ERAWS Education · Relief · Welfare
Inner awakening.
Outer action.
One human family.
Founded in 1963, ERAWS translates Ánanda Marga’s universal vision into practical service—educating minds, responding to crisis and creating the conditions in which every person can develop with dignity.
founded1963
Ananda Marga global service network
Awaken ✦ Educate ✦ Serve ✦ Empower ✦ Uplift
01 Who we are
ERAWS is Ananda Marga’s commitment to service—made visible.
01
Ananda
Bliss
The limitless fulfilment sought through the expansion of awareness, character and love.
02
Marga
Path
A practical way of life that integrates physical, mental, social and spiritual development.
Education · Relief · Welfare Section
ERAWS organises the social-service expression of Ananda Marga. Its work responds to both immediate human need and the deeper need for opportunity, participation and all-round development.
Schools, children’s homes, health initiatives, disaster response and community programmes are different forms of one intention: to help every being move toward greater wellbeing and freedom.
Inner development · The ground of selfless action
02 Two wings of one life
Go within.
Move outward.
Ananda Marga holds self-realisation and service to all as complementary. Meditation expands awareness; service gives that expanding awareness a practical direction in the world.
| 01 |
Inner development Meditation, ethics, self-discipline and self-knowledge cultivate clarity, courage and universal feeling. |
| 02 |
Outward service Education, relief and welfare turn empathy into organised action that answers real human needs. |
| 03 |
Integrated living Personal progress and collective welfare strengthen one another; neither is complete in isolation. |
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti · Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
03 The founding vision
A philosophy meant to become action.
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar—known spiritually as Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti—founded Ánanda Márga in 1955. His vision joined contemplative practice with social transformation and rejected dogma, caste prejudice, exploitation and every narrow division of humanity.
| 1955 |
Ánanda Márga established The “Path of Bliss” began in Jamalpur, India, with the twin direction of spiritual progress and social change. |
| 1963 |
ERAWS founded Education, relief and welfare activities were given a dedicated organisational form, beginning with schools and expanding into many fields of care. |
| VISION |
All-round human development Physical, mental, social and spiritual potential should develop together—within a society grounded in justice and universalism. |
04 Three fields · one purpose
Meet need.
Awaken capacity.
01✦
Education
Neohumanist learning develops intellect, empathy, character, creativity and a sense of responsibility toward every form of life.
02✦
Relief
Rapid humanitarian response protects life and dignity, then works with communities toward recovery, resilience and self-direction.
03✦
Welfare
Children’s care, health, nutrition, inclusion and community development create the foundations for people to flourish.
05 A living history
From one town to a global network of service.
ERAWS grew as Ánanda Márga grew—responding to the needs encountered by its members, volunteers, monks, nuns, teachers and community partners.
| 1955 |
Ánanda Márga begins Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar establishes the organisation in Jamalpur, Bihar, India. |
| 1963 |
ERAWS takes form The Education, Relief and Welfare Section is established, and the first Ánanda Márga schools open. |
| 1970 |
AMURT begins The Ánanda Márga Universal Relief Team develops a dedicated capacity for disaster response and recovery. |
| 1975 |
AMURTEL is founded Women-managed relief and development programmes focus especially on the realities faced by women and children. |
| TODAY |
A connected worldwide movement Education, health, children’s care, relief and community initiatives adapt the same service ideal to many cultures and circumstances. |
06 Global in connection
Global in connection.
Local in method.
Shared values · Diverse cultures · One human family
01 · Shared mission
A common philosophy connects education, relief and welfare across regions.
02 · Regional connection
Networks share experience, people and resources across countries and continents.
03 · Local leadership
Programmes are shaped by local needs, languages, cultures and relationships.
04 · Learning network
Practice and insight move through a living network of workers, volunteers and partners.
07 Neohumanism
The circle of care has no edge.
01
Humanity
Dignity beyond difference
Every person belongs to one human family, beyond nationality, race, caste, gender, belief or social position.
02
Life
Love for all beings
Neohumanism widens humanism to include animals, plants and the ecosystems that sustain shared life.
03
Planet
Responsibility for the whole
Education and development should protect natural resources and cultivate an ecological, future-minded outlook.
08 How ERAWS works
Service should leave strength behind.
Good service solves an urgent problem while expanding the confidence, knowledge and cooperation that communities can carry forward.
| 01 |
Listen first Understand the real need, local knowledge and the capacities already present. |
| 02 |
Protect dignity Offer help in ways that respect privacy, equality, culture and individual agency. |
| 03 |
Act together Combine community leadership with the skills of teachers, workers, volunteers and partners. |
| 04 |
Build capacity Share knowledge, organisation and practical tools so progress can continue locally. |
| 05 |
Sustain progress Connect immediate care to education, livelihoods, health and long-term community development. |
09 Principles in action
Six principles hold the work together.
Across different countries and forms of service, ERAWS is guided by a consistent understanding of human potential and collective wellbeing.
| 01 |
One human family Apparent differences never cancel the deeper unity and equal worth of all people. |
| 02 |
All-round development Physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions deserve balanced attention. |
| 03 |
Equal opportunity Every person should have the conditions and resources needed to develop their potential. |
| 04 |
Service without discrimination Care crosses barriers of nationality, status, belief, ethnicity and gender. |
| 05 |
Local self-direction Lasting development increases the power of communities to determine their own future. |
| 06 |
Care for the whole planet Human welfare remains inseparable from the welfare of animals, plants and the natural world. |
10 A wider family of service
One vision.
Many expressions.
01
Ánanda Márga Gurukula
An international network guiding Neohumanist education, research and service across schools and institutes.
02
AMURT
Humanitarian response and development cooperation that combine urgent assistance with local capacity.
03
AMURTEL
Women-managed relief and development programmes working especially with women, children and families.
04
Local projects & Master Units
Community-rooted centres connect education, agriculture, ecology, health, culture and spiritual practice.
11 A living tradition
Join a living tradition
of service.
Connect with ERAWS, explore its fields of work or begin a conversation about education, relief and welfare in your community.