38th Anniversary of Karuna Group
The 38th Anniversary of Karuna Group of Narcotics Anonymous on 1st September, 2026.
A Brief History of Karuna Group of Narcotics Anonymous
Karuna Group of Narcotics Anonymous is the first formal Narcotics Anonymous group in Manipur and holds a foundational place in the history of NA in the state.
The first NA meeting in Manipur was held on 4 August 1987 at Don Bosco School, Chingmeirong, Imphal. The meeting was initiated by individuals from Manipur who had encountered Narcotics Anonymous during treatment in Kolkata. As the fellowship grew, the first formal NA group was established on 1 September 1988 and was named Karuna Group.
The early meetings of Karuna Group were held at Dharmasala, Thangal Bazaar, Imphal, at a nominal rent. Late Thangjam Karunamaya, then Inspector General of Prisons, provided significant support to the emerging fellowship. The Group began with approximately 20–30 members and became an important foundation for the growth of NA in Manipur.
Members of Karuna Group subsequently helped carry the message of recovery to others and contributed to the formation of additional NA groups. This growth eventually led to the establishment of a Service Committee on 15 June 1991, which later developed into the Imphal Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous (IASC). The first Area Service Committee office was also located at the Karuna Group’s office at Dharmasala.
From its beginning in 1988, Karuna Group has remained an enduring part of the NA fellowship in Manipur. The Group celebrates its anniversary every year on 1 September, commemorating the day it was formally established in 1988. This anniversary is an opportunity for members and the wider fellowship to remember the Group’s beginnings, honour those who helped lay its foundation, and celebrate the continuing message of recovery.
Karuna Group — established 1 September 1988.
At present the Group’s meeting is held at the Public Library, Uripok Sorbon Thingel, Imphal, Manipur.