• The Period of Divine Visions & Dedication and start of family spiritual congregation (1936-37)

The year 1936, and a small period preceding it, was the period when its founder, Dada Lekhraj, had many trance-visions which proved to be the basis of a new spiritual institution and turning points in the life of its founder. Dada Lekhraj, who was then a front-rank diamond merchant and a jeweller, doing lucrative business, and having intimate and cordial connections with the royal houses of Nepal, Udaipur, etc., had a number of trance-visions. In one vision, he saw Vishnu and various forms of Narayana and the Divine Voice said: "This is your original form". In another vision, he saw souls, as points-of-light, descending from on-high and taking the form of a deity-prince or princess in or near a wonderful golden palace and Dada heard the Divine Voice which said: "This new world will take shape soon (around the year 2000A.D.) and you have to become an instrument for laying the foundation of this world." These Visions greatly changed the mind of Dada. He experienced spiritual ecstasy and intoxication to know that he was, originally, Narayana and that he has now to become an instrument, in Divine hands, for the establishment of a wonderful world and he felt shaken to have seen some very awful scenes of Destruction and all this led him to wind up his business and to dedicate himself completely to the Supreme Soul whose whispers he had heard. His mind now felt no inclination to do worldly business and to lead a worldly life and he felt detached. He had the experience of bliss that comes from Meditation and was mostly in meditative, contemplative and introvert state of mind. God now made him His corporeal medium to articulate spiritual knowledge that would transform people and would, thus, bring about a new world order.

Thus, Dada did not renounce the world as has been the tradition of Sannyasis. The prevalent custom has been that anyone who had deep desire to have a vision of, or communion with, God, renounced the world. Anyone who felt an urge of aversion towards the world, turned away from it and went to forest retreats. But, Dada first had visions of God and then only, he dedicated to Him for doing whatever He would command him to do. Dada had a vision of great Destruction also as Arjuna of Gita-fame had; only thereafter did he free himself from his business activities. He did not run away to forests. On the other hand, he set himself to the task of changing the world, where the law of jungle now prevails, into a really civilised and peaceful world and, for this, he renounced worldliness from his intellect. First, he had a vision of the ideal of life and then he devoted himself to the task of attaining it. All these were new acts and new attitudes. He set in vogue new conventions and customs. The background of his spiritual efforts was different.

Dada now began to give discourses in the courtyard of his residence. His neighbours and relatives, among whom were the rich merchant-class, felt attracted to this Satsang - spiritual congregation. There they recited the sacred syllable '0m'. Some of them had divine trance-visions. All had a very blissful experience. They all resolved to observe moral values and to give up bad habits. Self- transformation came naturally and easily to them. They began to address Dada Lekhraj as Baba or 0m Baba and the congregation as the '0m Mandli'.

Thus, it all started as a family satsang (spiritual congregation) where Dada discoursed Godly Knowledge and educated the audience about the importance of moral values, with special emphasis on Brahmacharya and sattwic food.

• School of Moral and Spiritual Reform (1937 to 1939):

From the initial nebulous form, it soon concretised into a spiritual school where people experienced inner transformation and ecstasy through spiritual literacy or education. Many elders of the society demanded the opening of a school or running a class where their children would get moral and spiritual education and also have secular education and training in daily chores. So, a small school was now started where small girls and boys had moral orientation and spiritual and secular education. Girls learnt sewing, etc. Boys also learnt certain things that would make them self-relient as they grew. Besides, this was a daily satsang for the grown-ups and the elderly. At these gatherings, it was explained to the audience that they should follow the path of self-improvement through practical purity and should abstain absolutely from sex-lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy, hatred and prejudice.

Thus, it was a unique and wonderful school where students were given education with the object of being completely pure. There was, most probably, no other school where the aim of the studies was to attain deity-stage and where God Himself gave Godly Knowledge. People were amazed when they saw that even some kids, reciting " 0m" here reached a high stage of detachment from the body and, stabilising themselves in that yogic stage, had divine visions without any hard effort where rarely a Rishi (sage), in the olden days, had such a vision.

• The period of religious persecution and polarisation (1937-39):

Baba's plain-speaking about the absolute purity and his emphasis on Brahmacharya and sattwic food in the effort of self- realisation brought into play strong resentment and anger in the minds of those who were addicted to sex-lust, meat, alcoholic drinks and vices, especially sex-lust. They put extreme pressure on Baba so that he may stop persuading people to observe purity. The result of this was that, ultimately, there was polarisation and separation which could have been prevented if there was no high pressure.

Before the polarisation, there was lot of persecution of some members of this spiritual family. Many women had to undergo torture at the hands of males when the former steadfastly followed the principle of sattwic diet and brahmacharya whereas the latter insisted that the former had a duty to serve meat and alcoholic drinks to them and to have sexual relationship with them even though they already had a number of children or were physically unwell or infirm or had a conscientious objection to it.

• Formation of world's first Trust of women and Baba's surrender of all property to the trust(1937):

In the year 1937, a spiritual trust was constituted and Baba surrendered all his movable and immovable property to a committee of women and girls. Never before, in the history of the world had any mate surrendered all his belongings to a trust, constituted only of ladies. Nowhere had women been given such an honour, as here, to head and run a spiritual organisation. Baba called them Bharat Mothers and said that these would open the doors to paradise by educating people to be pure.

• A woman as the First Administrative Head of a Spiritual Institution:

Among the members of this Trust and its Managing Committee was a teen-aged virgin, who, because of her intellectual and spiritual abilities, stood out foremost. She was then known as 0m Radhey. She was the Head of this Trust. She was, later, known as Divine Mother Saraswati and she was to be the first Administrative Head of this divine institution. Another one among them, who was also marked as special, was known as Kumarka. She was, later known as Prakash Mani and became the second Administrative Head. This speaks of how the founding father of this organisation had a special ability of judging men and women and knowing, in advance, their future role and grooming them for it in time.

• A period of Tyaga and Tapasya and a wonderful Gyan-Yagya (1937-1950):

No doubt, those who came to the 0m Mandali in its earliest days, had, since the very beginning, to make a voluntary renunciation of those notions and beliefs which run counter to the path of spiritual progress but the period beginning with 1939 was devoted specially to intense meditation for longer periods of time or many times daily in order that they could have deep experience of divinity. In the early days, as for example, in 1937-38, those who participated in the spiritual assembly, had to renounce the awareness of belonging to a rich family or to a high class and a well-known family or of having beauty of face and figure and of qualities or things like that.

All had to do manual work though, earlier in their families, the servants in the families of many of them did all such work. All now had to feel that they were equal - being family members of the spiritual family. But now, since 1939 onwards they had to pay much more attention to their spiritual studies. No one was now aware of the differences of caste or class and all had given up meaningless rituals and customs. Now they ready to make higher sacrifices for the sake of making the world better. They had renounced the attachment one usually has with one's relatives and friends and had begun to consider the whole world as a family, but they had now to do more heart-searching and give up negative traits and acquire divine virtues.

The 0m Mandali was now known as Rajsuya Ashvamedh Avinashi Gyan Yagya. The concept and its meaning and significance was clear to all. Each one had to light the fire of knowledge and to put oblations (Ahuti) of his negative traits - sex-lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego, jealousy, etc., into it. Everyone had to consider the 'institution' as a Yagya and to preserve, protect and to maintain its sanctity by not indulging in any evil tendencies and acts. Everyone now considered this spiritual family as a Rishikul and this place as a Tapobhumi. Everyone now made efforts to burn his or her vicious samskaras and to melt his adulterated mind with the Agni (fire) of knowledge and to get rid of the baser elements - the vicious samskaras that had settled in their souls.

There were a few families or individuals who, like Baba, surrendered their all for this noble cause. All the expenses of this holy yagya were met from the voluntary donations or contributions and it was forbidden by Baba to ask for financial help from outside. Literature also was published from out of this money of the wholly dedicated persons. Copies of this literature were posted to intellectuals and were given free to the desirous people. It was not sold.

Thus, it was the phase when everyone surrendered the self to God, when each one took His refuge and gave up dependence on anyone else, when everyone dedicated his/her body, mind and all to Him and was now willing to make any sacrifice for creating the new world and was devoted to self- purification through Tapasya.

• The period of Divine Revelations, divine visions and divine names (1939 onwards)

This period of learning and practising was very unique and divine. There were about 400 inmates from different family-backgrounds. They lived in a couple of buildings, learning divine knowledge and observing all spiritual maryadas. They were trained and guided to change their attitude, outlook and life-style. The most fundamental thing was that they had to be well aware at all times that they are souls.

The knowledge that was imparted was new. It was revealed knowledge. Quite a few of the inmates of this Rishikul were blessed with trance-vision. They felt detached from the body and cut-off from the surrounding environment and could see the three worlds and also the past, the present and the future with the spiritual vision or the Third-Eye. Baba had seen a picture of the World Tree and the World Wheel, called Kalpa Vriksha and Srishti Chakra, by means of divine intellect. Some sisters who were uplifted into a state of trance- vision by God, the Supreme Father, had also seen these in detail. These pictures, that were now put on paper in proper colour-scheme, now became the basic aids for impartation of knowledge and learning the spiritual doctrines. These pictures form the most important part of Godly Knowledge.

The sisters who had the gift of trance-vision and were called 'Sandeshputris'- the daughters who brought messages from God -got many things clarified by God when they went into trance and into His holy presence. Thus there was now detailed knowledge, during this period, on the basic concepts of soul, God, World, Time, Space, Karma, Mukti, Jeevanmukti, Heaven, Hell, Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, various Yugas, Maya and its various forms, the true kind of Yoga-Meditation, the divine virtues and the rnethodo-logy to practise them.

• How it was given the name Brahma Kumaris?

A sister who had the gift of trance-vision once saw Avyakt Brahma. By that Avyakt Brahma, she was given the understanding that Baba, who was now called Yagya-Pita, was Prajapita Brahma and 0m Radhey, who was now called the Yagya Mother was, in fact, Saraswati. So, from that time onwards, these were known as Brahma and Saraswati and all others were known as Brahma Kumars and Brahma Kumaris and the institution was now known Brahma Kumaris Institution. Many Sandeshputris or divine messengers had seen this Avyakt Brahma and got this message. All other inmates also were given each a divine name. Thus, she brought a complete list of divine names of the inmates from the Divine by going into trance. This sister, known as Brahma Kumari Hirday Mohini, is even to-day a trance-messenger and also a trance-medium to Shiva Baba.A sister who had the gift of trance-vision once saw Avyakt Brahma. By that Avyakt Brahma, she was given the understanding that Baba, who was now called Yagya-Pita, was Prajapita Brahma and 0m Radhey, who was now called the Yagya Mother was, in fact, Saraswati. So, from that time onwards, these were known as Brahma and Saraswati and all others were known as Brahma Kumars and Brahma Kumaris and the institution was now known Brahma Kumaris Institution. Many Sandeshputris or divine messengers had seen this Avyakt Brahma and got this message. All other inmates also were given each a divine name. Thus, she brought a complete list of divine names of the inmates from the Divine by going into trance. This sister, known as Brahma Kumari Hirday Mohini, is even to-day a trance-messenger and also a trance-medium to Shiva Baba.

• The period of exodus and beginning of public service (1951 onwards):

In August, 1947, India was partitioned and Pakistan came into existence. For a couple of years, the sisters and brothers of what was now Brahma Kumaris Institution did some spiritual service to the people of Pakistan. They wrote letters of spiritual knowledge to Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan and other V.I.P.s. and distributed thousands of books to the people in that country. They asked them to make that country morally clean in accordance with the meaning of the word 'Pakistan'. They invited them to have Godly inheritance of Purity and Peace and not to shed blood. The government of Pakistan appreciated the message of Purity but the whole country was in a disturbed state and there was influx of refugees and the attention of the people was not towards God or spiritual values.

So, the institution migrated to India in 1950 by a ship from Karachi to Okha Bunder and then by rail to Abu in Rajasthan. It selected Mount Abu as it is a quiet place, a hill resort, a pilgrimage and a small city of lakes, suitable for deep meditational experiences and for imparting these teachings to others. Here in Nt. Abu, they had again to undergo many hardships due to change of climate, terrain, local life-style, poor rationing, hardwater and so on. But there was never a grumble because their life was now for spiritual service of the people. They had taken training and were now ready to share knowledge and experience with others. So, after the first exodus, there was now the second exodus in 1951. Brahma Kumaris went first to Delhi where a center was opened in 1952-53 and they went also to Kanpur and Lucknow and, later, to Meerut,

Saharanpur, Amritsar, Patiala, Ambala, Bangalore, Bombay, etc. as invited by people and service-centres were started at all these places.

To-day, many people know it as Ishwariya Vishwa-Vidyalaya, but most of them do not know how much sacrifices the sisters and mothers made, how much they had to tolerate, what a great Tapasya they had to do, what were the acts of courage they performed and what difficulties they had to face.

• Period of inter-action with various groups; doing various kinds of service (1954 onwards)

Brahma Kumaris now came into contact with various religious institutions. People with different religious background came to learn Meditation from them. They also put many questions and critically examined their teachings. It was for the first time that people had seen ladies teaching Yoga-Meditation and preaching religion and that, too, wearing white dress. The Knowledge which Brahma Kumaris imparted was new; it had huge contrast with many traditional or conventional beliefs. They did not do any religious rituals and worship of the idols and images nor did they do any havan. There was neither any gurudom nor any sampradaya or sect. They did not recite any Sanskrit shlokas (verses) nor had they any rosary in hand. They mainly dwelt on giving up sex-lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego, malice, laziness and blind faith. They asked people to have mental link with or loveful awareness of God who is incorporeal and is above birth and death. They also asked them to inculcate divine virtues in life. They did not consider anyone, who had a physical birth as God or Bhagwan. They very much believed in Shri Krishna and Shri Rama, Shri Lakshmi and Shri Narayana but they considered these as deities, i.e., human beings who had maximum divine virtues. These were devis and devatas and not Bhagwan or God. They gave clear knowledge about these and about Indian Festivals and asked people to take sattwic food, to give up meat, onion, garlic, eggs, and to prepare food at home in remembrance of God so that they can have a pure state of mind.

These and other teachings brought reaction on the part of some religious fanatics who had bias, malice, anger and narrow-mindedness. So, in those years of service, they had to face opposition, criticism persecution and all that. But their tolerance, goodwill, patience, universal love, vibrations of peace and spiritual response ultimately changed public opinion. As people came and listened and learnt and experienced, they understood and appreciated.

It was during this period that new books and booklets were published on various subjects so that people could get to know more at leisure. Brahma Kumaris were now invited to religious conferences and to other programmes. They also organised their own programmes. During this period, they spoke to people on varied topics of spiritual, behavioural, psychological, historical and cultural interest.

Also, the courses in spiritual knowledge and meditation, which they now conducted, took concrete form and they could create interest in people from any profession. Though earlier also they had this kind of training they now could speak to these people with authority and experience. An exhibition also was prepared and put up in Bombay, Delhi and other places and this was a new way of service.

A delegation, consisting of Dadi Prakashmani, Dadi Ratan Mohini and Dada Anand Kishore went to Japan to participate in World Religious Conference in Shimizu City. It also imparted knowledge to many in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

During this period, the constitution of the institution had been finalised, the flag had been made and the guidance for running a service- centre had clearly emerged.

This was thus the period in which maturity and experience in doing spiritual service to all classes of people was gained and many new centres were opened.

• Divine Mother Saraswati passes away (1965) and the mantle of 'Controller of Service' is taken by B.K. Manmohini

Divine Mother Saraswati had many qualities of head and heart. She was a great spiritual leader, having a very high spiritual stage. Anyone, who came into contact with her, was definitely impressed by her Tapasya, grace and divinity. She had guided the institution from the time of its very inception under the aegis of Brahma Baba. She had inspired and transformed a great many people and had infused, in them, the courage to face trials and tribulations.

In June, 1965, she left her mortal coil. This was a watershed in the history of the institution. She was unique in many respects. She was a symbol of tolerance, sobriety, courage, dedication and nobility. She was Purity personified. She was of exemplary character and yogi life. Now Brahma Baba had additional work-load on him. The mantle of her role now was put on the shoulders of Brahma Kumari Manmohini who had earlier been assisting her as Controller of Service-centres.

Those wonderful days of having spiritual love and sustenance from the Divine Mother were now over. Those who had experienced it only they would now narrate it to others. What a heavenly and elevating experience it was! Who can give Godly Knowledge in such mellifluous tones and highly inspiring words as she did?

Her innocent smiles, writ on a spiritually glittering face, her winning manners, her motherly sweetness and tenderness were unparalleled.

• A period of great importance (1965-69)

This was a period of great activity. Prajapita Brahma got new construction made in Pandav Bhawan at Abu. A bigger hall was built for regular class. A training complex was made for training of Brahma Kumari teachers. Rooms were constructed for conducting courses. Brahma Baba had been suggesting improvements, from time to time, as to how a new student should be guided through the course. He had also given his advice about the training course for teachers.

There had been conferences, during this period and also earlier, to which Brahma Kumaris had been invited. These were conferences on World Peace and Religious Harmony. There had also been conferences of Jurists. Some Rudra Yagyas also had been performed. There were Kumbh Melas and congregations on the visit of the Pope. Brahma Baba had been giving guidance on what new light should be thrown on these occasions.

He had also instructed as to how administration should be run and who should do what. He had been preparing, incognito, persons for their roles in future. He had done the ground work of explaining all the basic concepts of this new knowledge and had dwelt at length on the major ones among these. There was, perhaps, not any facet of life or any important question, concerning spirituality and the New World Order which he had not touched. The philosophical or ideological part of knowledge was fully expounded and only the detailed explanation remained so that others would do his. Thus, from the point of view of training in the art of teaching this knowledge, understanding principles of sound administration, conducting courses, holding exhibitions, doing public service, etc., etc., it was a period of great importance.

Having thus played his role as a corporeal medium to God and, having laid Firm foundations for the future, he now had been in deep meditation most of the time so that anyone who went near him, experienced detachment of soul from the body and a very pleasant feeling of relaxation and peace. Many experienced purificatory impact of his vision, words and aura.

Then, on the night of 18th January, 1969, after saying goodbye to the students in the night class, he returned to his room and sat at one edge of his bed and breathed heavily and, then lay down calmly in his bed and the soul left for the subtle regions. The one whom so many, in whole India, loved and admired so much, had left his mortal coil here but had gone to higher regions to guide them from there for higher - avyakt - stage.

Baba, while in his corporeal form, had done so much for so many. They felt that, out of men of clay, Baba had made them into ladies and gentlemen of exemplary character and into would-be deities. Baba had enhanced their sense of mission and spirit of service. They also felt that they had a very high role in the world drama.

Baba was not only the founding father of the institution but he worked as the builder of the foundations of the Golden Age. Not only was he an instrument for God for impartation of Godly Knowledge but also he was a living model of His teachings and of the moral and spiritual values he enunciated. He did Godly service tirelessly and till the end. He would be remembered as the progenitor of a new system and a new world and the yogi par excellence who remained incognito till the end. His contribution to various disciplines would remain unparalleled. The love he showered, the grace and royalty in his manner, his spiritual height would always remain a source of inspiration not only for those who were there with him but also those who come afterwards.

There has been no one in history who prepared such a large number of girls and women who would take upon themselves the onerous task of transforming such a degenerated world into a world of Golden Age. He has given a self-generating, self-supporting system that would keep expanding until it has ousted evil from the world.

• An International Institution (1969 to 1982)

It gets affiliation to United Nations

Brahma Baba had been a divine instrument for giving the institution a sound and strong organisational base and system with built-in sub-systems which should interact and promote each other. It was a self-sustaining and self- sufficient system. He had also provided it with a multi-class multi-colour base which was above injustice on the basis of castes, creeds, sex or economic conditions. It reflected unity in diversity and had the potentialities of being an international institution that could absorb and assimilate people from various linguistic, ethnic and religious groups. Now this wonderful organisation was ready to expand and grow to be an international organisation, maintaining its unity and coherence. It could now formulate and implement pro- grammes requiring internal unity and a dedicated group of planners, executives and workers. It could now work, creating an impact and giving people the experience of its being an international family which had love and purity, and also an inspiring vision, for the fulfillment of which everyone had a role to play.

Therefore, various kinds of programmes at national and international level were organised during this period, in which guidance and help of God Shiva and Brahma Baba, in his subtle and angelic form, was available always and in all undertakings.

(i) Spiritual service started in other countries and in India on a grand scale

Many new books, especially in Hindi were published and were translated into Gujrati, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali and other languages. It was in 1972 that the second group of Brahma Kumaris and Brahma Kumars went to U.K., North America and South-East Asia to attend conferences and to do Godly service in foreign countries. Earlier, centres had been opened in Nepal. New centres were now opened in London and then in Hongkong, following the visit of this group. Then there were invitations for service in other countries also. Moreover, some of those who had studied Godly knowledge and easy Rajyoga in Delhi, London, Bombay, Ahmedabad or Mount Abu became instruments for Godly service in other countries. Thus, service was started and centres opened by the year 1983, in West Germany, Canada, Australia, Zambia, U.S.A., Kenya, Mauritius, Guyana, Barbados, Japan, Trinidad, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, NewZealand, Dubai, France. Columbia, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Argentina, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland, Fiji, etc. Many international conferences and spiritual festivals and fairs were held during this period. International Yoga Conference was held in Mount Abu in the year 1972.

(ii) First 'New World Spiritual Fair' was held at Ram Lila Ground, in New Delhi. At this fair, separate programmes were held for the Jurists, Scientists. Educationists, Students, Women, etc. A pavilion was put by service centres of various States. Such fairs were later held in Bombay, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta. Practice of yoga was given to groups through the running of meditation commentaries. 'Divinise the Man' World Conference was hosted by Brahma Kumaris in Bombay in 1976.

(iii) In 1977, Brahma Kumari Prakashmani, the Administrative Head toured foreign countries for about a two-month period to visit Godly Service centres and to attend conferences and participate in other programmes.

(iv) In the year 1978, World Conference, titled 'Future of Mankind', was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in February. It was inaugurated by Mr. B.D.Jatti, then Vice-President of India. Fifteen such major conferences were held by BKs during the period 1978-1980 in 15 other countries.

(v) During this period, a Jurists and Spiritualists Meet was organised in New Delhi in which many judges of the Supreme Court participated.

(vi) There were major conferences on the subject of Mahabharat and Bhagwad Gita also in Indore, Varanasi and Mangalore. An All India Essay Competition also was organised by Bombay centres in co-sponsorship with Tirupati Devasthanam.

(vii) International Conference on "Human Survival" was held in Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore in January, 1980 and conferences, on this or other similar themes were organised in Canada, Australia,Germany, U.S.A. and other countries.

(viii) Grand fairs were put up in Allahabad, Haridwar and Ujjain during the years 1975-1980 and yoga shivirs (meditation camps) also were started during this period. Industrial Peace Exhibition was started in 1980 in Ahmedabad.

(ix) A special "Ten-Point Programme" and ' World Welfare Festival' were organised during 1980-81 in which every individual and all service-centre in countries outside India participated in the spirit of doing a Mahayagya. The World Welfare Festival, held at Red Fort, Delhi, in 1981 was a very big event. On this occasion, about twelve thousand B.K.s came from all over the world to participate in a marathon Peace March which had beautiful tableaus, some of them comparable to the best that one annually sees on 26th January, in India.

(x) In the year 1981, Brahma Kumari Manmohini, the Additional Administrative Head toured many countries to visit Godly service-centres and to participate in various events organised by them.

(xi) In the same year, there was a conference on "Origin of Peace" held by Brahma Kumaris at Kenyatta Hall, Nairobi, Kenya. Dadi Prakashmani participated in that conference.

Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa-Vidyalaya had been affiliated to the Department of Public Information of the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organisation at the close of this period Institution was now known widelv as an international organisation which had a disciplined, dedicated and highly spiritualised members who used their skills, arts, abilities and resources for the betterment of mankind through Godly knowledge and Raja Yoga.

• The rapid expansion phase (1983 to 1985)

This has been a period of phenomenal expansion. During this period, many new Godly service-centres were opened in India and abroad. The number of serviceable hands also increased greatly. There was almost 80 percent increase in the number of service-centres and the building activity at the International Headquarters and also at Zonal Headquarters also increased in order to meet the requirement of the times, for the number of students also had increased by at least 60%.

At the headquarters, the construction of 0m ShantiBhawan (Universal Peace Hall) had been completed before February, 1983. A hall with a seating capacity for about 3,000 persons was now ready with facilities for simultaneous translation in six languages. The arrangements for cooking and service were also improved and there was now more residential accommodation than before.

(ii) The institution held its first Universal Peace Conference in this hall. It was attended by about 5,000 delegates, from about 38 countries. Separate workshops and sessions were held of Jurists, Scientists, Educationists, Youth, Women, Doctors, etc. A document of great significance, titled as 'Universal Peace Charter' was adopted.

(iii) Affiliated to Economic and Social Council of the U.N. This conference was attended, among others, by the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and also by the President of the Peace University which also is a university of the United Nations in Costa Rica. It was at this time that the institution received the information that it had been given Consultative Status on the Roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

(iv) Didi Manmohini, Add). Adm. Head passes away In this year ( 1985 ), Didi Manmohini, the Additional Administrative Head of the institution passed away and Dadi Janki now took over her responsibilities. Also Dadi Chandramani and Dadi Nirmal Shanta were appointed as the Joint Administrative Heads of the institution.

(v)Peace Manifesto adopted
In the year 1984, another Universal Peace Conference was held in Mount Abu. It was inaugurated in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, by Gyan Zail Singh, then - President of India. Dignitaries like Dalai Lama, Madan Anwar Sadat, Mr. James O.C.Jonah, Assistant Secretary General of UN another Assistant Secretary General, also participated in the conference The conference this time adopted another document, titled: Peace Manifesto and also Raj Yoga - The method of Socio-Economic Transformation.

(vi) Peace Medal awarded by the United Nations
In the year 1984, the Brahma Kumaris Chief, Dadi Prakashmani, participated in the Conference of N.Q.OS in the United Nations. She was also honoured with Peace Medal of the United Nations for the year 1981. She also met Dr. Perez de Cueller, the Secretary General of the United Nations. She was welcomed during her foreign tour by Mayors and government dignitaries of various countries in America and Europe.

Many other faculty members of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa-Vidyalayatoured various other countries in Asia and also went to Australia, etc. Many significant conferences were held during this period in many countries. In London, an international conference, titled "Spirit of Humanity" was held.

(vii)Vice-President and President of India inaugurate the Conferences
In February 1985, the Third Universal Peace Conference was held in Mount Abu; it was inaugurated by the Vice-President of India and was presided over by the Governor of Rajasthan.

(II) The Youth Festival, held in Mount Abu, was inaugurated by Mr. Zail Singh, the President of India on 50th May, 1985 and then various youth groups started the marathon Bharat Unity Peace Marches, passing through hundreds of villages, towns and cities of India, covering thousands of miles and extending over months.

(III)There was a conference of Scientists in Cologne (West Germany), titled: "International Scientists Congress". Many scientists, at the invitation of this Vishwa-Vidyalaya participated in this conference.

Thus Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa-Vidyalaya had built itself, by 1986, as the most pervasive spiritual force in the country and abroad and as the biggest spiritual organisation of its kind, run mainly by women. It had now a macro spiritual system holding together micro sub-systems, namely the zones, providing it with a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, multi-continental and multi-national base. It now had a vast infrastructure of various departments, run by talented and experienced persons who are dedicated. It had served an enormous rural hinterland and many towns and cities in almost every state of India, now providing itself with almost a continuous popular support base. Well-known intellectuals, worldwide, now appreciated the relevance of its message and the institution now lived in the hearts and consciousness of many spiritual-minded people. It had acquired during these fifty years, a fervent international character as a forum of articulation on spiritual matters, a powerful lobby for religious and moral reform, a meeting ground for people of various religions to work in the spirit of reconciliation and emotional integration. It was now spearheading a mass upsurge for spiritual transformation through the practice of Rajyoga. It was now a bastion of high morality and alround purity against the forces of evil and as an international front, coalescing many strands of culture. It had constituted itself as an international Vishwa-Vidyalaya. It had anti-violence and anti-vice underpinning with clear and forthright voice, denouncing corruption, immorality and impurity and emphasising on the imperative of mankind's solidarity and unify of religious-minded people to fight against forces of disruption, all kinds of exploitation and pollution by means of the tool of spiritual education. It had now interest not only in spiritual improvement of individuals but had global concern and extended support and succour to those who jumped into the fray, with thrusts inforwarding the objectives enunciated by Shiv Baba. It continues to do this work even in the year 1996 with greater vigour.

• Celebrations of Golden Jubilee Year (1986)

In 1986, the institution celebrated its Golden Jubilee Year and hosted the 4th Universal Peace Conference. The Delhi Chapter of the Conference was inaugurated by Justice Nagendra Singh, President of the International Court of Justice. Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha, then - Union Minister of State for Communications also participated. At Mount Abu the Conference was inaugurated by Sh.Vasant Patil, then-Governor of Rajasthan. Mr. Rodrigo Carazo Odio, the President of the United nations Peace University, located in Costa Rica also participated. Mr. V.C.Patel. Director, United Nations Office in New Delhi, Mr. Ajit Kumar Panja, Union Minister of State for Planning and Mr. Chhoga Lal Bakolia, Minister in Rajasthan also participated. Justice A-S.Quereshi of Gujrat High Court, Justice (Retd.) Krishna lyer of the Supreme Court, Mr. Khushwant Singh, eminent journalist and author, Mr. Sukumaran, Dy. Editor, Matrubhumi, Cochin. Justice Shri Ramulu of High Court of Andhra Pradesh and many other prominent persons participated in its deliberation in various workshops. Mr. RicardoViveros presented a condecoration to the Chief of Brahma Kumaris on behalf of Brazilian Society of Education and Integration.

Mahamandleshwar, Swami Vedvyasanand Saraswati of Rishikesh, also addressed the gathering and highly admired the work of the institution.

(ii)A Sindhi Roohani Sammelan was held in the same year on 11th Feb.; just after the Universal Peace Conference. The Roohani Sindhi Sammelan was inaugurated by Mr. Justice Guman Mal Lodha, Additional Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Mr. Natwar Lal Chandulal Shah. Speaker of Gujrat Assembly, was the Chief Quest, Padamshri Prof. Ram Panjwani, Sindhi poet, Mr. M.D.Golani. Chairman, Friends International (Sindhi), Mr. R.K.Advani, News Editor, The Hindustan Daily (Sindhi), Mr. K.R. Malkani, Former Editor, Organiser and, later a Vice-President of BJP, Mr. K. Sital, Editor. The Indian, Hongking, Mr. D.M.Harish, eminent Jurist, Balraj Juani and Presidents, Vice-Presidents and General Secretaries of Sindhi Associations came from all parts of India - Bombay, Poona, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bhopal, etc. and from abroad - Hongkong, Singapore, etc.

(iii) In the same year. A Kumbh Darshan Peace Fair was organised in Haridwar which was inaugurated by Swami Satmitranand, Swami Prakashanand and B.K.Dadi Chandramani. The Raj Yoga Shivir there was inaugurated by Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Shri Vishnu Devannand Saraswati and was visited by Mahamandleshwar, Swami Harprakashanand of Prachin Avdhoot Ashram, Swami Uma Bharti of Omeshwar Dham, Ved Bharti and Swami Kashikanand were also present.

(iv) A Marwari Adhyatmic Sammelan and a Parsi Roohani Sammelan also was held which had the participation of many eminent Marwaris and Parsis respectively.
The Year of Million Minutes of Peace Appeal and after

A programme, titled Million Minutes of Peace Appeal was launched in 88 countries which collected donation of over a billion minutes of positive thoughts, prayer or meditation. The report was presented to the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the UN In 1987 was held the Grand Finale of the Golden Jubilee year. The programme was inaugurated by Giani Zail Singh, then President of India.

• GIobal projects by this Global Institution (1987)

The 2nd International Holistic Health Conference was held at Indore. "Global Co-operation for a Better World", a two-year international project which reached 122 countries, was launched in 1987. The Project, dedicated to the United rations as a Peace Messenger Initiative, collected individual and collective ideas and actions towards creating a better world.

In 1988, "All India Spiritual Conference" held at Mount Abu, inaugurated by Jagadguru Chief Shankaracharya, Swami Shantananda Saraswatiji of Badrikashram.

Spiritual Awakening in Adiwasis Conference held at Jagdalpur in 1989, attended by over 10,000 tribal natives.

The Mount Abu Summit and an International Conference on Global Co-operation for a Better World were inaugurated by Hon'ble Mr. Justice C.Ray, Judge, Supreme Court of India, in 1989.

An International Conference on Women was inaugurated in Talkatora Indoor Stadium in Mew Delhi by Justice Ranganath Mishra, then - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India.

An International Conference of Scientists and Spiritualists was held at Bangalore, which was inaugurated by Mr. S.R.Bommai, Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1989.

In the same year. World Peace Conference was held at Raipur. Mr. Haji Shamusdin, Chairman Minorities Commission, M.P., Dr.Peter Ivenson, London and other prominent persons participated in the conference.

A Seminar on Moral Re-orientation of Education and Educationists was organised in Madras. Dr. Lalita Karneshwaran, Vice-Chancellor M. Q. R. Medical University, H.E. Dr.P.C. Alexander, Governor of Tamil Nadu, Dr. (Mrs.) Ackama Alexander, Dr.S.V.Chitti Babu, former V.C., Annamalai University were participants in this seminar.

A Conference of Administrators, Executive Heads and Spiritualists was held at Bhopal in 1989. Mr. B.D. Jatti, former Vice President of India at Mount Abu, inaugurated global Co-operation Summit. Rajyoga Shivir for Educationists was organised at Mount Abu which was inaugurated by Mr. J.D.Mohpatra, Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Orissa, in 1989.

The Second International Conference on Global Co-operation for a Better World was inaugurated by the late Hon'ble Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India. Mr.V.S. Safronchuk, Under Secretary of UN in 1990 at Mount Abu participated.

An International Holistic Health Conference-111 was held at Belgaum, which was inaugurated by Mr. Shivanna, Karnataka Social Welfare Minister, B.K.Dadi Prakashmani, Mr.S.P.Tripathi, Addl. Director General, ICMR, New Delhi, Dr.H.B.Rajshekhar, Principal J.M.Medical College, Dr.Uri, Moscow, Dr.J.V.Narayanan, Chairman I.M.A., Karnataka, Dr.Prabhakar Kore, Chairman K.L.E. Society, in 1990.

In the same year, an All India Environmental Awareness Campaign organised by the Institution. The representatives of the institution participated in certain programmes in UM Conference in Rio and they were involved in its planning and preparatory meetings.

Raja Yoga Management Institute in Hyderabad was inaugurated in 1990. Universal Transformation Conference was held at Mount in February, 1991, which was inaugurated by Justice K.Ramaswamy, Judge, Supreme Court of India.

Global Co-operation House in London and Global Hospital & Research Centre in Mount Abu were inaugurated in 1992.

The Prime Minister of India inaugurates the Conference An International Conference on Universal Harmony organised at Mount Abu, inaugurated by Mr.P.V. Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister of India in 1993. His speech was published by DAVP and TV, all over India, covered the programme.

In July, 1995 a Jurists Conference on "Values for a Better World" was held at Mount Abu, which was inaugurated by Smt. Sashi Datta Minister for Law, Rajasthan, Justice Mr.R.M. Sahai, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice Mr. Krishna lyer. Former Judge, Supreme Court, Bro. B.K.Chudasma, Minister for Agriculture, Gujrat, Justice Smt. Suguna Bhatt, Judge, High Court of Gujrat, Mr. Raghunath Patnaik, Minister for Law, Orissa.

A Conference on Value-Based Education for a Better World was held at Mount Abu in Dec. 1995 which was inaugurated by Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius. Ms. Sarojni Devi Jugnauth, Mr. Shyam Saran, India's High Commissioner in Mauritius, Mr. Mohanlal Goverdhan, Mauritius High Commissioner in India, Mr. Phool Chand Mulana, Education Minister, Govt. of Haryana, Mr..Mohd. Bashir, Education Minister, Kerala participated.

Representatives of the institution, participated in the U.N. Conference on Women, hosted by China in Beijing. They also participated in the conference on Restoration of Humanity and Values, held in Seoul, South Korea and organised by UNESCO and the International Association of University Presidents.

The institution has new established Brahma Kumaris Academy for a Better World in Salgaon in Mount Abu. Thus, it has now grown into a global institution in true sense of the word and is now getting ready to make a final onslaught on the forces of social, economic, political and other evils.

During this period of about 60 years, it has done so much service to humanity in all fields as is difficult to recount even in a voluminous book.

It has made a tremendous progress during this period in its various fields of work. It has started in a big way, conducting courses for Business Managers, Administrators and Youth, it has also devised certain courses for Doctors, Women and is working on courses for other segments of society so that all professions and segments became value-based.

All this is due, in fact, to the guidance, help and support of Shiv Baba and Brahma Baba and those senior BKs. who during this period, worked indefatigably and with great sacrifice, to bring the present stature. Some of them are alive and many unnamed and unremembered laid down their lives, unhonoured and unseen, in the cause and work of making our world a peaceful place. Let us pay our tributes to these worthy souls on the grand occasion of the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of this institution.

It can thus be seen that, during the past 60 years, the institution has made enormous progress and has spread over the globe. It has now become a moral force that no one can neglect. The spiritual education, it is imparting, is so powerful, that hardly can anyone, who comes in touch, remain un-transformed. The work-force, it has built, is like an ever-expanding spiritual and non -violent army that is now poised to take on the Five Evils at their dens and to oust them of this world which was once the Paradise, The Evil will now die death at its own hands and now love will flow like fresh water from eternal springs. Peace will prevail on earth and poverty will give place to prosperity. The great institution founded by the Greatest and the Highest among souls, has now soul and follow Me and I will take you out of the mire of negativity".

On the eve of the given an alert to its obedient children and ordained them to reach every part of the world and to carry, to everyone. His rejuvenating message of Values. He now says: "Dear Children, let there be no wastage or leakage of thoughts; let there be only positive and creative thoughts, Give up what is injurious to moral Fibre of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya is all set to communicate this message world-wide. It is inviting all to have their God Fatherly birthright of complete Purity, Peace & Prosperity in the Golden-Aged world that is being reestablished.

• 1996 - The Year of Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the clarion call For a Value-based Society

Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa-Vidyalaya will celebrate 1996 as its Diamond Jubilee Year. For this institution, it will be a year of re-dedication to the goal of a value based, happy and healthy society. It will inform, remind and educate the people in clear terms that nothing but only Spiritual Response to our problems in these changing times will bring a lasting, effective, full and worthy solution.

The institution which, in its earliest days, had to face rough weather and heavy storms, has, by dint of sheer hard work, in the field of value-education, and by the devotion, sincerity, sacrifices, high character and strong will of its leading light, now emerged as the only dependable agent of world-change and the only visible ray of hope in the all-engulfing darkness. This statement may seem to be an exaggeration to some but, in fact, it is a reality that is emerging like a rising sun.

If the worth of an institution and the justification for its existence were to be judged not merely by its declared objectives but (i) by its real achievements and (ii) by the public demand for its services, (iii) the rate of its growth, (iv) the inner strength and unity of its leaders and workers, (v) the number of people that rally round it with dedication, (vi) the committed work-force it has built to help achieve the noble causes for which it stands, (vii) the network of its ever-expanding systems, (viii) the standards of human behaviour it has set for its devotees or votaries, (ix) the ethical principles its leaders inspire in the people by their own example, (x) the goals towards which it has been making constant progress inspite of opposing forces, (xi) the contribution in thought, word and deed it has made to various disciplines or subjects of knowledge and wisdom, (xii) and the benefits it gives to people at the grass-roots level and to those who are at the highest echelons, then this institution has no parallel. It forms a class by itself.

Originally, the nucleus of the institution, located in the house of its founder, was only a small unit. Starting from a mere scratch, it has now covered a large part of the globe. It has now 3500 centres and about 500,000 daily students of all age groups and professions. If we deduct 15 years from its total existence - for the reason that its original students or members did not go our for public service but instead practised intense meditation and spiritual discipline as inmates for that period - then, it would mean that the institution added, on average, 70average, 6000 students every year or 500 students every month to its strength. The speed is picking up every day and this number is only 9 very small fraction of the total number which it had educated through seminars, symposia, workshops, health campaigns, exhibitions, etc.,organised by it. This speaks of the public demand for its services. Today, the institution is serving the aboriginals and the people in slum areas and also the elite, such as the judges, the bureaucrats, the academicians and industrialists. Such, therefore, is the utility of its work for public good! The institution, to-day, has no less than 100,000 persons who work for these causes.

The institution, since its earliest years, has been unique in many ways. During its first phase itself, it gave some expression to its potential as an institution (i) for bringing fundamental social change, (ii) a strong ferment for religious reform, (iii) a human rights movement, (iv) an institution of moral and spiritual revolution through education, (v) an organisation for emancipation of men and women from ignorance, superstition, meaningless rituals and vices, (vi) a crusade for values in all segments of society (vii) a very strong non-violent army of women for liberating them from the gender-bias and (viii) a forum of youth, committed to positive and pure ways of living. At that time, there was no other women movement, or institution of women and for women anywhere in the world that worked to empower women as this institution has been doing since its inception in 1936. No institution has changed outlook towards castes as this had done. No institution has worked as so many institutions - all in one - daring to take up causes that would bestir the ritualistic priest class, the biased male class, the ultra-materialistic group in their seats and would humbly, lovingly, sweetly and persuasively ask them to adopt values and to co-operate so as to make this world a better place to live in.

To-day this institution has women in the frontline. It has raised the quality and status of women to that of spiritual guides, moral counsels, teachers, preceptors or leaders. It has, to-day, an active force of about 50,000 youth who are committed to non-violence and abstinence from motion pictures that show sex or crime. These youth go from village to village to awaken people to give up use of alcohol, tobacco, intoxicating drugs, gambling, bride-burning, child-marriage and to be clean and educated.

If we pick up main contributions of the institution towards building a value-based and better society, we will easily be able to make a list of at least 60 major achievements but space will not permit mention of these here. We, therefore, close with the words: "Happy diamond Jubilee to all".