Uncle Ji (Cyril Raphael) - SBMA

Cyril R. Raphael was born in Allahabad on the 12th of November, 1939. He has four brothers and three sisters, making him the seventh son of a seventh son. His Father, Stephen Charles, was a medical doctor and his mother, Beryl Rose, a housewife with a sensitive skill as a pianist and poetess. Cyril studied management in London during the early sixties, and worked with British Overseas Airways Corp. (now British Air) in operations planning. It was during this period when he travelled to most of the 48 countries he has experienced. He then moved to Canada in 1966, and private enterprise, the film industry and electronic media became major preoccupations for him. He returned to live permanently in India in 1976, which he had visited every 2-3 years.

Within a week of his return to India and under quite magical circumstances, Cyril met Swami Manmathan ji. A friendship and a special bonding cemented an association for the mission and movement known as Shri Bhuvneshwari Mahila Ashram (SBMA).

Cyrilji, lovingly addressed as Uncleji, resides and works on the SBMA Anjanisain campus. He has lived for many years with the young boys of the boys hostel and enjoys looking after the chickens and cows. Cyril ji is the current Secretary of SBMA.

Stories about the people who have blossomed with the ashram and the events that have occurred here are the best way to understand the history of SBMA and its interaction with the local communities. The folks who have lived and are living here come from all over Uttaranchal,l over India, and even from distant parts of the world. They have all contributed to creating the environment wrought with possibilities that is SBMA.

From the stories of the kids who have grown up here to those who run the place, and some of those little anecdotes one tells around the 'chula', cooking fire, at night, we've tried to give a small taste of life here at the ashram.