The year was 1991. The seed of social consciousness was sown when monk Shin Jeong Hwa first came to India with a curious mind and a spirit of exploring the birth land of Lord Gautama Buddha. But after being stuck in a hotel for 3 days due to riots of 1991 she had to withhold her quest of exploration for another day. She came back to India in 1995 and completed the Buddhist Circuit and also met the Dalai Lama. After uncovering the weakened conditions of the land where Lord Buddha once attained enlightenment, she went back but with a purpose in mind to strengthen these roots with the values that Lord Buddha attained at this very place. Upon her return she concentrated all her efforts to this cause, and with the help of other like minded souls led to the foundation of Padampani Educational & Social Foundation.