The Modi government has changed the way how the prestigious Padma awards are given out as the government has brought India’s hidden gems to the forefront. It is a welcome break from the erstwhile UPA era where the government’s loyalists and fixers were meted out the prestigious awards in lieu of favourable coverage. Throughout the tenure of Prime Minister Modi, the Padma awards have become a source of inspiration as India’s unsung heroes finally get their due.
In this year’s list of the Padma Awardees, one such unsung hero is a Kerala-based social reformer and spiritual leader Sri M who was born a Muslim & is now leading a life of a Yogi and is set to be conferred with the Padma Bhushan.
Sri M was born in Trivandrum, Kerala, as Mumtaz Ali into a middle-class Muslim family, he had strange experiences and his inclinations towards spirituality became apparent right from his formative years.
Indian spirituality for Sri M empowers every individual regardless of caste and creed “by deconditioning the mind so that it gets access to almost infinite energy and unlimited wisdom, leading to true and lasting happiness”.
A chance meeting with a sage in Ali’s courtyard started his journey towards spirituality as the teenager Ali made it a habit to meet mystics and enlightened persons in and around Trivandrum. At the tender age of 19, he left for the Himalayas. He roamed the holy spots in the hills without any guidance or a plan. At the Vyas cave beyond Badrinath, the seeker finally met his guru, Maheshwarnath Babaji.
That meeting saw the birth of Sri M as his life became voyage into self-discovery, guided by his enlightened guru. That extraordinary life spent in the Himalayas as a disciple is what has been chronicled in his autobiography titled, ‘Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A Yogi’s Autobiography.’
The memoir released in 2011, became an instant hit. He went on to write a few more books, including a commentary on Isa Upanishad and a latest book ‘On Meditation’ and also authored a novel, ‘Shunya’. While writers around the world attempt to emulate the Shakespearean style of writing, Sri M’s uncomplicated style of writing resonates instantly with the readers.
The highlight of his spiritual mission was the ‘Walk of Hope’ that he embarked on January 12, 2015, on the occasion of Swami Vivekanand’s Birth Anniversary which concluded on April 29, 2016, in Jammu. During the 16 months of the trek, Sri M covered 7,500 km by foot along with hundreds of volunteers and spirited supporters.
Named the Manava Ekta Mission, the team traversed through the varied landscape of 11 states in the country and Sri M could emotionally bring together people of different faiths, socio-economic status and villagers and city dwellers.
In every town where Sri M stayed, he spoke about the true meaning of spirituality and the essential oneness of all creation while spreading the important message that differences of all kinds are superficial while ‘Unity’ is real as everything emanates from that ‘One’ which is the ‘Truth’. Through his writings, Sri M has been trying to tell that God resides in simplicity and innocence and the meaningless of differences.
The government of India, by recognising Sri M, has thanked him for his service to the nation.
