1921 — 2026
Our History
A century, from a railway town in Bihar to every inhabited continent — told in decades.
1920s
root21 May 1921
Born on Buddha Púrńimá
Jamalpur, Bihar
Born Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkar, on the full-moon day observed as Buddha Púrńimá. The family home was in Jamalpur, then a railway town in Bihar.
1930s
root1939
Vidyasagar College, Kolkata
Kolkata
Went to Kolkata to study at Vidyasagar College. His studies were cut short when he returned home following his father's death.
1940s
sacral1940s
Railway accountant at Jamalpur
Jamalpur
Worked as an accountant in the Indian Railways workshop at Jamalpur. He taught meditation privately during these years; the first initiations took place on the bank of the Kiul river.
1950s
sacralJanuary 1955
Ánanda Márga founded
Jamalpur
Founded Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saḿgha on 5 January and formally inaugurated on 9 January — the association for the propagation of the path of bliss — with the motto Átmamokśárthaḿ Jagaddhitáya Ca: for one's own liberation, and for the welfare of the world.
1955
Founded
Jamalpur, India
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti establishes Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha.
1959
PROUT propounded
Set out the Progressive Utilisation Theory — an economic and social framework built on the maximum utilisation and rational distribution of all resources, physical, mental and spiritual.
1960s
solar1963
ERAWS established
The Education, Relief and Welfare Section began, giving the movement a permanent structure for schools, clinics, homes and relief work.
1963
ERAWS Founded
India
The Education, Relief and Welfare Section begins schools, homes and relief work.
1965
AMURT founded
Ánanda Márga Universal Relief Team formed to respond to disasters. It has since worked in scores of countries, usually arriving early and staying late.
1965
AMURT Established
Global
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team begins disaster relief worldwide.
1970s
heart1971
Imprisonment
Patna
Arrested on charges he denied and consistently maintained were fabricated. He would remain in prison for seven years.
1971
Gurukula Teacher Training College
Ananda Nagar
First teacher training college established for Neo-Humanist education.
12 February 1973
Poisoned in custody
Patna Central Jail
Survived poisoning while imprisoned. He demanded a judicial enquiry; when none was granted, he began a fast in protest.
1973 – 1978
Five years, four months and two days of fasting
Maintained a protest fast — sustained on two cups of liquid a day — for five years, four months and two days. It is among the longest recorded fasts, and it did not break until his release.
2 August 1978
Acquitted and released
Acquitted of all charges and released. He resumed work immediately, and never made his imprisonment the subject of his teaching.
1979
World tours begin
Travelled through Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, meeting margiis and establishing the sectorial structure the organisation still uses.
1980s
throat1982
Neohumanism
Extended the humanist principle past the human: love and respect owed not only to people but to animals, plants, and the inanimate world. Published as The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism.
14 September 1982
Prabhát Saḿgiita begins
Deoghar
Composed Bandhu he niye calo, the first of what would become 5,018 songs written over the following eight years — poetry, melody and philosophy in the same breath.
1983
Supreme Court Recognition
India
Ananda Marga receives official recognition from the Supreme Court of India.
1986
Microvita
Introduced the theory of microvita — entities finer than atoms and carrying the properties of both matter and mind, proposed as the bridge between the physical and the conscious.
1990s
ajna7 September 1990
Ánanda Márga Gurukula founded
Ánanda Nagar
Established the Gurukula — the university-in-the-making at Ánanda Nagar, intended to carry Neohumanist education into every discipline.
20 October 1990
The last song
Composed the final Prabhát Saḿgiita, completing the collection of 5,018.
21 October 1990
Mahápráyáńa
Kolkata
Left the physical body. The word means the great departure. The work he set in motion continues in 180-plus countries.
1990
Mahaprayan & Gurukul University
Ananda Nagar
Founder's Mahaprayan; Ananda Kanan Gurukul University established.
2020s
gold2021
Centenary Year
Global
Centenary of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti celebrated worldwide.
2026
Digital Transformation
Global
Launch of the unified digital platform connecting the global network.
The history is still being written — in schools, clinics, relief camps and Dharma Cakra gatherings across nine sectors.
From the Archive
In His Own Hand
Diary pages from 1962 and 1963 concerning Ananda Nagar, in the founder's own handwriting — from the organisation's archive.
