For over a decade, Agus Indra Udayana has been actively engaged in promoting Gandhian values in Indonesia through his four ashrams in Bali and Lombok – based on the principles of nonviolence, truth and humanitarianism.
He has constantly participated in various national and international forums on nurturing democracy, religious harmony through inter-faith dialogue, education and promoting Gandhian values.
Agus Indra Udayana is disseminating Gandhian ideologies, particularly those relevant to the prevailing social concerns, through seminars, workshops, competitions, camps, interfaith dialogue and prayers. He has also translated Gandhian writings into the Indonesian language. Prompted by a serious concern for the spiritual, cultural, social and economic life in Bali, the Ashram Gandhi Puri was instituted to promote enduring interfaith and dialogue to create cultures of peace, justice and healing.
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Under the leadership of Agus Indra Udayana, the four Ashrams facilitate accommodation and overall developmental support to the economically poor students.
Each student is required to attend regular activities of the Ashram such as morning and evening prayers, reflection as well as human resource development through Yoga classes, cleaning the surroundings, daily discussions on Gandhian philosophy, Maha Shanti Puja program and more.
They are also required to be involved in the youth environment, social, culture, as well as peace and interfaith movements.
The local people have benefited a great deal from the services and teachings of the Ashram in the areas of brotherhood, self-reliance, environment, etc.
Agus Indra Udayana has been a steadfast friend of India and actively assisting in the promotion of Indian art and culture in Indonesia. He has also been promoting Balinese art and culture in India with the assistance of Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
He has been coordinating, along with officials from the Provincial Government of Bali, to establish a Bali Dwipa Pura Cultural Centre in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Agus Indra Udayana maintains close contacts with the prominent Gandhian scholars in India, as also with Gandhi Smriti and Gandhi Smiti, New Delhi; Sarvodaya International Trust, Bangalore; and Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi among others.
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He regularly participates in social work activities in India, Indonesia and other parts of the world working in close coordination with the NGOs promoting Gandhian values and Hinduism. International students from Universities in America visit Gandhi Puri Ashram in Bali for learning about the activities of the Ashram under Gandhi Vichaar Studies and for interacting with the Balinese youth working and promoting Gandhian values and ideals. The students from various Indonesian universities also visit the Ashrams for research/doctoral projects.
Awards and Honours:
Agus Indra Udayana has been conferred the Pemuda Pariwisata Harapan Award, in 1999 for his contribution towards promoting tourism and culture through youth.Earlier, in 1990, Remaja Dewata Award was presented in the field of promoting art and culture.
He is the recipient of the Jamnalal Bajaj International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India – 2011.
Contact details Augus Indra Udayana Ashram Gandhi Puri Jl. Gandapura No. 22 Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Phone: +62 361 461997 Mob: +61 818343646
Email: indra.udayana@yahoo.com
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