheriy (Governor of Maharashtra); Maharaja of Patiala and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (President of India), Actor Ashok Kumar, Madhav Rao Scindhia, M.A.Khan Pataudi.

The Grand Lodge of India was officially constituted on Friday, the 24^thof November 1961 at Asoka Hotel, New Delhi. There were three delegations from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Ireland and England. In addition to the Grand Master, Masons of Grand Lodge of Scotland, representatives of Grand Masters of England and Ireland, The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel, the Most Worshipful Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alberta (Canada) and about 1500 Brethren from all over India and abroad were present at this historic event.

After the consecration and Constitution of the Grand Lodge of India, the Deputy Grand Master of England assumed the Throne and installed Major General Dr.Sir Syed Raza Ali Khan, His Highness the Nawab of Rampur, as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India. The Apron, chain in Gold and Gauntlets etc. For the new Grand Master were presented jointly by the three parent Grand Lodges.

Thereafter, the new Grand Lodge invited the 277 individual Lodges existing in India at the time to join, only if they so desired. Of these, 145 came forward, while other decided to remain under the charter of their respective founding Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland, respectively. The Lodges which came into the fold of the Grand Lodge of India were known as ‘Foundation Lodges’. The headquarters of the Grand Lodge of India was, and continues to be located at Freemasons’ Hall Complex, Janpath, New Delhi.

Over the next few weeks Regional Grand Lodges came into being viz – the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India with its headquarters at New Delhi; the Regional Grand Lodge of Eastern India with its headquarters at Kolkata; the Regional Grand Lodge of Western India with its headquarters at Mumbai and the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India with its headquarters at Chennai. All Foundation Lodges falling into regional jurisdiction came into the fold of their respective Regional Grand Lodges, and in the coming five decades more Lodges have come into existence, and many prominent citizens have joined the Fraternity.

Today India has nearly 470 Lodges and over 160 R.A.Chapters, over 180 Mark Lodges and over 140 R.A.M.Lodges located in about 172 cities in different parts of the country, with a total membership of about 23000 Freemasons. These Lodges have been divided into four distinct regions in India, with each region headed by respective Regional Grand Master.

Many veteran Lodges are still retaining their rich history, traditions and customs, though rituals being followed in all the lodges are uniform.

Know your Grand Master Elect-2024-27

R.W.Bro.GUTHA KRISHNAN SELVARAJAN O.S.M., popularly known as GKS, was born on 22nd July, 1946 and had his school education in Madurai and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Loyola College, Madras with distinction. He obtained his Degree in Law from the Madras Law College, in First Class. He is a Fellow of the Indian Council of Arbitration.

PROFESSION AND BUSINESS INTERESTS

After a brilliant academic record, he joined the Bar in the chambers of Mr.V.Ramaswami (later R.W.Bro. Chief Justice V.Ramaswami). After initial training, he set up independent practice as Advocate, both in the Appellate and original sides of Madras High Court. He has a lucrative practice in the Bar and specialises in Civil,Criminal and Commercial laws and Arbitration matters. He is a Legal Advisor for many Corporate, Public and Private Sector Enterprises, Banks and Commercial Organisations. R.W.Bro. GKS is also associated with Infrastructure Development and Real Estate Companies namely M/s.Sharavan Foundations and M/s. G.K.Associates, with operations in and around Chennai.

MASONRY

R.W. BRO. G.K. SELVARAJAN saw the light of Freemasonry in Lodge Justitia No.82 on 11th September, 1982. He took keen interest in the ritual working and administration of the Lodge and served in various of ices, before he occupied the Eastern Chair of the Lodge, in December1989. Being an excellent ritualist, he inspired and motivated the of icers and brethren, for betterment of ritual working, clean and transparent administration and meaningful charitable projects.

During his Mastership, Lodge Justitia No.82 participated in the Ritual Working Competition and won awards from the Region. The Lodge celebrated its Platinum Jubilee with great distinction, in the presence of the then Regional Grand Master. He also compiled the history of the Lodge from the year 1971 to 1985 and brought out the same as a supplement on that occasion. Later, in the year 2011, as the Chairman of the Centenary committee, he compiled the 100-year history of the Lodge and celebrated the Centenary of the Lodge in an exemplary manner with pomp and style.

BOOK OF CEREMONIALS

R.W.Bro.GKS compiled collated, revised and edited the Book of Ceremonials as a compendium of separate ceremonies for Craft, Mark, Chapter and RAM degrees with elaborate explanations, clear diagrams and detailed instructions. The Book is the Magnum Opus and comprehensive Guide and Manual for all the ceremonials of the Grand Lodge today.

SUPERIOR DEGREES AND RANKS

R.W.Bro.GKS was exalted in Chapter Madras No.13 on 9th July, 1986 and occupied the oice of `Z’ in that Chapter in the year 1992. In the Mark Degree, he was advanced in St. Mark’s in the East No.1 on 6th October 1987 and occupied the Eastern Chair in the year 1995. He was elevated in RAM Gurdial Gill No.31 on 13th October 1987 and served as W.C.N. in the year1997. He is a Senior RAM Grand Officer.

CHENNAI GROUP AND DAKSHIN GROUP OF SUPERIOR DEGREES

He founded the Chennai Group of Lodges, (Craft, Mark, Chapter and RAM) and was Founder-Master of Lodge Chennai No.317 and Founder W.C.N. of R.A.M. Lodge Chennai No.92 in the year 1998 and 1999. Lodge Chennai, Chapter Chennai and Mark Chennai have completed 25 years, and celebrated their Silver Jubilee in the year 2023. He is one of the prime movers and Founders of Dakshin Group of Superior Degrees.

REGIONAL GRAND MASTER OF SOUTHERN INDIA

R.W.Bro. GKS held the coveted office of Regional Grand Master of Southern India and served that of ice from January 2005 till March 2008, with distinction. During his tenure, he introduced the innovative concept of Area Meetings for each Area under the ARGMs, to enable the Lodges to perform better and to strengthen the bond of brotherhood. This concept was followed not only by his successor Regional Grand Masters, but also by the RGMs in other Regions as well. He introduced the office of “Officer-in-Charge” for the superior degrees to streamline the administration.

HONOURS AND RECOGNITIONS

In recognition of the meritorious Service rendered by him, the Grand Lodge of India, with the approval of the Grand Board of General Purposes, consecrated a Craft Lodge in the name of “Lodge G.K.SELVARAJAN No.365″ at Chennai on11th July, 2009. After a long gap of about 20 years, it was the first time that a new Craft Lodge was consecrated in the name of a living person. For the meritorious and distinguished services rendered by R.W.Bro.GKS, the Grand Lodge of India decorated him with the highest award – the ORDER OF SERVICE TO MASONRY, in the year 2012.

He is the President of the Grand Board of General Purposes, from the year 2023. R.W.Bro. GKS has been duly elected as the GRAND MASTER of the Grand Lodge of India, for a three year term, from the year 2024 to 2027.

OTHER ORGANISATIONS

R.W.Bro. GKS was a member of Rotary Club of Annanagar, Chennai, for more than 25 years and held offices as the President and Chairman of various committees and started innovative projects like Geriatric Centre, Hepatitis Vaccination Centre, vocational training centre for women, MEALS ON WHEELS project for poor and down trodden, orphans and senior citizens. As Governor’s Special Representative, he started the Rotary Club of Chennai Towers, which is a premier club in Chennai now.

FAMILY:

R.W.Bro. GKS is happily married to Nalini. The couple have two daughters, both married and settled, and they also have two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Grand Festival 2024

Dear Brethren,

The Grand Festival 2024 of the Grand Lodge of India will be held on 7th – 8th December 2024 at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai (India).

The registration charges for the Grand Festival 2024 are as follows:

Governor: ₹25,000/-
Donor: ₹15,000/-
Mason with Spouse: ₹6,000/-
Mason: ₹4,000/-

MW Bro. Anish Kumar Sharma, OSM, MW the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India, and RW Bro. G.K. Selvarajan, OSM, the Grand Master Elect, have appealed to all brethren to register themselves and their spouses for this important event.