Brief History and Glimpse of Ananda Marga Ananda Marga, Sanskrit for 'Path of Bliss', is an international spiritual and social movement established in nearly 200 countries. It was founded in 1955 by P. R Sarkar, known also as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, or simply 'Baba'. The beginnings of the Ananda Marga mission takes us back to the state of Bihar, India in 1955. In the town of Jamalpur, Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar organized the first chapter of Ananda Marga, (the Path of Bliss). His philosophy strongly rejected dogmas, superstitions, and conventions such as the caste system. Sarkar taught spiritual practices for self-development and urged the aspirants to take a strong stand against exploitation and corruption. The motto "Self-realization and Service to humanity" became the guiding ideal for thousands of people who were attracted to the universal vision of Ananda Marga. After a few years, the movement had spread through the states of Bihar and West Bengal. In 1962, P.R. Sarkar initiated the first monk of Ananda Marga when devotees asked that a monastic order (males and females) be established of dedicated workers to further the work of Ananda Marga on a full-time basis. The creation of the order of nuns followed in 1966. Most members of Ananda Marga are lay people, including students, married couples, single adults, etc. All are able to benefit from the yogic practices taught as well as contribute to the society through one or another of Ananda Marga's programs. The monks and nuns, who have dedicated their lives for social service, serve as full time workers of the mission and are very instrumental in Ananda Marga's expansion and existence. In 1963, Sarkar expanded the organization by establishing the Education, Relief, and Welfare Section (ERAWS) and opened the first Ananda Marga schools. In the 1960s, as Ananda Marga spread all over India, the scope of Ananda Marga's social service grew to include children's homes, medical clinics, feeding programs and disaster relief teams. AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) was started in 1965 and since then has constantly participated in disaster relief during natural and man-made calamities. AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) is a non-profit, charitable organization formally registered in 1970, and incorporated in the U.S.A. in 1985 and now in many other countries. AMURT is one of the few non-governmental relief and voluntary organizations of Third World origin. AMURT's objectives are to aid the poor and under-privileged of the world through disaster relief, redevelopment programs and community service. In pursuit of these goals AMURT has maintained a long-established working relationship with the Red Cross as well as other numerous disaster relief and development organizations in the U.S.A. and abroad. AMURT has also been formally recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization by the United Nations through their Department of Public Information. By 1970 Ananda Marga had become a global organization with headquarters in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. The seed that was planted in the humble Indian village back in 1955 has today grown to be a vibrant global network of men and women whose desire is to serve humanity right across national, economic or ideological barriers. The doing of spiritual practices, mainly meditation, is integral to this lifestyle Today Ananda Marga is a world wide organization with spiritual and social activity centers well-established in more than 160 countries and active in over 200 countries. It is a spiritual renaissance movement having some one million followers. The mission is running thousands of schools, medical units, children's homes, yoga meditation centers and master units (rural development in conjunction with cooperative communities) in different countries of the world. The most prominent amongst Ananda Marga's development projects is the rural development program in Purulia, West Bengal known as Ananda Nagar (City of Bliss). A comprehensive and integrated approach to solving the area's problems has given hope to the inhabitants of this area, which has been one of the poorest in India. Ecology, culture, education, economic and social development have all been addressed. Following the same approach, while adapting to the local circumstances, hundreds of master units which one day aim to the same calibre as Ananda Nagar, whether it be few inhabitants or hundreds, have been started in different parts of India and all over the world. These communities provide an alternative lifestyle to urban congestion, promoting rural development not only in terms of agriculture but also culturally, educationally, and spiritually. Ananda Marga is now a leading global agency for social development and progress, pioneering programs everywhere, with particular emphasis in the third world. In its projects it seeks to implement the social and economic philosophy of Sarkar called PROUT (PROgressive Utilisation Theory). The spirit is that 'The main characteristic of PROUT-based socio-economic movements is that they aim to guarantee the comprehensive, multifarious liberation of humanity.' P R Sarkar For PROUT - PROgressive Utilisation Theory, see: http://www.proutworld.org http://www.prout.org Also visit: New Renaissance: A Journal for Social and Spiritual Awakening: http://www.ru.org --- Regarding higher ideals, social service work is a must. Social service work and its support is essential to spiritual life. There are ample opportunities for this. Similarly, the establishment of social services with progressive values can also have its obstacles and struggles. But one should see through this and over time success is inevitable, as shown in history itself. The structure of Ananda Marga and its social service goals is briefly shown below. THE STRUCTURE AND DEPARTMENTS The major departments and sections of Ananda Marga are listed. These departments are run by full-time workers, mainly 'WT's (or wholetimers of Ananda Marga who are renunciate monks and nuns). Where local chapters of these departments exist, then often local practitioners are involved in the running of them. ERAWS (Education, Relief and Welfare) - The main service section of Ananda Marga, including schools, relief work and welfare institutions. Structurally, Education includes Education (I, II, III) and extends to AMSAI (Ananda Marga Special Academic Institutions), AMJAS (Ananda Marga Jagriti Schools), AMPES (Ananda Marga Peoples Schools). Structurally, Relief includes Relief (I, II, III). It extends to AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) for relief work around the world and there is also AMURTEL which is the section of AMURT run by women, as well as AMUPRESO (Ananda Marga Universal Permanent Relief Society). All these provide emergency or permanent relief to the public at times of natural and human made disasters. Welfare covers: MEDICAL for establishing hospitals, clinics and medical programs; TPW (Tribal People's Welfare) and PCAP (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Plants) for the practical expression of Neo-humanism and promoting vegetarianism. PCAP is an organisation of environmentally conscious people working towards the elevation of human consciousness in respect to ecological principles and service to all living species, both plants and animals. CL (Cheap Literature) is also associated with PCAP. WWD (Women's Welfare Department) - Managed and staffed by women for women's needs in the ERAWS activities. It also covers PWSA (Progressive Women's Spiritual Association), HPMGL (Hari Pari Mandala Ghosti (Ladies), GV (Girl's Volunteers) and NARII ABHYUDAYA. AMURTEL is managed from here as well. DHARMA PRACAR - The propagation of the spiritual ideology, especially through the teaching of meditation and yoga. This sees to the propagation of Ananda Marga's spiritual philosophy and practices. It teaches meditation and yoga classes and conducts retreats as well as talks on spirituality. RENAISSANCE UNIVERSAL (RU) - promotes universal and progressive ideas and concepts amongst intellectuals, academics and students. RU is an affiliated organisation of Ananda Marga. Its central objective is to unite intellectuals and value oriented individuals in their efforts to bring about progressive social change. RU produces an international magazine 'New Renaissance'. Renaissance Artists and Writers Association (RAWA) is a section of RU which promotes 'arts for service and blessedness'. RAWA is for the development of fine arts with the idea of service and spirituality. RAWA's activities revolve around the basic premise of 'Art for Service and Spiritual Unfoldment', and aims to uplift society both socially and spiritually by encouraging positive artistic stimulation. EMS (Eka Manav Samaj or One Human Society) - Creates popular movements in society which promote unity, cooperation & justice amongst all people. FOOD AND CARE - Solving the problems of food and proper care of all beings in society. SOCIAL SECURITY - Establishes cooperatives including industrial, consumer and housing. SOCIETY BUILDING - Encourages "revolutionary marriages" (inter racial, national, cultural or religious marriages) and assists those wanting to lead a renunciate life by becoming WT acaryas (wholetimer teachers). Two particular wings in Ananda Marga have wide objectives. These are: MASTER UNITS (MU) - Establishes model socio-economic-spiritual communities based on Prout, Neo-humanism and P R Sarkar's concepts of agriculture and farming. SEVA DAL (GENERAL) and SEVA DAL (LADIES) - For training young men and women as local full-time workers in specific details of Ananda Marga. There is also: GENERAL PUBLIC RELATIONS LEGAL FINANCE ISMUB (Inspection, Seminar, Movement, Utilization and Board) PUBLICATIONS PRESS AND PRINTING LAND FARM FARPRO (Farm Products) CONSTRUCTION (of buildings) JAGRITI (spiritual meeting places) INDUSTRY INPRO (Industry Products) COMMERCE AMUS (Ananda Marga Universal Stores) All social service projects are based on Neo-humanism or Spiritual Humanism, which promotes love for all of creation, and is against all intellectual and social dogmas and narrow mindedness. GURUKUL - This is the name of the body that oversees the educational institutions of Ananda Marga. In addition to AMPS (Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha) which generally covers all of the above, there is SDM (Seva Dharma Mission), VSS (Volunteer Social Service) and PU (Proutist Universal). Volunteers Most of the projects in the Ananda Marga social service network are run through the dedicated service of trained volunteers. Because of the large variety of projects, opportunities are available for medical personnel, teachers, artists, student interns, fundraisers and many others, to share their talents. Ananda Marga's philosophy and practices are based on the motto: ' For the Liberation of Self and the Welfare of All.' To realise this ideal there is a personal and a social aspect to Ananda Marga. Ananda Marga is supported financially through donations from individuals, organisations, businesses and government. Ananda Marga also has its own commerce department, running various small businesses like bakeries, printing presses, market gardens, import businesses, shops and the like. --- Time line to 1997 The below is a small time line of events, and despite opposition by the reactive forces over the years, the Ananda Marga mission keeps going unabated. The timeline is up to 1997. But since then numerous projects have been established. Examples include: a school in Papua New Guinea for which the Chinese and New Zealand Ambassadors / Embassies recently provided substantial funding for the school building; the children's home in Mongolia, thanks in part to Rotary Australia; and the school in Thailand, thanks to a major American women's' charity organisation. It has also been constantly inspiring to see world wide government recognition. ANANDA MARGA: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY 1921 - The birth of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, the Propounder of Ananda Marga, on the day of Vaeshaki Purnima (Full Moon) at 6.07 am in the year 1921 at Jamalpur, Bihar, India. 1939 - The first initiation. Kalicharan Bandopadhyay was initiated at Kashi Mitra Ghat on the River Bhagirathi in Kalikata, India on the day of Shravanii Purnima in the year 1939. 1955 - Ananda Marga was founded. The first Dharma Maha Cakra (a great spiritual gathering) was held on 9 January 1955 at Rampur Colony, Jamalpur, Bihar, India. 1958 - Renaissance Universal was founded on 26 January 1958 at Trimuhan, Bhagalpur District, Bihar, India. 1959 - The fundamentals of PROUT (PROgressive Utilisation Theory) are first given - a socio-economic theory. 1962 - The first acarya Avadhuta (renunciate monk) was initiated. 1963 - Anandanagar, the registered headquarters of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha (Society for the Propagation of the Path of Bliss) was established in the district of Purulia in West Bengal, India. Education, Relief and Welfare Section (ERAWS) the social service wing of Ananda Marga was also started. 1964 - Ananda Marga Board of Education was formed. 1965 - The Women's Welfare Department (WWD) was started. 1966 - The first missionary was sent overseas. Ananda Marga Degree College was set up at Anandanagar. 1967 - Anandanagar was attacked by communists on 5 March 1967 and five dedicated monks were murdered. The Court, after a prolonged trial, found 19 persons, including the Block Development Officer of Garjaipur, guilty of the crime and sentenced them to prison terms. 1968 - Ananda Marga Institute of Technology (AMIT) was set up at Anandanagar. 1969 - Ananda Marga congregation at Coochbihar in West Bengal was attacked by communists on 29 August 1969 and a margii worker was killed. 1970 - Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT) was founded. Kiirtana (spiritual dance and chant) with 'Baba Nam Kevalam' as a siddha mantra was introduced in Ranchi, India. 1971 - The seven year long incarceration of the Marga Guru (Anandamurti) begins. 1973 - Anandamurti was poisoned inside Bankipore Central Jail, Patna on 12 February 1973. From 1 April 1973 Anandamurti goes on a five year long fast, demanding a judicial enquiry into the poisoning event. 1975 - Ananda Marga was banned in India on 3 July 1975 when a nation-wide emergency was imposed. Many other organisations and groups across the country were also banned by Indira Gandhi. 1977 - The ban was subsequently withdrawn in 1977; and the unprecedented electoral tide thereafter swept the then government out of power. 1978 - The incarceration ends. Anandamurti comes out of Jail on 2 August 1978 following the verdict by the Patna High Court pronouncing him not guilty and acquittal of all the charges. The Marga Guru breaks his fast. Kaoshikii - a spiritual dance was introduced on 6 September 1978 in Patna, India. 1982 - The Philosophy of Neo-humanism was expounded. Communist activists massacred 17 Ananda Marga monks and nuns on 30 April 1982 in Kalikata, India. Anandamurti, using his legal name - Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar, introduced Prabhat Samgiita (Songs of the New Dawn) with the first composition on 14 September 1982. All together 5018 songs were composed. 1983 - Ananda Marga was declared a religious denomination (as per the legal definition) by the Supreme Court of India in its judgment in the Tandava Case on 20 October 1983. This gave it status along with all traditional spiritual movements in India. 1984 - Ananda Marga was recognised as religious organisation (as per the legal definition) by the Canadian government. This gave it status as per all established institutions. In law, religion includes all spiritual movements that have a Universal Entity as their core belief. Ananda Marga becomes similarly recognised in many other countries. 1985 - Anandamurti introduces 10 new letters in the Bengali alphabet to improve its versatility. Subsequently, his writings on language are recognised as the forefront in linguistics by many noted Indian scholars. 1987 - The theory on Microvita was propounded on 31 December 1987. 1988 - Shrii P. R. Sarkar (Anandamurti) was invited by the Government of the Peoples' Republic of China to a Conference on Futures of World Development in Economy, Culture, Ecology and Education. He sent his representative - Acarya Ragunath. 1989 - AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) received the Indicator International Human Rights Award for its 1988 outstanding relief work rendered to the victims of apartheid in South Africa. 1990 - 2 April 1990, Acarya Asiimananda Avadhuta and four other Ananda Margiis were brutally murdered at the hands of the goons of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) at Anandanagar, Purulia, West Bengal. On 4 June 1990, Acarya Karunaketan Brahmacarii was killed by police gunfire at Anandanagar. The incident was instigated by the CPIM. Communist opposition to Ananda Marga had become brutal. In September 1990, Anandamurti gave the initial directions for the establishment of the Gurukul University. 1990 - 20 October l990, the last Prabhat Samgiita (No. 5018) - Songs of the New Dawn - was composed. The number of songs surpassed those of Rabindranath Tagore, who had previously been the person who had written the most songs. 1990 - 21 October 1990, Anandamurti (PR Sarkar) left his body in Calcutta, India. 1990 - 31 October 1990, Acarya Shraddhananda Avadhuta became the Purodha Pramukha (spiritual head) and President of Ananda Marga after Anandamurti's departure. 1991 - AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) received recognition as an NGO under the United Nations. 1992 - Ananda Marga registered in Uganda, Greece, Ethiopia, Russia, and many other countries with established orthodox churches. 1993 - Ananda Marga registered in Moldavia, Korea, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Chile and other countries where people all seek new inroads in spirituality. 1994 - The government of Jamaica recognized Ananda Marga as a non -profit charitable organisation - in line with many other countries who had done so. 1995 - Ananda Marga registered in Madagascar and Mongolia, where resources are scarce but in which Ananda Marga has always managed to establish significant social service projects. 1996 - Supreme Court of India lifted the notifications of the Government of India (a hangover from Indira Gandhi's time) banning employees from participating in Ananda Marga activities and also reaffirmed the religious / spiritual status of Ananda Marga. The Charity Commissioners, an agency of the Government of the United Kingdom, declared Ananda Marga as a charitable-religious organisation (in accordance with the legal definition). 1997 - onwards continual expansion of social service projects and teaching of meditation (spiritual practices) around the world - from the remotest countries in the Pacific Islands to the most densely populated cities in the world. Funding for charitable works from renowned foundations and organisations continues at a strong rate and numbers of persons taking up spiritual practices increases constantly.