Dr. Shobha Raju

Dr Shobha Raju has been extremely fortunate to be associated with many spiritual masters like Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Dayananda, Swami Vidyaprakashananda and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba who reinforced her awakening towards spirituality. Her music has therapeutic value and healing messages that cross the boundaries of nations and cultures. Sister Shobha is a writer, poet, inspiring speaker, and music composer. Sister Shobha Raju’s performances are prayers, to the martyrs of war - Prarthana, prayers for world peace after bomb blasts - Shanthi Sankeertana, prayers for healing the sick - Sankeertanaushadham, prayers for the depressed - Upashamana Sankeertana, Prayers on the streets for the welfare of the city - Mahanagara Sankeertana and she has trained over 20,000 students not only in music but also in human values. Annamacharya Bhavana Vahini ABV, is the brain child of Dr Shobha Raju. It is being shaped up as a music university, offering courses in music combined with yoga, meditation, naturopathy, philosophy and Sanskrit. The university focusses on human values, and offers value based training to the students so that saint singers can be trained who in turn will render services through music for the peace and harmony of the world. She is responsible for the release of postal stamp of Saint Annamayya in 2004. She conducts many music competitions to encourage music talent in youth. She directed a tele serial titled Sri Annamayya, for which she contributed, story, script, screen play, dialogues, and music. She is the recipient of many awards including the prestigious Padmashrsee the highest civilian award of India in 2010. She was presented the “Soul of Annamayya “ award by the North American Telugu Association. She serves as a member on many cultural committees including the Indian council of cultural relations, govt of India.

Poorna Malavath