RAWA was founded by Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar in India in 1958 in order to restore art and literature to its true role as an instrument for social and spiritual awakening. Sarkar envisioned a new artistic and literary renaissance where artists and writers would unite and inspire society to move forward in a progressive and spiritual direction. Sarkar, composed 5018 songs and wrote several essays on t
he role of the artist and writer in society. His essay, “The Practice of Art and Literature”, has inspired artists and writers around the world to begin to reverse the tide of materialism and to create art and literature “for service and blessedness”. Art and literature has the capacity to awaken social consciousness and lead a person towards spiritual self-realization. However, in the present age art and literature has become a slave of both commercial and political interests.
“When artists, absorbed in the essence of love, try to convey it to the people through their language, rhetoric and subtle suggestions, the sweetness of their artistic genius reaches the apex of expression.” (‘The Practise of Art and Literature’ by Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar.)
