History
The journey of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) in Mauritius is a powerful tale of silent transformation, spiritual services, and unwavering commitment to human values. The Brahma Kumaris Movement at its origin started in 1936 in Hyderabad Sindh, Karachi, when its founder, Brahma Baba, being inspired by series of divine revelations, became instrumental for this organisation which has transcended geographical, cultural, and religious boundaries. By 1951, the University’s headquarters shifted to Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India.
As a spiritual University with over 8500 branches in over 130 countries, the Brahma Kumaris offer people of all backgrounds an opportunity to learn meditation and deepen their understanding of universal principles and innate values through a variety of educational and spiritual programmes, courses, and other learning resources.
The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) afterwards became a non‐governmental organization in general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The BKWSU in Mauritius
In 1974, Sister Vedanti, the actual Regional Director of BKWSU for African countries, led a delegation to Africa, sowing the seeds of this spiritual vision in Mauritius. The following year, in 1975, the first official branch of the Brahma Kumaris was established in Quatre Bornes. From 1975 to 1980, the organization focused on building local leadership, nurturing a generation of Mauritians to carry forth the message of peace, love, and meditation. In 1983, a bill was passed in the Parliament of Mauritius to set up ‘The Prajapita Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University Trust’ under Act 44.
Over the decades, the Brahma Kumaris have flourished across the island. From Quatre Bornes, it spread in the following places: Curepipe, Khoyratty, Flacq, Rose Belle and Bambous, followed by the emergence of ‘Inner Space’ meditation centres in Port Louis and Ebene. A Retreat Centre (Diamond Retreat House) came up in Palmar and recently, the Academy for Integrated and Sustainable Development offering spaces for deeper contemplation and learning. The organisation subsequently opened several other centres and sub-centres across the island. In 1997, the organisation extended to Rodrigues Island.
International Projects
Brahma Kumaris Mauritius also played an instrumental role in numerous international campaigns. In 1986, the “Million Minutes of Peace Appeal” initiative saw Mauritians contribute over 6 million minutes of silence for peace. This was followed by “Global Co-operation for a Better World” in 1988, and “Sharing Our Values for a Better World” in 1994, projects that sought to instil spiritual principles in public life.
Participants singing to the tune of ‘We are the World…’
Manifesto 2000 For a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, was implemented nationally with the support of the office of the President of the Republic of Mauritius. The manifesto of Peace was signed by all MLAs during a session of the National Assembly. In the grand finale at the State House, Municipalities, and District Councils unitedly celebrated the values of peace and non-violence.
“Just A Minute” (JAM) campaign was an international project to make everyone realise the wonder of one minute of Silence. 30 million people around the world joined in one minute global link up at Wembley Arena launch in September 2006 an event to mark the contribution of the Brahma Kumaris to the United Nations International Day of Peace. In Mauritius, the official launch of the project at the national level was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. A song JAM was composed by a dozen famous artists in the Island such as Serge Lebrasse, Michel Legris, Meera Mohun, Eric Triton, Ram Joganah and others.
The organization’s youth-focused initiatives such as Youth Empowerment and Sustenance (YES) was implemented as a worldwide initiative of the UN for the International decade for the culture of peace and non-violence. The7 Billion Acts of Goodness project has left a profound impact. It was targeted particularly at youth to encourage them to emerge their inherent goodness in their day to day lives.
In June, 2004 the BKWSU in Kenya came forward with a project to establish branches in some 40 countries in Africa. Mauritius contributed significantly to this project by sending resource persons.
National Projects
Education remained central to the Brahma Kumaris’ mission in Mauritius. The Living Values Education Programme (LVEP) was introduced in the Government White Paper of 1997 and adopted in national policy and teachers’ training at the Mauritius Institute of Education in 1999. Conferences at national, regional and international levels were held in 1998 and 2005 with the active support of the Ministry of Education and the Mauritius Institute of Education. This helped shape a generation grounded in ethics.
The “Write to God” initiative in 2015 brought together thousands to express hope, prayer, and personal transformation through heartfelt letters to the Supreme Being, God.
One of the most socially resonant projects was “Road Safety through Self Transformation”, launched during the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. It featured exhibitions, awareness campaigns, and youth rallies promoting inner change for safer roads, culminating in a touching tribute to road accident victims at the Velodrome Stadium in 2017.
The Brahma Kumaris Mauritius has also led family-focused and national celebrations. The Millennium Family Festival in 1999 and holistic health campaigns in 2008 were instrumental in promoting unity and well-being.
‘Don nou Vilaz so Valer – Value based Project’:With the collaboration of each District Council and village councils, many villages were attributed a specific quality/value. Subsequently, the name plates with their corresponding value were placed in specific places. There were also some ‘Peace March’ in certain areas which revived the sense of community feelings of harmony.
Retreats and dialogues like “Call of the Time” brought international thought leaders and ambassadors together in Mauritius, reinforcing the island’s role in global peacebuilding. Interfaith initiatives and Africa Day celebrations highlighted Brahma Kumaris’ commitment to universal harmony.
The Brahma Kumaris offers regular courses, seminars and workshops in Raja Yoga Meditation, Positive Thinking, Self Esteem, Stress free living, Personality Development, Anger Management, and Parenting.
In seminars and recurring outreach programmes for children, parents, youth, women, and senior citizens, the Brahma Kumaris has offered spiritual tools to help every segment of society thrive. From meditation and yoga for kids to empowerment workshops for women and elderly wellness sessions (Ageing Gracefully), the teachings of the Brahma Kumaris touch every generation.
As a spiritual organisation, Environment plays a crucial role in embracing sustainable living through hands-on initiatives such as bio-composting, endemic plantings, solar energy promotion, rain conservation and others.
The Brahma Kumaris work closely with healthcare professionals to raise awareness of the value of physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Wellness campaigns such as EEG biofeedback therapy uses real-time measurements of brainwave activity to help individuals learn to self-regulate their brain functions. Similarly, ‘Detox your heart and Soul,’also known as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) regression is a healthy lifestyle programme for the prevention, management and cure of cardiovascular diseases through diet, exercise and meditation. It is a prerequisite to one’s journey towards optimum mental and physical wellbeing.
Residential retreats on ‘Leading from Within,’ ‘Silence, Intuition & Meditation’ are held annually.
Achievements
Among their achievements, the University was awarded ‘the National Unity Award’ in 1999 under the leadership of late Sister Chandra, the former Director of the Brahma Kumaris. In 2022, Sister Geeta, Director of Brahma Kumaris in Mauritius, was honoured as an Honorary Freeman of Curepipe for over four decades of selfless service.
In 2017, after the departure of Sister Chandra, a National Coordinating Team comprising six Sisters namely, Sr Geeta (Director), Sr Gaitree, (Chairperson), Sister Neeroo (Secretary to the board), Sisters Mala, Rupa and Sangeeta, coordinators of different regions in the island, was set up to oversee the smooth functioning of the Institution.
Today, as the Brahma Kumaris celebrate fifty years of service in Mauritius, it is a journey marked by quiet determination, inner strength, and spiritual wisdom. From a single centre to a national presence and global influence, their legacy stands as a silent yet powerful beacon, guiding thousands toward inner peace and a better world.
THE BRAHMA KUMARIS, MAURITIUS
