Chachaji

To prepare the younger generation for a higher spiritual and harmonious life in accordance with the philosophy and teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, manifold activities are carried out by various institutions on the campus without discrimination of race, caste, religion, sex or creed. Of these the following are worthy of mention:

Meditation Hall :The Ashram has a spacious Meditation Hall. From Monday to Saturday, there is collective Satsang from 7 to 7.30 p.m., spiritual and devotional music and reading from the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. On Sundays, the Satsang is held from 10 a.m. to about 11.15 a.m. and includes a talk on some spiritual theme. The Hall is open all day for those who would like to meditate by themselves.

Library & Reading Room (Knowledge) :The library has a growing collection of good books and periodicals on yoga, religion, philosophy, literature, education, science, history, geography, health and hygiene, etc. The collection represents 16 Indian and foreign languages.

Library hours: Tuesday throgh Sunday, 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Closed Monday. Security deposit of Rs. 300/- (refundable) is required to check books out of the library.

Donation of good books and periodicals to the library is welcome.

Ashram Journals :Two quarterly journals—Sri Arvind Karmadhara (Hindi) and The Call Beyond (English)—help in reaching people of goodwill and getting their collaboration in disseminating the precepts of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother in an endeavour to accelerate the evolution of humanity to a higher level. For each journal subscription is, Rs.50/- (Per year) and Rs 1,000/- (25 years). These magazines also provide news about the activities of the Ashram and other campus institutions.

Bookshop : SABDA carries all the books of and about Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Additional spiritual literature, incense, photos, hand made paper products, and gift items are also available.

Mother’s Health Centre : An allopathic & Homeopathy dispensary caters to the needs of the school children and residents of the Ashram. Medical check-up of the school children is also carried out by this unit. Yoga & nature-cure, accupressure, magnetotherapy, eye healing exercises and relaxation techniques are also available on a small scale. The Centre also caters to people of economically disadvantaged groups and provides FREE services and medicines as needed. We periodically run Rural Clinics in villages of Uttaranchal, M.P., Orissa, etc. We give free medical aid, clothes, etc. to the needy.

Dispensary hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except for Sundays and Holidays.

The Mother’s International School : The Mother’s International is a 10+2 CBSE affiliated school . The school is known for its excellence in academics, other co-curricular activities and value based education. It was started soon after the founding of the Ashram. At its beginning, the Mother blessed it with the significant message: A new light has appeared upon earth. Let this new School opened today be guided by it.

Mirambika : The Research Centre for Integral Education and Human Values was started in 1981 to promote Integral and ‘Free Progress’ education. It has two units; Free Progress School along with the Research & Resource Wing, and the Teachers-Education wing.

Matri Kala Mandir : An afternoon school for dance, music and arts. Options include Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Sitar, Flute, Tabla, Hawaiian Guitar, Spanish Guitar, Hindustani and Karnatak Classical and Light Vocal Music, Rabindra Sangeet, Painting, Sculpture, Taekwondo, Yogasanas and Table Tennis.

Sri Aurobindo Institute of Vocational Training : Since 1989, a scheme of Vocational Training for youth in many different disciplines is conducted in the Ashram workshops. Each year 120 youth in two batches are given practical training for 6 months in one of the 8 available options. In addition to free board & lodging and pocket money, T.A. from place of residence is also provided.

Value Education Workshops : The Sri Aurobindo Education Society has recently been declared a Nodal agency at National Level for Value Education by the Ministry of HRD. Workshops for teachers and students in Value Education and Leadership are organised throughout the year involving public schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Government Schools and village schools.

Sponsorship Schemes : Apart from running educational institutions, the SAES sponsors education with hostel facilities for over 100 students nationwide. This is in addition to the scholarships awarded to day scholars in SAES’s own institutions. Schools in the Adivasi areas are provided books, clothing, and other things. Deserving persons from schools in poor and backward areas are given free Teachers’ Training.

Camps and Treks : Every year around 35 camps are held, mostly in Nainital, during April to June and September to November. The camps include adventure camps, National Integration Camps and Study Camps. Activities like Rock Climbing, Community Singing in many languages, Study of spiritual books, talks and discussions, Yoga/ ‘Keep-fit’ exercises, Trekking, Meditation, Talks on health and character building, Cultural programmes, etc. form part of the camp activities. A high altitude trek (4000 - 5000 metres or above) into higher Himalaya is usually organized during summer months. Pilgrimage trips to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, etc. are also organized periodically.

Mira Nursery School : This school caters to the needs of children in the age group of 3 to 5 years. After successful completion, the children can be admitted to the Mother’s International School.

Matri Karuna Vidyalaya : A new school for the neighbourhood children from economically weaker sections of the society was started in April 1999. At its inception, the school began with three classes: Nursery, Prep, and Class I. The afternoon school boasts of excellent facilities for the underprivileged. The school is till class V. Physical Education, Sports, Classical Vocal and instrumental music are an integral part of the curricula.

Matri Service Store : Caters to the needs of the school children and ashramites and is also open to the public. The products of the Ashram bakery, ghee, pure spices, health foods and snacks, Ayurvedic products, Herbal cosmetics, Aromatherapy products, Acupressure & Magnet Therapy products, pulses, whole wheat flour, organically grown fruit and vegetables, fruit juices and squashes, jams, honey, various other health food items, flower pots, decorative candles and diyas, incense and many other articles of daily use and household needs are also available. Call 2652 7037 for more information.

Backward Area Development Project : In May 2004, Auro-Mira Service Society has started a new project in the village of Rechala of Koraput District, one of the most backward areas of Orissa with a 100% tribal population. The project aims at local development through education, vocational training, organic farming, environment awareness & clean-up, and afforestation.

Contributions are solicited by Sri Aurobindo Education Society and Auro-Mira Service Society for educational and developmental projects for the benefit of the needy.