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Awakin Talks: December 10th, 4:30-8:30PM, Matunga East (Mumbai)

"All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts." --Vinoba Bhave
Awakin Talks: An Evening of Inspiration
Saturday, December 10th, 4:30-8:30PM, Matunga, Mumbai

On December 10th, Awakin Community in Mumbai is hosting Awakin talks, a gathering where inspiring speakers will share their stories of service and inner change. This event is offered as a gift. To RSVP, please register in the column on the right and we'll keep you posted with further details.

Speaker Bios



1.  Arun Bhatt

Arun Dada is an elderly Gandhian. His entire life has been rooted in generosity. As a student of Vinoba, in his entire life he has never put a price tag on his labor. His presence speaks of a life-long practice of equanimity, trust and compassion. In 1953, when he was 19 years old he left college and joined Vinoba’s Bhoodan Movement and worked as a Shanti Sainik (A soldier of peace) till 1967. When asked what he did as a Shanti Sainik he would often say, “Our work was to spread peace where there was unrest and create unrest where there was dead or uncanny silence.” He has walked thousands of miles across the length and breadth of the country serving selflessly. After the end of Bhoodan Movement he was actively engaged in the work of peace, gram swaraj, gau suraksha and much more. Arun bhai has been called to a wide variety of audiences in India and abroad to share and contemporise his experiences.

2. Sister Lucy Kurien

Sister Lucy is the founder and director of Maher, a remarkable community and interfaith refuge for abused and destitute women and children, headquartered in Pune, India. More than 4000 women and 2000 children have come to Maher for healing and rehabilitation. Apart from necessary medical and psychological treatment, vocational skill training is provided to them so that they have a source of income when they leave. Maher is caste free zone and places high priority on ecological sustainability. Sister Lucy is a recipient of Stree Shakti Award and Vanitha Women of the Year Award 2016. When asked about her dream for the future of Maher, Sr Lucy says that she would love to see many more people to come forward and truly commit themselves to the vital work of building communities of healing and love, not just in India, but everywhere.

3. Preeti Patkar

Priti Patkar is the Co-Founder and Director of Prerana. She has completely dedicated 29 years of her life to protection and rescue of children and women victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. A Gold Medalist from The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai where she completed a Masters in Social Work, Priti Patkar is accredited with several path breaking social interventions in the Kamathipura red light area where she first started work through Prerana in 1986. Prerana works to end second generation prostitution and to protect women and children from the threats of human trafficking by defending their rights and dignity, providing a safe environment, supporting their education and health, and leading major advocacy efforts. Priti patkar has received several awards, the latest ones being Ahilyabai Holkar Award 2010 (Government of Maharahstra), Hirakani Puraskar 2013 (Doordarshan – Sahyadri) and an award from the Government of Maharashtra where she was felicitated by the Chief Minister – Shri Prithviraj Chawan in March 2013, Global Leader Award for work done in Human Rights from Vital Voices, USA, June 2014.

4. MAMOON AKHTAR Mamoon Akhtar, is the founder of Samaritan Help mission, an organization that brings education, health, livelihood and development opportunities to all the children, especially girls, living in slums of Tikiapara region of West Bengal. It was the passionate appeal of a child wanting to go to school that prompted Mamoon Akhtar to start teaching 5-6 children in his own house in the Tikiapara slum. With only six children attending in 1999, it has now grown to include more than 800 children who participate in school as well as other activities designated for the empowerment of children and deprived girls and women. Mamoon Akhtar was awarded the AMAZING INDIAN AWARD under Educators of India Category by TIMES NOW in 2013.


To Stay Connected

Join us in any one of the four homes, across Mumbai, for an Awakin Circle. More on our Awakin Mumbai page.