In the gentle embrace of Goa’s early spring, against the serene and scholarly backdrop of the International Centre Goa, something deeply transformative unfolded.
For four immersive days, more than twenty-eight participants gathered for the Srjan Residential Retreat curated by Ruby Ahluwalia, Founder of Sanjeevani ... Life Beyond Cancer, ably assisted by Shivanjali Ahluwalia and Mouli Dutta.
What emerged was not merely a retreat. It was a living, breathing experience of renewal, reflection and re-creation—true to its name, Srjan, meaning “new beginning.”
Why Srjan Was Conceived
At its heart, Sanjeevani has always been about transformation. For years, the organization has worked tirelessly to support cancer patients and caregivers—emotionally, psychologically, and practically. Its conferences, community programs and skill-building initiatives have touched over 1.4 million lives.
Srjan was born from a realization that transformation must not remain confined to illness.
The need to pause, to introspect, to recalibrate one’s life is universal. Stress does not discriminate between the ill and the healthy. Emotional fatigue does not distinguish between caregivers and corporate leaders. A sense of disconnection—from self, from purpose, from joy—can creep into any life.
Srjan was therefore intentionally designed not just for cancer patients or caregivers, but for anyone who felt the need to re-energize, reflect, and transform. It welcomed individuals from diverse walks of life—professionals, homemakers, entrepreneurs, cancer warriors, caregivers and seekers—each carrying their own questions, their own silent battles, their own longing for clarity.
The retreat was a reminder that healing is not always about curing disease. Often, it is about rediscovering vitality.
The Setting: A Sanctuary for Renewal
The International Centre Goa, with its sprawling lawns, comfortable rooms and elegant architecture overlooking the Mandovi estuary, created an atmosphere of calm sophistication. The rooms were warm and welcoming. The staff was attentive yet unobtrusive. The lawns invited barefoot reflection. The lecture halls felt intimate yet expansive.
The hospitality added a layer of indulgence that complemented the intensity of the inner work. Sumptuous breakfasts, leisurely lunches and thoughtful refreshments punctuated each day. The rhythm of nourishment—intellectual, emotional and culinary—was beautifully balanced.
Yet what truly elevated the experience was not just the comfort of the physical space but the intentional design of every moment within it.
A Seamlessly Woven Tapestry of Transformation
Ruby Ahluwalia did not simply curate sessions; she orchestrated a journey. Each session flowed into the next like chapters in a carefully crafted novel. Themes of self-awareness led naturally into resilience. Conversations about vulnerability opened doors to courage.
Exercises in mindfulness prepared participants for deeper emotional excavation.
Despite the retreat being intensive—long hours, layered discussions, experiential exercises—the energy levels of participants were astonishing. There was no dragging of feet from one hall to another. Instead, there was eagerness. People hopped between sessions with anticipation. The corridors buzzed with animated conversations. Coffee breaks became mini-dialogues of discovery.
Expert faculty members brought diverse perspectives—yog, psychology, theatre, wellness, self-leadership, communication, sound baths and creative expression. Yet it was Ruby’s ability to thread these voices into a cohesive narrative that made Srjan feel less like a collection of workshops and more like a single transformative arc.
Participants were not passive listeners. They were co-creators.
The IndiAmrit Organic Infusions: Nourishment Between the Breakthroughs
An often-overlooked yet deeply appreciated element of the retreat was what awaited participants during the breaks: the soothing, revitalizing organic infusions by IndiAmrit.
Between intense sessions of introspection and expressive workshops, participants gathered around warm cups of thoughtfully crafted herbal blends. These were not merely beverages; they were mindful pauses in liquid form. Each infusion carried the subtle aroma of carefully selected organic ingredients—herbs, flowers and spices designed to refresh the body while calming the mind.
As conversations continued in clusters across the lawns and corridors, the IndiAmrit infusions became quiet companions to reflection. Some participants cradled their cups in silence, absorbing insights from the previous session. Others animatedly discussed breakthroughs, their cups punctuating moments of realization.
The choice of organic, wellness-oriented beverages aligned perfectly with the philosophy of Srjan. Just as the sessions aimed to detox limiting beliefs and nourish inner clarity, the infusions symbolized gentle physical rejuvenation. There was something poetic about sipping a warm herbal blend while processing emotional release or newfound clarity.
In many ways, these tea breaks were micro-retreats within the retreat—moments to breathe, hydrate, connect and integrate. The warmth of the cup mirrored the warmth of community. The natural ingredients echoed the authenticity encouraged in every session.
It was a small detail, perhaps, but one that reflected the meticulous care with which every aspect of Srajan had been curated.
The Theatre Workshop: Breaking the Final Barriers
Towards the end of the retreat came one of the most powerful moments—the theatre workshop.
What began as a seemingly light-hearted exercise evolved into a profound act of self-expression. Participants stepped into roles—some playful, some symbolic, some deeply personal. Barriers dissolved. Laughter mingled with tears. Hesitant voices found resonance. Quiet individuals discovered boldness.
In theatre, masks are worn. Yet paradoxically, it was through performance that many participants removed their real-life masks.
By the final act, there was a palpable shift in the room. Strangers had become companions. Individual stories had woven into a collective narrative. The applause that followed was not merely for performance—it was for courage.
A Culinary Journey Through Goa
Srjan was not confined to conference halls. It spilled out into Goa’s cultural soul.
Participants were taken on a carefully curated culinary journey through authentic Goan experiences. One evening unfolded by the river, where soft breezes carried conversations late into the night. There was an evening on the beach, where the rhythmic sound of waves seemed to synchronize with reflective silences and joyful camaderie. The final dinner set in an old portugese house, where celebration, fusion food and gratitude blended effortlessly.
Food became more than sustenance; it became communion. Shared tables dissolved hierarchies. Laughter grew louder. Bonds deepened.
These evenings allowed the day’s introspection to settle gently into joy.
The Social Media Echo: Voices of Transformation
The true measure of any retreat lies not in its schedule but in its afterglow. And Srjan’s afterglow has been resonating across social media.
The digital chatter continues— as lived testimony. The participants were not merely attendees; they are ambassadors of experience.
A Personal Transformation
For me, as a team member of Sanjeevani, this retreat held a different significance.
Over the years, I have been deeply involved in organizing countless initiatives—National Conference on Integrative Cancer Care (NCICCs), State Conferences on Integrative Cancer (SCICCs), Round Table Conferences (RTCs) and multiple retreats. I have motivated teams, strategized outreach, and taken pride in the fact that Sanjeevani helps over a thousand patients a day.
Yet, in all these years, I had participated as an organizer, not as a seeker.
This time was different.
I attended Srjan not as part of the organizing committee but as a participant. I sat in the audience. I engaged in exercises. I reflected quietly. I listened without thinking about logistics. I allowed myself to be vulnerable.
And what unfolded was deeply transformative.
For the first time, I fully experienced what Sanjeevani does—not as a concept, not as an impact report, but as a living process. I felt the gentle dismantling of old narratives.
I experienced clarity emerging from introspection. I sensed emotional lightness where there had been invisible weight.
If Srjan could transform me—someone who has been part of this journey from the inside—then I have no doubt it is transforming countless others.
This retreat allowed me to witness Sanjeevani’s mission from the other side of the circle.
And that perspective has deepened my conviction more than any metric ever could
What made Srjan extraordinary was not just the faculty, the food or the venue. It was the collective intention of twenty-eight individuals who showed up fully.
Despite the intensity of the schedule, there was no fatigue in spirit. People were eager for early morning sessions. They lingered after discussions. They continued conversations over meals. They supported each other during emotional exercises.
There was laughter—plenty of it. There were tears—honest and cleansing. There were moments of silence that spoke louder than words.
In those four days, participants experienced what many seek for years: alignment between thought, emotion, and action.
Beyond Cancer: A Universal Invitation
While Sanjeevani’s roots lie in supporting cancer patients and caregivers, Srjan represents an expansion of that philosophy. It affirms that everyone deserves a space to reset and renew.
Life today is relentless. Responsibilities multiply. Digital noise overwhelms. Personal dreams are often postponed indefinitely.
Srjan offered a pause button.
It reminded participants that investing four days in oneself is not indulgence—it is wisdom. It demonstrated that transformation does not require dramatic upheaval; it begins with honest reflection.
The Feeling of Having Missed Something
For those who were present, Srjan will remain a milestone—a before and after. For those who were not, there is already a gentle sense of having missed something special.
The social media posts are not exaggerated endorsements; they are invitations. They carry an undercurrent that says: “You had to be there.”
The laughter on the lawns. The stillness in meditation. The courage in theatre. The shared meals under Goan skies. The quiet breakthroughs in conference rooms. The transformation of a co-founder into a participant-seeker.
All of it combined into an experience that is difficult to replicate—and impossible to forget.
Looking Ahead
Srjan has concluded, but its impact is unfolding. Participants have returned to their cities and professions, carrying renewed energy and clearer purpose. Some have already begun implementing personal changes. Others are nurturing subtle shifts in mindset. Many are staying connected with each other, sustaining the community that was born in Goa.
If this is what four days can achieve, one can only imagine what future editions will bring.
When the next Srjan Retreat is announced—whenever and wherever it may be—those who attended will not hesitate.
And those who read about it will likely feel a stirring: a realization that perhaps they, too, deserve such a pause.
Perhaps they will sign up first. Perhaps they will bring their spouse. Their children. Their parents. Because transformation is not age-specific. Renewal is not profession-bound. Growth is not reserved for the unwell.
Srjan is an invitation—to begin again.
And if the recently concluded retreat at Goa is any indication, this invitation is not one to be postponed.
