Sri M Biography: Yogi, Spiritual Guide, Founder of The Satsang Foundation, and Author of Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master

Explore the extraordinary life, mystic awakening as Mumtaz Ali, three-and-a-half-year apprenticeship under Maheshwarnath Babaji in the Himalayas, the historic 7,500 km Walk of Hope, founding of The Satsang Foundation, Padma Bhushan honor, and enduring legacy of Sri M.

Introduction

In the vibrant landscape of modern spiritual India, where religious boundaries often define individual identity, a remarkable yogi emerged whose life story effortlessly transcends all rigid divisions of creed, dogma, and tradition. Born into a devout Muslim family in South India, he was called by an inner voice to the snow-bound peaks of the Himalayas at age nineteen. There, in a secluded cave near Badrinath, he met his master, underwent intense yogic transformation, and returned to society not as a recluse, but as an accessible householder, author, social reformer, and global ambassador of peace.

That master is Sri M (born Mumtaz Ali Khan).

Revered across the globe as a realized yogi, philosopher, and social visionary, Sri M is best known for his 2010 bestselling autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: An Autobiography of a Yogi. As the disciple of Maheshwarnath Babaji (of the ancient Nath and Himalayan lineage), Sri M founded The Satsang Foundation, establishing free schools for underprivileged children, healthcare centers, alternative education institutions, and the Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra. In 2015–2016, he led the historic Walk of Hope (Aasha Yatra), walking 7,500 kilometers on foot from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to unite people across religious, social, and political spectrums. Recognized with the Padma Bhushan in 2020, Sri M embodies the timeless Vedic truth: Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti ("Truth is One, the Wise Call It by Many Names").

This is the comprehensive story of Sri M — tracing his early mystic awakening in Trivandrum, his Himalayan odyssey, his teachings on the Upanishads and Kriya Yoga, his social initiatives, and his immortal living legacy.

Quick Information Table

Field	Details
Full Name	Sri M (born Mumtaz Ali Khan)
Born	November 6, 1948
Known As	Sri M, Mumtaz Ali, Author of Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master, Leader of the Walk of Hope, Founder of The Satsang Foundation
Birthplace	Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala, India
Primary Guru	Maheshwarnath Babaji (disciple of Sri Guru Babaji / Mahavatar Babaji)
Spiritual Lineage	Nath Tradition / Himalayan Kriya Yoga Lineage
Primary Institutions Founded	The Satsang Foundation (Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh), Peepal Grove School, Satsang Vidyalaya, Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra
Major National Peace Initiative	The Walk of Hope / Aasha Yatra (2015–2016: 7,500 km foot march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir)
Major Honors & Awards	Padma Bhushan (2020 by Govt of India for Social Work / Spiritualism)
Major Literary Masterworks	Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master (2010), The Journey Continues (2017), Wisdom of the Rishis, The Upanishads: Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Jewel in the Lotus
Nationality / Region	Indian
Profession / Role	Yogi, Spiritual Teacher, Author, Social Reformer, Founder

Early Life and Mystic Awakening in Trivandrum

Sri M was born Mumtaz Ali Khan on November 6, 1948, into a prosperous, educated Muslim family in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala. His father was a government executive, and his household maintained traditional religious observance alongside a liberal, open-minded outlook.

From early childhood, young Mumtaz exhibited an innate spiritual sensitivity. The decisive turning point of his young life occurred when he was just nine years old. Playing in the backyard of his family home under a jackfruit tree, he encountered a tall, radiant yogi with long hair and luminous eyes. The yogi touched young Mumtaz on the forehead and asked in Hindi: "Do you remember anything?"

Confused, the young boy shook his head. The yogi gently replied: "You will understand when the time comes," before disappearing into the surrounding foliage.

Unbeknownst to the young boy at the time, that stranger was Maheshwarnath Babaji, a master of the Himalayan Nath tradition who had come to plant the seed of awakening in his chosen disciple. From that moment on, young Mumtaz developed a spontaneous, irresistible urge to read spiritual scriptures — devouring the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Sufi poetry, the Bible, and lives of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda.

The Himalayan Journey and Discipleship Under Maheshwarnath Babaji

By the age of nineteen, the inner pull toward full spiritual realization became overwhelming. Leaving a note for his family, young Mumtaz boarded a train heading north to the Himalayas, determined to find a true guru.

For months, he wandered through holy towns — Haridwar, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Devprayag, and Badrinath — visiting ashrams, cave-dwelling hermits, and monastic centers. Disillusioned by commercialized religious centers, he continued walking deeper into the high Himalayan altitudes, reaching the ancient Vyasa Cave (Vyasa Gufa) in Mana, near the Indo-Tibetan border.

Exhausted, freezing, and on the verge of collapsing into the icy Alaknanda River, he entered a cave where a tall yogi was sitting in deep meditation beside a small dhuni (sacred fire). As the yogi opened his eyes, Mumtaz recognized the divine figure who had touched his forehead under the jackfruit tree ten years earlier.

Falling at his feet, Mumtaz declared: "I have found you!"

The master, Maheshwarnath Babaji, welcomed him warmly, addressing him affectionately as "Madhu" (short for Madhukar, a former monastic name). For the next three and a half years, Mumtaz lived as a wandering student alongside Babaji in the Himalayas, enduring extreme weather, fasting, and living in remote caves. Under Babaji's direct supervision, he underwent rigorous instruction in:

• Kriya Yoga and Kundalini Sadhana: Mastering internal energy control, breath retention, and chakra stimulation.
• The Upanishads and Brahma Sutras: Direct experiential realization of non-dual Vedantic philosophy (Advaita).
• Agamas, Sufism, and Comparative Mysticism: Understanding the underlying unity connecting Vedantic, Tantric, Sufi, and Christian mystical traditions.

Return to the World and Family Life

After three and a half years of intense spiritual transformation in the Himalayas, Maheshwarnath Babaji gave Sri M a surprising command: rather than remaining a secluded cave monk, he was instructed to return to ordinary society, marry, raise a family, and live as a householder (Grihastha). Babaji explained:

"Go back to the plains. Live like a normal human being. Experience the trials, joys, and responsibilities of family life. Only a yogi who knows the struggles of the ordinary householder can truly help society."

Obeying his guru’s command, Sri M returned to South India. He worked in various capacities, including journalism, editing, and educational administration at the Krishnamurti Foundation India (KFI) in Rajghat, Varanasi, and Rishi Valley. He married Sunanda, a devout Brahmin homemaker and scholar, and together they raised two children.

Throughout these decades, Sri M maintained a quiet, hidden daily sadhana while offering spiritual guidance to a small circle of close friends and seekers.

The Bestselling Autobiography and Global Impact

In 2010, at the instruction of his master, Sri M published his extraordinary autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: An Autobiography of a Yogi.

The book created a sensation across global spiritual and literary circles. Written with remarkable candor, intellectual clarity, and total absence of ego, the book detailed his childhood encounters, his journey to Badrinath, his miraculous experiences with Maheshwarnath Babaji and Sri Guru Babaji (Mahavatar Babaji), and the profound philosophy of the Nath yogis.

The autobiography became an instant international bestseller, translated into dozens of languages, and drew thousands of earnest seekers to Sri M for authentic spiritual guidance. He followed this success with a sequel, The Journey Continues (2017), alongside authoritative commentaries on the Katha, Prashna, and Mundaka Upanishads.

The Satsang Foundation and Educational Initiatives

Sri M founded The Satsang Foundation as a non-profit public charitable trust headquartered in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh. The foundation's mission is to offer spiritual education, healthcare, and humanitarian service without distinction of caste, religion, gender, or nationality.

Major institutions established by Sri M under the foundation include:

• Satsang Vidyalaya (Madanapalle): A completely free, high-quality primary and secondary school providing free education, uniforms, books, and daily nutritious meals to children from marginalized rural families.
• The Peepal Grove School: An alternative co-educational residential school accredited by the ICSE board, focusing on holistic development, environmental consciousness, and Indian heritage.
• Sree Ramakrishna Health Centre & Swasthya Kendra: Providing free and subsidized medical care, Ayurvedic therapies, and community health services to rural populations.
• Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra: A premier yoga training institute offering certified teacher training courses, residential retreats, and deep immersions into classical Yoga and Pranayama.

The Walk of Hope (2015–2016): A 7,500 km March for Peace

On January 12, 2015 (the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda), Sri M launched one of the most extraordinary peace initiatives in modern history: the Walk of Hope (Aasha Yatra).

Accompanied by a core group of 70 permanent walkers and joined by hundreds of thousands of citizens, community leaders, and spiritual figures along the way, Sri M walked 7,500 kilometers entirely on foot from Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India to Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir.

Key highlights of the 15-month journey:

• Traversed 11 Indian states over 500 days, walking 20 to 30 kilometers every single day.
• Addressed over 10 million people in thousands of public gatherings, villages, temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras.
• Promoted a simple, powerful message: Interfaith harmony, peace, sustainable living, women's empowerment, and the oneness of humanity.
• Completed the march successfully in Srinagar, Kashmir, in April 2016, setting an unprecedented modern benchmark for peaceful social unity.

National Recognition: The Padma Bhushan (2020)

In January 2020, the Government of India conferred upon Sri M the Padma Bhushan — India's third-highest civilian honor — in recognition of his distinguished service in the fields of social work, education, interfaith harmony, and spiritual literature.

Legends and Miracles — Handled with Care

In his writings, Sri M candidly describes extraordinary mystical experiences in the Himalayas, including encounters with his grand-guru Sri Guru Babaji (Mahavatar Babaji), subtle astral transmissions, and deep energetic transformations. However, Sri M repeatedly cautions seekers against becoming obsessed with miraculous phenomena or supernatural powers (Siddhis).

Historical and academic note: Modern religious scholars and cultural commentators view Sri M as an authentic contemporary exemplar of the ancient Nath Yogic and Vedantic traditions who successfully translates esoteric Himalayan wisdom into practical, compassionate social service for the 21st century.

Interesting Facts About Sri M

• Born Mumtaz Ali Khan in a devout Muslim family in Trivandrum, Kerala.
• Had his first spiritual initiation at age 9 under a jackfruit tree when Maheshwarnath Babaji touched his forehead.
• Ran away from home to Badrinath at age 19 and met his guru in the Vyasa Cave near the Indo-Tibetan border.
• Lived as an ascetic student with Babaji for 3.5 years, mastering Kriya Yoga, Upanishads, and Tantric sadhana.
• Instructed by his guru to live as an ordinary householder, marry, and work in the world before teaching.
• Walked 7,500 km on foot from Kanyakumari to Kashmir over 15 months (2015–2016) to promote peace and harmony.
• Honored with the Padma Bhushan by the President of India in 2020.
• Established Satsang Vidyalaya, offering free education and food to rural, underprivileged children in Andhra Pradesh.
• Authored Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master, which sold hundreds of thousands of copies globally.
• Teaches that true spirituality transcends religious labels, pointing to the underlying oneness of all creation.

Chronological Timeline

• November 6, 1948: Born as Mumtaz Ali Khan in Trivandrum, Kerala.
• 1957: First encounter with Maheshwarnath Babaji under the jackfruit tree at age 9.
• 1967: Travels to the Himalayas at age 19; meets Babaji at Vyasa Cave near Badrinath.
• 1967–1971: Undergoes three and a half years of intense apprenticeship with Babaji in Himalayan caves.
• 1971–1990s: Returns to the plains; works in journalism, education, and administration; marries and raises a family.
• 1998: Founds The Satsang Foundation in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh.
• 2005: Establishes The Peepal Grove School.
• 2010: Publishes his bestselling autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master.
• January 12, 2015 – April 2016: Leads the historic 7,500 km Walk of Hope from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
• 2017: Publishes The Journey Continues.
• 2020: Awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India; establishes Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra.

Famous Quotes

"Truth is not the exclusive monopoly of any religion, philosophy, or book. Truth belongs to every soul that seeks it with sincerity."

"Real yoga is not just about twisting the body on a rubber mat; it is about bending the ego and expanding the heart in love."

"No matter what name you call God, when you look into the eyes of another human being, you are looking at the divine reflection."

Legacy

Sri M’s legacy is a shining beacon of harmony, wisdom, and selfless service. By bridging the ancient, esoteric traditions of Himalayan Kriya Yoga with modern social activism, free education, and interfaith dialogue, he has shown the world that spirituality is not an escape from reality, but a profound commitment to uplifting humanity.

Reader Learnings

• Spirituality Transcends Labels: External religious labels are minor details; the essence of spirituality is inner purity, compassion, and self-realization.
• Service is True Worship: Spiritual realization must express itself through practical kindness, feeding the hungry, and educating the underprivileged.
• The Power of Perseverance: Walking 7,500 kilometers for peace proves that dedicated, step-by-step action can break down the greatest walls of hatred and division.

Conclusion

Sri M stands immortal across modern spiritual history — the young boy from Trivandrum who found his master in a Himalayan cave and walked across India to unite human hearts. His life remains an eternal call to rise above fear, embrace oneness, and live in the light of truth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Sri M?

Sri M (born Mumtaz Ali Khan in 1948) is a realized yogi, author, social reformer, Padma Bhushan awardee, and the founder of The Satsang Foundation.

What is Sri M's famous book?

His 2010 autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: An Autobiography of a Yogi, detailing his childhood, Himalayan journey, and training under Maheshwarnath Babaji.

What was the Walk of Hope?

A 15-month, 7,500-kilometer foot march led by Sri M from Kanyakumari to Kashmir (2015–2016) to promote peace, interfaith harmony, and social unity.

Who was Sri M's guru?

Maheshwarnath Babaji, a master of the Nath and Himalayan Kriya Yoga tradition.

What institutions are run by The Satsang Foundation?

Satsang Vidyalaya (free rural school), The Peepal Grove School, Sree Ramakrishna Health Centre, Swasthya Kendra, and Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra.

References

• Sri M — Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: An Autobiography of a Yogi — Magenta Press.
• Sri M — The Journey Continues — Magenta Press.
• The Satsang Foundation — Official Archives & Educational Programs — satsang-foundation.org