News 2011

I would like us to make the resolution to raise ourselves each day, in all sincerity and goodwill, in an ardent aspiration towards the Sun of Truth, towards the Supreme Light, the source and intellectual life of the universe, so that it may pervade us entirely and illumine with its great brilliance our minds and hearts, all our thoughts and actions.
The Mother

19 Dec: Seven hundred and fifty booklets in ten different titles were presented to Edelvale Homes which is run by Sisters of Our Lady of Charity to uplift the dignity and worth of women. These orphan girls live in family model groups each with a group mother. They are given primary and secondary education and taught professional skills. The officials expressed their gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society and remarked that the teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo through the booklets will help the girls to grow integrally. Official letter of Appreciation will be sent to the Nairobi Centre.

9 Dec: At 0630 pm The Mother's words inscribed on Sri Aurobindo's Samadhi were read out followed by collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Savitri Mantra. Next was an half hour meditation.

5 Dec: The members of Nairobi Centre observed the anniversary of Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi day at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. At 6.30p.m., Sri Aurobindo's Savitri Mantra was collectively recited. Then the Mother's Words inscribed on Sri Aurobindo's Samadhi were read out. Then an excerprt from Savitri was read out, followed by reading out of the Darshan Message of the day. After that there was a half hour meditation. Copies of the Darshan message were distributed.

1 Dec: The Deputy Commander and the Bishop of the General Service Unit of Kenya Police visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. The secretary of the centre gave them a brief introduction on the teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Two thousand booklets in ten different titles comprising of the teachings of The Masters were presented to them. These booklets will be distributed to the young men and women (trainees) of the GSU department of the Kenya Police and the staff. The Bishop expressed his gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets which he said will help the young cadets in their character development.

24 Nov: Anniversary of the Siddhi Day. At 630 pm after the recital of Savitri Mantra and Mother's Prayer, the Darshan Message of the day and the Significance of the day was read out. Thereafter there was meditation accompanied by Sunilda's music for half an hour. Copies of Darshan Message were distributed, followed by prasad. There were fourteen members present.

20 Nov: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented 1200 booklets in twelve different titles to the Marketing Executive of The Karen Hospital. This is the third year in continuation that the booklets have been presented to the hospital for which the hospital is very thankful to Sri Aurobindo Society. The booklets will be distributed to staff and patients, also kept in reception areas of the hospital.

9 Nov: Two thousand booklets in ten different titles were presented to Lions Eye Hospital, Nairobi by the Nairobi Centre of SAS. The presentation was made at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan to the Deputy Executive and to the Marketing Manager of the hospital. The booklets will be distributed to the staff of the hospital and will be kept in various outlets in the hospital which is regularly visited by about two hundred patients. The hospital is run by The Lions Club, Nairobi which provides eye, dental and ear treatments.

10 Oct: The Administration and Human Resources Manager of the Community Centre of Presbyterian Church East Africa visited the Bhavan. The centre focuses mainly on refugee children and women development from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. The centre's holistic development approach revolves around education and learning, vocational trainings, community development and enterprise development (for example - pottery making, computer learning etc.). Two thousand booklets in ten titles were presented to the Community centre to further aid this holistic development of the refugee children and women.

29 Sep: The senior chaplain reverend Kilungo of Kenya Administration Police Service together with his assistants visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi to receive three thousand booklets in ten titles. The secretary of Nairobi Centre gave them a brief introduction regarding the aims and objectives of the Sri Aurobindo Society and highlighted them about the topics and contents of the booklets which serve in character building of an Individual. The booklets will be distributed to the staff of the main police stations in Nairobi.

13 Sep: Nairobi Centre presented one hundred and fifty booklets in three titles: Inner Peace, Faith in the Divine and Significance of Meditation, to Faraja Cancer Centre, Nairobi which provides a holistic approach to the treatment in cancer patients. These booklets will be kept in the outpatient clinic and also shared by the staff of the Faraja’s Centre.

26 Aug: Three thousand booklets in ten titles were presented to the SOS Children's Villages, Nairobi. The Village Director, Mr. Wabara received the booklets on behalf of the Villages, the booklets will also be distributed in Mombasa centre of the Villages.

15 Aug: 139th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo was observed at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre. After the reading of Mother's Prayer and the Darshan Message of the day there was meditation for half an hour. The program ended with playing of India's National Anthem followed by prasad. Darshan Message received from the Ashram was distributed to the members.

3 Aug: Two officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. They were presented three thousand booklets in ten titles by the Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. The booklets will be distributed in youth empowerment centers in Nairobi and in the other provinces of Kenya.

18 Jul: Three thousand booklets in ten titles were presented to Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children which is a national NGO whose primary duty is to monitor implementation rights and welfare of the child in the country. These booklets will be given out in Nairobi, Kisii and Mombasa branches of the NGO who in turn will distribute them to different schools and children centres in these three places.

13 Jul: 8th anniversary of the Enshrinement of Sri Aurobindo's Sacred Relics at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi This auspicious event was observed by the devotees at the Bhavan. At 6:30pm The Mother’s proclamation given on 7th December 1950 was read out followed by the 'Significance of the Relics' written by Nirodbaran. Then there was collective recitation of the Canto: The Adoration of The Divine Mother, from Sri Aurobidno’s epic poem Savitri. This was followed by half an hour meditation and prasad distribution.

12 Jul: In May 2011, booklets in ten different titles were presented to the Prison Headquarters by the Nairobi Centre. The booklets were so much appreciated by the inmates and the staff of the prisons in and around Nairobi that on 12th July the senior staff of the Welfare Committee revisited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan and three thousand more booklets were presented to them.

26 Jun: A programme of Kuchipudi dance and bhajans was presented by Preetika Bhanderi and party at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. In the introductory address the Secretary of the Nairobi Centre briefed the gathering of the aims of the Society and read from the writings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo on the significance and contribution of music, art and poetry in the education of the soul. The event was attended by about 75 people, which was followed by Prasad and bouquets of roses were presented to all.

15 Jun: It will be re-called that the Secretary addressed approximately 300 Higher Secondary School students of Oshwal Senior High School on 9 Mar 2011 on stress and expectations management ,in light of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, as they prepared for their final examinations which lead them to University. The talk was well received by students and the school and as a consequence they invited the Secretary to address the teachers on 15 June. The talk was based on The Ideal Child, The Ideal Parent, The Ideal Teacher and The Right Upbringing of Children and teachers acting as agents of change and transformation. Copies of these booklets were distributed to all present. The talk was well received. It is expected that a further talk will be arranged for parents.

2 Jun: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented one thousand booklets in ten different titles to Ms. Mutai, the Welfare Officer of the organisation for Women Employment and Empowerment in Nairobi. The booklets will be kept in all the reception area of the Nairobi Office and few sent to rural areas. Ms Mutai will also distribute the booklets in the weekly seminars for the women. The letter of acknowledgment will be sent to Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society.

6 May: Nairobi Centre presented three thousand booklets in ten different titles to the Prison Headquarters, Nairobi at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The Deputy Director and senior staff of the Welfare Committee of the Prisons received the booklets and expressed their gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society. The booklets will be distributed to the staff and to the prisoners at the headquarters. A detailed letter of acknowledgment will be sent by them soon.

24 Apr: Darshan Day meditation at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi from 11 to 11:30 am. The Mother's prayer of November 28, 1913 was read out and also the Darshan Message of the day. Everyone present received a copy of the Darshan Message and prasad.

7 Apr: Three thousand booklets in ten different titles were presented to Kenya National Library Service, which distributes books on education, character-building,etc., throughout Kenya. The organisation has about forty centres spread all over the country. The booklets were received by Mr. Cherop, Acquisition Librarian at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. He will be sending letter of acknowledgment to the Centre.

29 Mar: Two thousand booklets in ten different titles werew presented to Nairobi Hospice which gives health care to terminally ill patients. Each day they have about twenty new patients coming in. It is managed by qualified doctors, nurses and volunteers. The booklets were received by the deputy chief executive officer and other hospice staff at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. They expressed their gratitude and are sure that the booklets like Faith in the Divine, Significance of Prayers will be of great support and solace for the patients. They will be sending a written letter of acknowledgment and appreciation to the centre.

21 Mar: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented three thousand booklets in ten different titles to The Nairobi Women's Hospital, one of the largest hospitals for women in Nairobi. It also has out-patients clinic and one more branch in Nairobi. The Senior Nurse of the hospital appreciated this kind gesture of the Society and remarked that booklets like - Inner Peace, Significance of Prayers, To Women about their Body are very helpful for the patients and the staff as well. The hospital would also like one of the members of the Centre to give a talk on 'Perfection in the Work' to the hospital staff in near future. An official Letter of Acknowledgment from the hospital will follow soon.

9 Mar: The Secretary of the Nairobi Centre of SAS gave a talk of 45 minutes to approximately 300 students of Oshwal Academy Nairobi (Senior High)on the Aim of Life and the right attitude to face difficulties as they prepare to sit their A level examinations. The talk was followed by a question and answer session. The talk was very well received.

21 Feb: The Mother's 133rd Birth Anniversary. Nairobi Centre of SAS celebrated the occasion at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. At 7 pm, The Mother's prayer of 21st February 1914 was read out. The secretary of the centre gave a welcome address and significance of Mother's Work. Then there was a musical offering of devotional songs to The Mother by Dhruv and his group. This was followed by dinner. About one hundred and ten people were present for the program. Everyone received flowers from The Mother and Darshan Message of the day.

16 Feb: Mrs Vora gave a brief introduction of the society and its acitivities and a talk on 'Divine Love' (as explained by The Mother) to the senior citizens of the Ismailiee Community at Aga Khan Complex, Nairobi. Also the booklet - Remain Young, Never stop striving Towards Perfection were distributed to all. About two hundred people were present. The chairman of the community, Mr. Farooq Manji expressed his gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for this kind gesture.

4 Feb: The assistant matron of Guru Nanak Ramgharia Hospital visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. One thousand booklets in ten different titles were presented to her by the Nairobi Centre. She acknowledged the booklets on behalf of the hospital and was sure that the booklets will be of great help to all the readers. The booklets will be kept in the wards for the patients, outpatient clinic and will also be given out to the staff of the hospital.