Pune,India declares AA awareness on Aug. 11, 2012 at Ganesh Kala Krida Kendra complex

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Submitted by JR Harris on Tue, 08/07/2012 - 18:48

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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has definitely set its eyes on converting the population of India to the AA faith system. Starting with a media blitz on the TV series Satyamev Jayate (covered in "Mumbai India embraces the TV Drama series Satyamev Jayate and causes AA prospects to flood the AA infrastructure - July 2012" http://orange-papers.org/forum/node/1859) which flooded the AA call centers of the area with telephone calls for more information. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Missionaries from all over the world are converging on India from all parts of the world to help in the conversion process, even Australia (See "AA Missionaries" http://orange-papers.org/forum/node/1326).

The Ganesh Kala Krida Kendra complex is the largest enclosed area in Pune, India capable of hold an estimated 45,000 people and is the focal point of the indoctrination. Pune, India is also the location of many major commercial call centers in India and the help of indoctrinates most likely will be heavily solicited for "service work" in AA to convert locals to the AA faith. Expect major conversions to the AA Spiritual, not Religious faith of Alcoholics World Services, Inc located at the Interchurch Center in New York.

Alcoholics Anonymous awareness on August 11

TNN | Aug 8, 2012, 04.26AM IST

PUNE: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a worldwide network working to help alcoholics achieve sobriety, has organized a public awareness meeting in the city on August 11 at the Ganesh Kala Krida Kendra.

Ashish Deshpande, an eminent medical practitioner and trustee of AA, who had participated in Aamir Khan's television show, Satyamev Jayate, will be the chief speaker here. The meeting will have him speaking on alcoholism as a disease and how AA is helpful in overcoming it.

The organization helps in keeping addicts away from alcohol and giving them a new lease of life.

AA's members, Anup K, Nandu K and Vasant M, said in a press conference that AA offices all over the country received more than one lakh phone calls for help after Satyamev Jayate was aired about a month back. They said that AA's role in keeping addicts away from alcohol and giving them a new lease of life was thoroughly discussed in the TV show.They added that

AA has been working all over the world for the past 77 years and has set base in 200 countries. It was set up in Pune in 1974 and more than 20 member groups are currently working in the city under AA.

"The willingness of an alcoholic to stay away from the addiction is the only qualification to join this group," said Anup, adding that the Saturday meeting is open to all those who want to know about alcoholism.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Alcoholics-Anonymous-awaren...

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Fri, 08/10/2012 - 16:53

On Saturday Aug 11 2012, City Anchor Garima Mishra announces that the Western based cult of Bill Wilson chanting has shown a 33% increase in participation since being portrayed on Satyamev Jayate. The worship, rituals and ceremonies to Bill Wilson are brought to you courtesy of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (AAWS) located at the Interchurch Center on 475 Riverside Drive in New York. Boasting a total of 22 chanting groups in Pune that originally had only 25-30 worshipers to Bill Wilson, because of advertizing this has increased to 30-35 per worship ceremony and claims of 1,500 worshipers city wide. Female participation is however still at a low of only 5 members and 13th Stepping such as done by the adulterous co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson based out of the Spiritualist Stepping Stones compound in Bedford Hills, New York with his Mistress Helen Wynn in Pleasantville does not appear to be a problem at this time.

city anchor: Alcoholics Anonymous on a high after show on Satyamev Jayate

Garima Mishra : Sat Aug 11 2012, 01:32 hrs

After being featured on Aamir Khan's show Satyameva Jayate, city-based Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has witnessed an increase in the number of people attending its group meetings.

The organisation has 22 active groups in the city. "On an average, every group used to have 25-30 members attending the meetings. After our organisation was discussed on Satyameva Jayate, the number has suddenly increased. Now the average attendance is 35 to 40," says Nandkumar, manager at AA, Pune office.

He added that even the number of queries and SMSes on the helpline number of Pune branch -— 9049457757 — has increased manifold. The day the show was aired, Pune office received 15,000 SMSes and 12,000 enquiry calls. "Even now, we have around 10 people visiting our Tilak Road office almost everyday. Besides, there are around 20-25 calls enquiring about AA and its activities," says the member.

AA is a fellowship of alcoholics, including men and women, where members share their experiences, their fight against alcoholism and their strengths. Open to one and all, minus any membership charges, AAs not only aims to discuss their common problems but also help others get rid and recover from alcoholism. There are over 1,500 people associated with AA in Pune. The group will hold an awareness camp at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on Saturday.

Rahul G (41), an AA member, who quit alcohol around a decade ago, said the TV show has increased the reach of the group. "All of us are professionals, working in different fields. Satyamev Jayate has made us reach places and people where we couldn't personally and physically reach. Behind every alcoholic, there are 20 more sufferers, including the family, relatives and friends. Even if 2-3 new people in each group leave alcohol after joining us, it will be great," says Rahul, who was admitted to various rehabilitation centres at least 10 times before joining AA group.

The 22 groups are operational in areas such as Vitthalwadi, Padmavati, Nana Peth, Shukrawar Peth under different names like Prerna, Sankalp, Disha, Ishakrupa.

The number of members of the only female group in the city Women in Sobriety has remained the same - five members. "It is primarily because of the stigma associated with women taking to alcohol. No one would like to acknowledge that fact that his/her daughter or sister or wife or mother is addicted to alcohol. Three women visited us after the AA was featured on TV but they did not come for the second meeting," said Geeta, an AA member, who heads Women in Sobriety group in Pune and holds meetings every Sunday at Barco Hall, near Shivaji Market.

At the age of 21, Geeta took her first drink and soon, she reached a stage where she was emptying a full bottle of rum or whisky alone, at one go. "This kind of drinking went on for over a year and a half. I used to have blackouts, I would throw up and didn't remember small things like whether I had dinner the previous night or not. That's when I realised that there is something wrong with my pattern of drinking and I attended my first AA meeting in Delhi," recalls Geeta.

Today, despite the small number of women members, she invariably holds the meeting every Sunday.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/city-anchor-alcoholics-anonymous-on-a-...

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.