Sri M – spiritual teacher, social reformer, educationist, author and global speaker – was born Mumtaz Ali, into a Muslim family on November 6, 1949 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
His transformational journey, from a young boy to a living yogi, is a story of single-minded discipline and dedication.
At the age of nineteen, irresistibly drawn to the snow-clad Himalayas, Sri M embarked on his journey to seek a true Master. Maheshwarnath Babaji, a senior disciple of Sri Guru Babaji, took Sri M under his tutelage and initiated him into the Nath tradition. For three and half years, Sri M lived and travelled extensively through the Himalayas with him. What he learnt from Maheshwarnath Babaji transformed his consciousness.
As instructed by his Guru, Sri M returned to the plains and led a quiet, working family life while preparing to teach all that he had learnt and experienced. A few years after his Master’s passing, Sri M received the signal to commence his teaching mission.
Sri M established The Satsang Foundation over twenty years ago, as a meeting point for spiritual seekers of all persuasions. Conversant with the teachings of most major religions, Sri M’s teachings seek to transcend the outer-shell of all religions by exploring the core and nurturing the innate goodness in every human being. In his words: “Go to the core. Theories are of no use.”
The Foundation advocates that humanity is One — transcending religious, racial, geographical, cultural and ideological differences. To spread the message of Peace and Harmony, Sri M led the Walk of Hope in 2015-16 from Kanyakumari to Kashmir spanning 15 months and 7500 kms across 11 states of India, touching more than 10 million lives.
Under The Satsang Foundation, Sri M has initiated projects for social development in the areas of education, health, skill development and environment. The Foundation runs free schools and a skill development centre in Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh and Lathira in U.P., India. It also runs a fully equipped 50 bed hospital with a trauma centre and 2 operation theatres with a free ward for marginalised.
MyTree is an initiative which actively encourages planting of trees. The Sacred Grove, a centre for exploring consciousness was launched in Chowdepalle, a small town near Madanapalle. The Sacred Grove also houses ‘Arogyam’, a Wellness Centre with Ayurvedic therapies and Yoga.
Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra started by Sri M in March 2020, an Ayush recognised Yoga Institute, runs yoga asana classes in Madanapalle, Bangalore and other cities.
Sri M’s Foundation has also initiated a Yoga Research Centre, the International Yoga Research Foundation (IYRF) in Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala which engages in active research into Yoga and related therapies. It also organises symposiums on the impact of the ancient science of Yoga on mental and physical health in partnership with like-minded Institutes.
Sri M’s autobiography, “Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master – A Yogi’s Autobiography” was published in 2011 and became an instant bestseller. A sequel, “The Journey Continues” was published in 2017. Sri M has also authored several texts on the Upanishads, on Meditation, and a novel “Shunya”. His book ‘On Meditation – Finding infinite bliss and power within,’ was published by Penguin India. Two books were released in 2020 – ‘Homecoming and Other Short Stories’, a collection of short stories and a translation and commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – titled ‘Yoga also for the Godless,’ published by Penguin Random House. His latest book with Lady Mohini Kent, ‘The Friend: Mind, Body and Soul, Well-Being’ was published this year. His books have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages.
As a key-note speaker, Sri M has been invited to many institutions like the World Health Organization, United Nations Office in Switzerland, World Bank in the United States of America and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He has addressed corporates in India and overseas. To name a few, Google and Yahoo in the US, respected business and technical education institutes like the Indian Institute of Managements in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai, Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, etc.
Sri M is also the Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, a Central University, on the Faculty of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and an Honorary Professor of Human Values at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.
Among the many awards and honours he has received for his contribution to society, Sri M was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in January 2020, one of the highest civilian awards of India, for distinguished service of high order in spirituality.
Sri M is married and has two children. Based in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, a three-hour drive from Bangalore, he leads a simple life. Appreciative of music, he also paints in his leisure time.
The Satsang Foundation
Over the years, Sri M’s efforts as a social reformer and educationist have given rise to many successful initiatives in the sectors of Education, Health & Wellness, Community Welfare, Sustainable Living, Environment, Interfaith Harmony, Peace and Exploring Consciousness
Health
Swaasthya Hospital
Education
Satsang Vidyalayas
Environment
Satsang Jal Seva Sangatan & MyTree Project
Serving Humanity
Satsang Seva Mission
Wellness & Yogic Science
Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra
Exploring Consciousness
The Sacred Grove
Peace & Interfaith Harmony
Walk of Hope
Ayurveda
ArogyaM – Wellness Centre
How Do I Meet Sri M ?
1. Sri M travels extensively and visits many cities in India and abroad on a regular basis. During his visits, public programs are organized which are open to all. For more information, please click here. You could get in touch with the local organizers or kendras for more information.
2. There are residential programs organized on a regular basis in India and overseas. These are called Satsangs with Sri M. These programs provide opportunities for interaction and also Kriya initiation. The schedule and registration information is provided well in advance on The Satsang Foundation website as well as on social media.
3. Sri M is generally in Madanapalle on Shivaratri and Gurupurnima days. He holds ‘Satsangs’ on these days. Program registration details are announced well in advance on the website.
4. For any other queries, please send an email to: meetsrim@satsang-foundation.org.
