Truth · Love · Compassion
Vinobaniketan is a non-governmental organization inspired by the ideals of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. Guided by the principles of Truth, Love, and Compassion, we work for education, empowerment, community development, and sustainable living in rural and urban areas of Kerala.
A rare atmosphere of meditation — a place congenial for retreats. Far from the madding crowd, deep in the vernal woods of the Chooliyamala Reserve Forests in the declared Tribal belt of Thiruvananthapuram, Vinobaniketan upholds human values above party politics.
For over seventy one eventful years Vinobaniketan, a Gandhi-Vinoba registered charitable women's institution, has been dedicated to silent selfless service to the suffering humanity, especially the weaker sections of society.
Founded: 1954
Location: Aryanadu, Trivandrum
Focus: Women & Community Development
Contact: vinobaniketan@gmail.com
Inspired by direct contacts with great saints, influenced by philosophers and patriots and guided by their literature, the Founder took initiative to shape the ashram accepting Acharya Vinoba Bhave as her spiritual Master. A pious and devoted family of Sanskrit scholars, educationists and social workers provided her with an atmosphere of Gurukula, an educational home as in ancient days, where his father’s students studied Ayurveda and Sanskrit and lived together.
As an infant, she was blessed by Sree Narayana Guru and at the age of seven by Mahatma Gandhi and later by Swami Virajananda’s initiation at Belur Sri Ramakrishna Matt. Her Childhood days near a Mosque amidst Muslim neighbors and her earlier education in Catholic Convents and her mother’s worship of Lord Gopala Krishna prepared her for a noble future mission she was to undertake. Having been in the students Congress during the Independence Movement she joined Mahathma Gandhi’s Ashram at Sevagram in 1948, throwing off a promising career in law. Guided by Vinoba, she worked for Sarvodaya movement in different parts of India as his first chosen peace – soldier and followed him, in his walking tours in his Land- Gift- Movement. Vinoba made her instrumental in organizing, founding and leading Brahma Vidya Mandir at Paunar in its initial stage. The Mandir is meant to generate enlightened women’s power from where Brahmacharins would emerge out as Sanyasins to lead the future generations to the path of Non- violence. Vinobaniketan was founded on Vinoba’s inspiration and with his blessings, long back before he founded other ashrams in four corners of India as four gates of Universal Moral renaissance.
Founder's Message
Let us exhort the world youth to be viswa manavas/universal men by launching an evolutionary campaign to stir up a non-violent spirited revolution to mobilize the frustrated youth throughout the world by awakening their soul force within the kindle rays of hope of a coming social change through sarvodaya ideals for universal moral renaissance, announcing the birth of the age of truth and non-violence—the era of eternal harmony.
Vinobaniketan's journey and work over the decades.
A rare atmosphere of meditation, place congenial for retreats, soliloquized an eminent Carmelite father on the eve of an All India inter religious camp at Vinobaniketan. Far from the madding crowd, deep in the vernal woods of the Ashram Hut Chooliyamala Reserve Forests in the declared Tribal belt of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, upholding human values above party politics, Vinobaniketan, a Gandhi Vinoba registered charitable women’s institution, crusades on the path of Truth, Love and Compassion dedicated to silent selfless services to the suffering humanity, especially the weaker sections of the society, for over seventy-one eventful years.
Crusading on the path of Truth, Love, and Compassion for over seven decades.
Vinobaniketan is a Gandhi–Vinoba registered charitable women’s institution, dedicated to silent and selfless service to humanity, especially the weaker sections of society, for over 71 years.
Nestled in the Chooliyamala Reserve Forests, surrounded by evergreen hills, streams, and springs, the ashram provides a rare atmosphere of meditation and retreats.
Nearby landmarks include the elephant-head-shaped hill and the serene peak of Sage Agastya with the Ponmudi ranges of the Western Ghats.
Named after Acharya Vinoba Bhave — Gandhi’s spiritual heir — a sage of rare asceticism and intellect.
His call “Jai Jagat” (Universal Brotherhood) echoed during the epoch-making Bhoodan Yatra, inspiring Vinobaniketan’s mission.
Key details about Vinobaniketan NGO
Vinobaniketan, Vinobaniketan P.O, Aryanadu (Via)
Thiruvananthapuram (District), Kerala – 695542
0472 – 2892263
vinobaniketan@gmail.com
0472 – 2892263
Act: Charitable Societies Act XII of 1955
No & Date: 78, 16th July 1956
FCRA No: 05291059, 9-10-1985
SBI, Statue Main Branch, Trivandrum
Current A/c No: 44124013820 [IFSC - SBIN0000941] [PAN - AAATV9223E]
SBI, Delhi Main Branch, NewDelhi
Foreign A/c No: 40122357193 [IFSC - SBIN0000691] [SWIFT - SBININBB104]
Vinobaniketan Ashram, Tholicode Panchayat, Vellanad Block, Nedumangad Taluk, Trivandrum District, Kerala – 695542 (32 km from Trivandrum city, in the hilly tribal belt).
Kerala-wide, parts of India, and facilities for international students to study Indian Philosophy, Tradition, Heritage, Gandhian–Vinoba Social Service & Rural upliftment.
We focus on programs that create meaningful change in communities.
Supporting local communities through initiatives that improve quality of life.
Empowering women and children through education, skills, and protection.
Promoting literacy and lifelong learning for all age groups.
Providing access to health awareness, camps, and support services.
Encouraging sustainable practices and protecting our environment.
The setting-up of an ideal socio-economic, educational and cultural training -cum-research institute is an important programme of priorities.
We are confident of the genuine support and encouragement of peace loving friends and well wishers. We earnestly request all to join us as co-pilgrims in this spiritual mission with your participation in our holy endeavors. We look forward for your prompt and enthusiastic response to help us in the realization of our grand dream on the occasion of the Centenary of the founding of Vinobaniketan.
Our achievements so far have emboldened us to re-dedicate ourselves with greater sense of confidence during our Centenary Holistic Rural Development Activities and Agricultural innovations, awareness creation and leadership training to youth, students and teachers at school college and University levels to usher in an era of truth love and non-violence establishment of Gandhi-Vinoba study and research seats, expansion of Rural Institute, a seat of excellence to culminate into Vinoba Vishwa Vidya Peetham true to the dreams of Gandhi and Vinoba. A Jai Jagat City Centre to extend our services to the deserving areas of Thiruvananthapuram, to further awareness of Human values for social change as envisaged by Gandhi and Vinoba , opening of Vanaprasta Viharam, Hermitage for the aged, to mobilize manpower and endowment fund for future activities.
We the successors of AMMA is taking this mission forward with awe and dedication to capacitate her unfulfilled and half-done projects.
The ashram will always remained as a spiritual powerhouse sending out trained Social workers to different parts of the world as peace soldiers.
Round-the-clock availability with personalized attention and dedication to understand your unique challenges and objectives.
The main attention of Vinobaniketan is focused on the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society.
The leadership guiding Vinobaniketan
A rare atmosphere conducive to meditation, a place congenial for retreats.
Recognition of silent service.
Within a few years, this place shall become an abode of tranquility and refuge to the suffering.
This place is like Mussorie! Full of nature’s enchanting beauty!
The miniature seed sown by my sister is that of an oak tree which will sprout in due time. It will shoot up, spread out its thick canopy of leaves and branch out as a very big tree giving shade to the distressed. Many will take shelter under this tree.
Vinobaniketan’s desire to have an ‘Annakshetram’ is also fulfilled now.
I have not given feeding centers to a woman. But I have certainly given 25 centers to an institution, Vinobaniketan.
Vinobaniketan’s main functions would be to lead life according to the Sarvodaya philosophy and spread the ideals of Sarvodaya. It should be a Workers' Home as well as a centre for training.
Inspired by direct contacts with great saints, influenced by philosophers and patriots and guided by their literature, the Founder took initiative to shape the ashram accepting Acharya Vinoba Bhave as her spiritual Master.
We're here to discuss your vision and explore how we can bring it to life together.
