Anand Krishna (September 1, 1956 - February 6, 2025) was an Indonesian spiritual humanist of ethnic Indian origin and Sindhi descent, who lives in Ubud, Bali. A prolific author and promoter of inter-faith harmony, he was accused of blasphemy by militant Muslim groups after he criticized Islamic conservatives seeking to transform Indonesia into an Islamic state.[1][2]
He has founded numerous humanitarian initiatives and spiritual establishments, such as the Anand Ashram Foundation and Anand Krishna Centres since 15 December 2006, as well as a Center for Wellbeing and Self-Empowerment in 1991.[3] He promotes a concept of love being the only solution to resolving global problems.[4]
Early life, education, and business career
Anand Krishna was born Khrisna Kumar Tolaram Gangtani in Solo, Central Java, on 1 September 1956. He was educated in Lucknow, North India, where he met his first spiritual mentor, Sheikh Baba, who was an ice vendor. Anand had already learned Sufi poetry and the teachings of Shah Abdul Latief of Sindh, from his father, Tolaram.
Anand's biodata in several of his books states that he earned his master's degree from "a reputable university".[5] However, Indonesian media reports note that he received his master's degree from Pacific Southern University, a blacklisted and unaccredited university.[6][7][8][9]
In 1999, Anand received a Cultural Doctorate in Sacred Philosophy from the now-defunct The World University in Benson, Arizona. In 2012, he received a Ph.D. in Comparative Religions from the University of Sedona.
According to his biodata, Anand was the director and shareholder of a garment factory in Indonesia when he suffered leukemia in 1991 at age 35. He reportedly recovered after meetings with a Tibetan lama in the Himalayas and thereafter decided to devote his life to healing, peace, love and joy.[10]
Spiritualism career
Anand shared his personal experiences on the basis of "Be Joyful and Share your Joy to Others".[4]
One Earth Meditation Retreat Centre, Ciawi, IndonesiaAshram Centre, Kuta, Bali
He has promoted his teachings through print and electronic media, training seminars, as well as meetings and workshops held at the syncretisticneo-Hindu "Anand Ashram: Center for Holistic Health and Meditation",[11] One Earth Retreat Center in Ciawi, Anand Krishna Center and Ashram@Ubud, and at four meditation centers in Jakarta, Bogor, Yogyakarta and Bali. His ashram foundation is (affiliated to the United Nations Department of Public Information).[12]
Anand Ashram at Sunter - Jakarta, Indonesia Centre for Wellbeing and Self-Empowerment
He has written columns for Indonesian media publications and also appeared on Indonesian television and radio shows in Bali. In Jakarta, he was the subject of a 13-episode television serial called Building Indonesia Anew with Anand Krishna, broadcast on Q Channel (now BeritaSatu) and Swara networks. A follow-up series was made, called Building The World Anew with Anand Krishna. Guests on the shows included fourth Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid; senior police detective Mangku Pastika; the Sultan of Yogyakarta; an Australian ambassador to Indonesia; as well as various politicians and celebrities.
Anand has authored 170 books over 18 years with more than half a million copies sold in Indonesia.[citation needed] He has also promoted meditation across the Indonesian archipelago. One of his three books in English, Voice of Indonesia was discussed on a University of California campus radio show.
In 1997, he was made Reverend Minister by the Universal Life Church. In 2010, he was named Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation. In 2011, he joined the International Metaphysical Ministry.
Humanitarian initiatives
Anand has promoted several movements and Centers for Self Development, among others:
International Bali Meditators’ Festival (IBMF) [13]
Forum for Revival of Human Spirit – which has given free Self Development Programs to more than 25,000 teachers within last 5 years.
Anand Krishna Centres in many major cities, and L’Ayurveda Healing Centers in Jakarta and Bali.[14]
AK Global Co-Operation, a national co-operative society with branches in several cities.
The National Integration Movement, with almost 30 branches all over Indonesia and overseas representation, including one in the Middle East [15]
Sexual harassment conviction and blasphemy accusations
Anand's promotion of inter-faith harmony and his stance as a Universalist resulted in criticism from Islamic radicals.[22][23] In 2000, his books were deemed heretical and recalled from Indonesian bookstores.[24]
In 2010, some of his former students accused him of sexual harassment. The main accuser's lawyer, Agung Mattauch, stated: "Harassment is just an entry point for a more serious problem, religious blasphemy".[25]
He was tried at South Jakarta District Court, which acquitted him in November 2011. The Supreme Court overturned the verdict in August 2012 and gave him a two-and-a-half-year jail term for sexually harassing three of his students.[26] He was arrested at his residence in Ubud in February 2013 and sent to Cipinang jail in East Jakarta to serve his sentence. The Supreme Court in January 2014 announced it had rejected his request for a judicial review.[27]
Professor Julia D. Howell of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies at Western Sydney University noted that since the Indonesian Council of Ulama had pronounced a series of fatwa against pluralism and liberalism in religion in 2005, religious pluralists such as Anand had been criticized in the Indonesian mass media.[28]
In January 2018, Jonaedi Efendi released a book, Reconstructing the Foundation of Justice's Considerations based on Principles of Laws and Social Justice Observed and Lived in Society (Rekonstruksi Dasar Pertimbangan Hakim Berdasarkan Nilai-Nilai Hukum dan Rasa Keadilan yang Hidup dalam Masyarakat), which viewed the Supreme Court's conviction of Anand as "misguided justice".[29][30]
International speaking career
Conference on Sufi Movements in Contemporary Islam
After attending the 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference on "Climate Change: How It Impacts Us All" in September 2007, Anand Krisha was invited to present his paper on Sufi Solutions to World’s Problems at a conference held by the National University of Singapore and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, over 4-5 August 2008[31]
Anand spoke at Earth Dialogues on Water Planet (Dialogos da Terra no Planeta Aqua) hosted by the government of Minas Gerais and Green Cross International in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on 26–28 November 2008.[33] Anand presented his paper on Water of Life, Wisdom of the Ancient – In Pursuit of the Indigenous Wisdom of Sundaland and South America to Save Our Planet. His paper was published as a book with the same title in 2009.[34]
Anand Krishna of Indonesia addresses the Parliament of World's Religions in December 2009, Melbourne, Australia
Ambassador of Parliament of the World’s Religions
Anand addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia, at a forum held over 3-9 December 2009.[35] His speech was titled "Addressing Religious Radicalism in Indonesia: Appreciating and Cultivating Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) and Pancasila (Indonesia’s Preambule)". He was appointed Ambassador of the Parliament of the World’s Religions Council in September 2009.
Anand Krishna, "From Bali to Belo Horizonte – In Pursuit of the Indigenous Wisdom of Sundaland and South America to Save Our Planet" (AK Global Co-Operation) 2009 ISBN978-979-16787-7-3
↑ Howell, Julia D. (2013) Pluralist currents and counter-currents in the Indonesian mass media: The Case of Anand Krishna, In Chiara Formichi (Ed), Religious Pluralism, State and Society in Asia (pp 216-235). United Kingdom: Routledge Publisher.
↑ Dr. Jonaedi Efendi, S.H.I., M.H., (2018) Kasus Anand Krishna, Rekonstruksi Dasar Pertimbangan Hakim. Prenada Media Grup.
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