Founder

Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
(Shrii Shrii Anandamurti)

Modern writer, philosopher, scientist, social theorist,
and spiritual leader, Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar has attracted a following
in more than 130 countries. His books have been translated into
all the world’s major languages, and his unique blend of historical
perspective and social commentary has been the inspiration for social
activists seeking progressive alternatives to capitalism and communism.

From his early childhood in Bihar, India, where he was born in 1921,
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar has been attracting others by his deep love
for humanity and guiding them along the path of self-realization.
Adjusting the ancient science of Tantra Yoga to meet the needs of
this age, he developed a scientific and rational philosophy (based
on the immanence and transcendence of God) and taught a system of
practical spiritual disciplines for physical, mental and spiritual
development. Recognizing him as a spiritually realized master, his
followers called him Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, which means “He
who attracts others as the embodiment of bliss”, or simply
“Baba” (father).

Those who followed his teachings found their lives transformed as
they overcame the weaknesses and negative tendencies of the mind
to experience a deep peace and bliss within. Inspired by his selfless
example, they focused their efforts on serving the society and elevating
the oppressed.

Ananda Marga

In 1955, while still leading a normal life as a railway official,
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar formed the organization Ananda Marga (“Path
of Bliss”) with the twin purposes of spiritual progress and
social change. To this end he began training missionaries to spread
his teachings of “Self-realization and service to humanity”
all over India and later throughout the world. Reflecting the broadness
of his universal vision, Ananda Marga subsequently became a multi-faceted
organization with different branches dedicated to the upliftment
of humanity through education, relief, welfare, the arts, ecology,
intellectual renaissance, women’s emancipation, and humanistic
economy.

In 1963, he established the Education, Relief and Welfare Section
(ERAWS), which runs schools, orphanages, medical units, retirement
homes, free kitchens, drug rehabilitation centers and homes for
shelterless women throughout the globe. The Ananda Marga Universal
Relief Team (AMURT) has rendered disaster relief in fire, flood,
typhoon, earthquake and war, and received numerous citations from
the United Nations, the Red Cross and many governments.

Contributions to the Fields of Humanities,
Linguistics, Science and the Arts

In the field of ecology and environmental awareness, Sarkar propounded
the philosophy of Neohumanism, expanding the spirit of humanism
to include love for animals, plants and the inanimate. He started
a global plant exchange program to save and propagate thousands
of plant species, and encouraged the establishment of animal sanctuaries
in various locations around the world.

In the realm of philology and linguistics, Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
wrote numerous volumes on the Bengali and Sanskrit languages, which
trace the evolution of words, phrases and cultural traditions that
comprise today’s tapestry of Indian languages, as well as
new and important insights into Indo-European and other languages
of the world.

In the field of science, Sarkar introduced the theory of Microvita,
which has subsequently captured the interest of scientists around
the world. In a series of groundbreaking discourses, Sarkar struck
at the heart of conventional physics and biology, pointing out that
the basic buildings blocks of life are Microvita – emanations
of pure consciousness. The Microvita theory provides a link between
the worlds of perception and conception and implies that the distinct
disciplines of physics, biology, and mathematics will merge into
one science of understanding the real nature of the universe.

In the fields of music, literature and art, Sarkar urged artists
to produce art for service and blessedness rather than merely “art
for art’s sake”, and gave guidelines for achieving this goal.
Sarkar not only wrote long philosophical treatises, but enriched
us as well with children’s stories, fiction, comedy and drama. His
most dramatic contribution is the 5018 songs known as Prabhat Samgiita
(Songs of the New Dawn) which he composed from September of 1982
until his departure in October 1990. These beautiful songs express
the spiritual feelings and universality of the human heart. Most
of the songs were written in Sarkar’s mother tongue, Bengali,
and Bengali scholars have bestowed on them the highest praise for
their poetic and symbolic expression.

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 based on 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 under false charges. During
his seven-year incarceration he survived a poisoning attempt by
government officials and fasted on a liquid diet for over five years
in protest. Ultimately acquitted of all charges by the high court,
he was eventually 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.

Beacon light of the Future

Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar wrote over 100 books on subjects as diverse
as mysticism, cosmology, sociology, history, education, yoga, medicine,
ethics, psychology, humanities, linguistics, economics, ecology,
farming, music and literature. He delivered several thousand discourses
and 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 so to this day
– the sole inspirational drive for the universal mission of
Ananda Marga.