About Ananda Marga School
Ananda Marga is a Socio-Spiritual Organization based on “Neo-Humanism” (Love and care for Plants, Animals and Human beings) as propounded by Shrii P.R.Sarkar with its objectives “Self Realization and Service to Humanity”. Ananda Marga is a (Non-Profit) Worldwide Social Service and Spiritual Mission helping the needy and neglected in all nations to achieve freedom from want of basic necessities of life and teaching scientific practices of self-development freely to all. Ananda Marga has emerged as a global force at a time in human history when there is a great need for a holistic approach to the world’s problems – economic crisis, psychic alienation, disunity and strife. Our philosophy propagates that the solution begins with a change in individual physically, mentally and spiritually – through scientific practices that develop one’s potentialities. Gradually as we perfect ourselves, we increase our ability to deal with the challenge of life and solve the problems of society. As mind expands, we transcend the artificial barriers and prejudices of race, colour and creed that now divide us; we unite together and work actively to liberate the entire humanity from economic and psychic exploitation and build a better and more harmonious society. Ananda Marga literally means – ‘the path of bliss’ the path that leads both individual and society onto its highest goal.
Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii founded Ananda Marga in the year 1955. The rationality of His approach as well as His personal inspiration attracted many people throughout India and indeed since then throughout the world. In the years since its inception, lakhs of people have been instructed in meditation and Ananda Marga spiritual way of life
Education, Relief and Welfare Section (ERAWS) was launched in the year 1963. Within a few years Ananda Marga has gained a reputation for vigorous and compassionate social service to the needy and underprivileged. Hundreds of schools, dispensaries, Childrens’ Home (Orphanage), Cheap Kitchens, Relief Camps and other social service projects flourished. Later the mission of Ananda Marga spread to over 200 countries of the world.
To promote the cause of education by establishing, managing and administering numerous schools and colleges in different parts of the country throughout India, as declared in Clause (vii) of the “aims and objects” of the Memorandum of Association, or Constitution, of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha (along with other aims and objects), a society was duly registered on the 9th day of March 1964 under the West Bengal Societies Act XXVI 1961, having Certificate of Registration No. S/ 6068 of 1963/64, for religious and charitable purposes.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgement, declared Ananda Marga as a ‘Religious Denomination’ conferred under Articles 25, 26, 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India under the heads “Right to Freedom of Religion” and “Cultural and Educational Rights” applicable to the Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha and all its institutions/schools (reported in All India Reporter 1984 SC 51).
ERAWS, The Administrative Department of Ananda Marga Schools
Though humans came onto this earth a million years ago, social progress has still not done credit to our human potentialities .Many millions of our brothers and sisters are either socially neglected or educationally and culturally backward, and economically deprived, to the extent that they badly need our moral and material help . ERAWS has taken upon itself the task of promoting the all-round development of our needy brothers and sisters in a systematic and scientific way.
Education is the most potent medium to bring about a progressive revolution in society. Education in the view of A’nanda Ma’rga is not mere imparting of alphabetical knowledge or mundane knowledge; it is a powerful instrument to effect the trifarious development of the human personality—physical, mental and spiritual.
Sa’ Vidya’ Ya Vimuktaye – “Education is that which brings about the total liberation of human beings.’’ This is the motto of ERAWS , and with this end in view, ERAWS organizes schools at the primary, post-primary ,high-school and university levels. It is presently running more than one thousand schools in India, and over two hundred on other continents of the world. Similarly it has been running a large network of children’s homes, retiring homes, students’ homes, rural development centers, charitable dispensaries, medical clinics, hospitals, cheap kitchens, etc.
Socio-Economic Justice
For the collective welfare of the entire universe, Sarkar propounded Prout(The Progressive Utilization Theory),which stands for the maximum utilization and rational distribution of all the resources and potentialities of the world- physical,mental and spiritual-and the creation of a new humanistic social order of harmony and justice for all. Prout is complementary to Neohumanism, the principle of love for all beings of the universe. His demands for social justice, and his uncompromising moral stand against corruption and exploitation, brought about the opposition of certain vested interests which resulted in the persecution of Ananda Marga and his own arrest in 1971 on false charges. During his 7- year incarceration,he survived a poisoning attempt by government officials,and fasted on a liquid diet for over 5 years in protest.Ultimately acquitted of all charges by the High Court,he was released from prison in 1978.From then until his physical departure in 1990,he continued to guide the rapid expansion of Ananda Marga all over the world. Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar delivered several thousand discourses on subjects as diverse as mysticism, cosmology, sociology, history, education, yoga, medicine, ethics, psychology, humanities, linguistics, economics, ecology, farming, music and literature. Those discourses have been compiled into more than 200 books. He composed over 5000 mystical songs. He taught the science of meditation for self-realization directly and indirectly to millions of people. But most importantly, through his personal example, profound philosophy, systematic spiritual practices and far-reaching service projects, he has been – and continues to be to this day – the sole inspirational drive for the universal mission of Ananda Marga.
Beacon light of the future
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar delivered several thousand discourses on subjects as diverse as mysticism, cosmology, sociology, history, education, yoga, medicine, ethics, psychology, humanities, linguistics, economics, ecology, farming, music and literature. Those discourses have been compiled into more than 200 books. He composed over 5000 mystical songs. He taught the science of meditation for self-realization directly and indirectly to millions of people. But most importantly, through his personal example, profound philosophy, systematic spiritual practices and far-reaching service projects, he has been – and continues to be to this day – the sole inspirational drive for the universal mission of Ananda Marga.
About ERAWS
According to the Founder Shrii P. R. Sarkar – “the noblest form of social service is to educate the people and bring a sense of consciousness in them”. With this view in mind Education Relief and Welfare Section (ERAWS), since 1963 is dedicated for running various types of educational institutions all over the world guided by the Principles and Philosophy of Neo-humanism. “Sa’ Vidya’ Ya ‘Vimuktaye” – Education is for liberation in all aspects of life– is the guiding motto of our education philosophy. Stress is given on moral and spiritual values and Neo-humanistic practices in elementary education during the formative age of a child which is very crucial for giving better foundation for later life.
Homes for the destitute children – parentless, single parent or economically orphan- forms an important part of ERAWS permanent service programs guided by the spirit “Encourage everyone to build their lives in a nice way, let no one get the scope to think that their lives have become useless”. No one should feel helpless or deprived. With this ideal our homes are managed by dedicated monks and nuns in ashramic environment. These homes are supported by the generous contributions of sympathizers and well-wishers.
The schools and homes are part of our man-making initiative to groom future citizens with higher values for a kinder and better world.