Commemorating 90 years of AA Worldwide

  •   Sat, Oct 18 2025
  •   By Dr Rohan Maxwel Colaco, PhD

October 18, 2025

The 3rd National Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), commemorating 90 years of AA worldwide, will be held on November 7, 8, and 9 at St Sebastian Auditorium, Bendoor, Mangaluru, Karnataka.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Worldwide Alcoholics Anonymous was founded on June 10, 1935 in Akron, Ohio, as the outcome of a meeting between Bill W, a New York stockbroker, and Dr ‘Bob’, an Akron surgeon. Both men had been struggling with hopeless alcoholism when they discovered that by helping each other, they could maintain their sobriety. By 1939, the fellowship had published its foundational text, ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’, which outlined the famous Twelve Steps of recovery. From these humble beginnings with just few members in three groups, AA expanded rapidly, particularly after favourable press coverage in Cleveland led to explosive growth.

AA reached India on May 5, 1957, when Harold ‘Harry’ M, a school teacher, became the first person in India to achieve lasting sobriety through the spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. This date is nationally acknowledged as ‘Founders Day’ in India. The introduction of AA to India began through the efforts of Charley M, a Canadian member posted to the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi. Within a week of his arrival, Charley began placing advertisements in local newspapers offering help to those with drinking problems. Harry M responded to one of these advertisements, spent several days with Charley learning about alcoholism and AA's programme, and achieved sobriety on May 5, 1957. A New Delhi group was established in early February 1957. Harry M's efforts to spread the message were remarkable. By November 1957, a group was functioning in Mumbai and by December 1958, AA in India had grown to 48 members across multiple cities.

The AA message reached Mangalore in 1958 through Jimmy M. The fellowship grew steadily in the region, and in 1996, an inter-group was formed consisting of more than 30 groups in Mangalore. This inter-group is the pioneer intergroup for the regions of Udupi, Karkala, Kasargod, Malnad, Kadur, Bijapur, Bhatkal and Karwar.

The General Service Office (GSO) of Alcoholics Anonymous India was established in 1987 under the leadership of Vittal P, a Mangalorean who also was its first chairman. India held its first General Service Office conference in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in 1987, marking a significant milestone in the organization of AA services throughout the country. The GSO India serves as the central service office for AA groups across the nation, coordinating literature distribution, group registration, and providing guidance to the fellowship. By the establishment of GSO India, the fellowship had grown substantially from those early days in 1957, with groups spread across the length and breadth of the country.

World Health Organization Recognition of Alcoholism as a Disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) first addressed alcoholism in 1951. The organization has maintained continuous focus on alcohol-related issues since 1948, with alcoholism being on WHO's agenda from its first assembly. The American Medical Association officially declared alcoholism as an illness in 1956, providing crucial medical legitimacy to the disease concept that AA had long advocated.

Anonymity Statement of Alcoholics Anonymous

There may be some here who are not familiar with our Tradition of personal anonymity at the public level: “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.” We respectfully ask that AA speakers and AA members not be photographed, videoed, or identified by full name on all media platforms or in any published reports of our meetings, including those reports on public media platforms. The assurance of anonymity is essential in our efforts to help other problem drinkers who may wish to share our recovery program with us. And our Tradition of anonymity reminds us that AA principles come before personalities.

If you, your family members or acquaintances and any others in your vicinity or known circles have a alcohol problem please feel free to contact 7899500155, 9663559229, 8971414147, 7348849975. Please contact these numbers for information regarding the convention. Alcoholics Anonymous help is free.

 

 

 
By Dr Rohan Maxwel Colaco, PhD
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