An Urban Oasis

Mitravan Holistic is a space created for like-minded people to come and delve into wisdom from various streams of thought

In the desertified spaces called cities, people are constantly seeking oases. Places that can quench their emotional and spiritual thirst, people where intellect can be combined with native wisdom and ancient promises to oneself can be kept. Some like to pray, some to meditate, some to muse and some others to discuss.

Mitravan Holistic is one such space. It is a small organisation in Sindhi Colony in Hyderabad that provides a space, a platform for people of various faiths and philosophies, methods and approaches to come and meet each other and do things together.

Started by Padmini and Bomi H Patell in October 2014, Mitravan is now housed in a building built in the space where Bomi’s parents Homi and Banu Patell spent decades in a home known for its charity, hospitality, music, dance and human celebration.

“It seemed appropriate that we should have another vibrant cultural and spiritual centre, where such people of substance lived,” explains Padmini Patell. Mitravan was born as a simple platform that facilitates well-being through sharing, caring and interaction.

“I was inspired by the story of Samba, the son of Sri Krishna and Jambavati, who fell into a miserable state because of his arrogance and was redeemed by Sun God. Samba built Mitravan to pay tribute to the life-giver Surya Bhagwan. Our philosophy is to promote holistic well-being. Hence Mitravan Holistic,” Padmini explains the story behind this inspired place.

Mitravan works to achieve the objectives of developing human intellect through universal wisdom, building understanding using through talks and meditation, a revival of Vedic tradition and study, healing through alternative means, promotion of art and holding workshops for change.

The day at Mitravan begins with a Yoga class in the sunny hall with Yoga teacher Raja Gopal guiding students. A full-time practitioner of Yoga, Raja Gopal believes in finding a cure for ailments that debilitate human beings and make them hopeless and dejected.

“Yoga is not just some exercise. I take the time to address individual health disturbances. And find a treatment for each individual,” Raja Gopal says. He monitors each of the people doing Yoga and recommends a regimen for them.

“Sinusitis, Thyroid, Asthma, Cervical Spondylosis, Arthritis…these are all afflictions that can be controlled by Yoga. I have even patients of the stroke coming to me.” Mitravan is a space that combines health of the physical variety with that of the mind and soul, he asserts.

The activities that Mitravan has been conducting indicate the sheer range of issues they address as part of their discourse. They work with various organisations and anyone who has some wisdom to share is welcome to use the space.

Mudras for health, basic CPR, Bala Vihar by Chinmaya Mission, Slokas for kids, Storytelling sessions, Yoga and Yoga therapy, Karma Kitchen, Full Moon meditation, Punarnava, an exhibition of new uses for traditional artefacts and many such novel programmes help Mitravan do a holistic engagement for human existence.

But is there an emphasis on religion? “I guess only to the extent that we take all faiths aboard,” says Padmini. “Though we don’t call them by names, we are trying to address the five Koshas, for food, breathing, positive thinking, connect to the world and then finally, a connection to the Almighty.

The last one is a matter of choice for anyone who comes to us. In fact, our very first session was on Gandhi Jayanti. We have Arya Samaj Havans, the Zoroastrian fire worship and the Damodara Puja of the ISKCON.”

A disciple of spiritual Guru Acharya Vinay Vinekar, Padmini has carefully crafted a platform where the Arya Samaj and the ISKCON, the Parsi community and the follower of Aurobindo, the Buddhist and the Hindu worship find equal and inclusive space. Acharya Vinekar’s SEVAK, Society for Establishment of Vasudha as a Kutumb, is the inspiration for her.

Life has to be addressed at so many levels, some practical and some spiritual, for a human being to have a meaningful and substantial existence. “We had parenting workshops with tips for parents to handle the new generation kids.

And Clinical First Aid training even for kids. Recently, there were news reports about a child choking to death in a school. Often, the school is not able to summon help or call the parents in time. People just need to be prepared. In fact, there was a teacher who came to us who was Epileptic.

Wouldn’t we like to have someone at hand, who is aware of what exactly to do in an emergency! Our CPR and First Aid sessions are that is why immensely successful.”

And then there is counselling for parents and youngsters on career issues with Mitravan holding a well-designed Aptitude test followed by professional psychological counselling. This counselling, taken in time, can prevent a youngster from slipping into depression, which often leaves unhealed scars for life.

Nidhi Sharma, an associate for Mitravan, also reaches out to people in unique ways. A post graduate in Botany and a qualified Vedic Astrologer, Nidhi teaches courses that help women go beyond daily life and find connotation and interpretation. She explains the science behind motifs and cultural symbols, on colours and gems and takes sessions for housewives on colours in the kitchen and what they denote.

“Many years ago, when I visited Sri Lanka, I saw that they give a lot of importance to Full Moon day. I have come to realise the auspiciousness of that day and have been promoting Full Moon Day meditation.

It is nothing religious but for people to come and sit together in silence and journey inwards. It’s not only a spiritual exercise but also a major stress-buster and an opportunity for a person to find his/her own self,” Padmini says.

Making a human out of a man, promoting a 360-degree experience of life, Mitravan Holistic is not just an organisation but a vibrant process, a concept such as a flowing river. People are welcomed to join in, share, learn and seek kinship in strangers.

Health and peace, happiness and fulfilment - these are the end goals of the many activities that Mitravan takes up. It is a platform where one can take and give. It is a place where one can savour and express. In the new urban milieu that is wrought with stress and confusion of identities, organisations like Mitravan serve as oases of wisdom and care.

By: Usha Turaga-Revelli