Sri M – spiritual guide, social reformer, educationist, author and global speaker – was born Mumtaz Ali in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. At the age of nineteen, Sri M embarked on a journey to seek a true Master. Maheshwarnath Babaji – a senior disciple of Sri Guru Babaji – took Sri M under his tutelage. As instructed by his Guru, Sri M returned to the plains and established The Satsang Foundation more than twenty years ago. The Foundation actively conceptualizes, organises and executes activities and initiatives in the area of Education, Health, Skill Development, Environment and Service to Mankind.
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 7,500 kms across 11 states of India, touching more than 10 million lives.
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 transation 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, including Google and Yahoo in the US, respected business and technical education institutes like the Indian Institute of Managements in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai, and Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, to name a few.
Sri M is also the Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, a Central University and on the Faculty of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
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.