Art of Living / Vice President CP Radhakrishnan Launches Five National Initiatives As 'The Art of Living' Marks 45 Years
·12 hours ago·5 min read
Key Points
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan launched five national initiatives at Art of Living International Center, Bengaluru, marking organisation's 45 years of humanitarian service and celebrating Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 70th birthday.
Bengaluru, May 29: Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan on Friday launched five major national initiatives spanning youth development, entrepreneurship, sustainability, consciousness studies and education at The Art of Living International Center in Bengaluru, as the organisation marked 45 years of humanitarian service and celebrated Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s lifelong contribution to peace, well-being and human values after he turned 70 earlier this month.
The Vice President also unveiled a commemorative postal stamp marking 45 years of The Art of Living’s contribution to individual well-being, social transformation and global peace.
The initiatives launched during the event included the Youth Career Excellence Program, Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems, Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation, Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential, and Eco Shanti.
The ceremony marked the culmination of a month-long celebration at The Art of Living International Center attended by 678 distinguished guests, including political leaders, business icons, sportspersons, entrepreneurs, academicians, diplomats, faith leaders, artists and social changemakers from India and across the world.
Addressing the gathering, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan spoke about the global impact of the movement founded by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
“Today is a celebration of a great vision that has touched millions of lives across continents. I was astonished to learn that The Art of Living is present in 182 countries. Almost the entire civilization of mankind is getting linked through this movement,” he said.
Describing the organisation’s journey over the last four-and-a-half decades, he added, “Forty-five years ago, a movement began with a simple yet profound idea: that inner peace is the foundation of outer harmony. In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar continues to inspire humanity with the values of wisdom, awareness, peace and harmony.”
Praising Gurudev’s simplicity and humanitarian contribution, the Vice President further remarked, “His smile, his humility and his affection touch everyone’s heart. What makes his contribution extraordinary is the humility and humanity he embodies.”
Welcoming the Vice President, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted the growing importance of meditation and inner well-being in modern society.
“The world today has recognised that meditation is no longer a luxury. With 192 countries coming together to declare World Meditation Day, there is a growing understanding that meditation is a basic necessity for a healthy, happy and stress-free life,” Gurudev said.
Calling for a holistic approach to life, he added, “Three things must always accompany us through life: knowledge, meditation and music.”
Gurudev concluded with a message of global harmony, saying, “Let us dream of a Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, one world family free from fear, tension and hatred. A peaceful and harmonious world begins with peaceful and harmonious individuals.”
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot also addressed the gathering and spoke about Karnataka’s connection with the origins of The Art of Living movement.
“It is a matter of pride for Karnataka that the roots of this global movement are connected to our sacred land. For more than four decades, The Art of Living has been promoting peace and well-being at the individual, community and global levels through a variety of programs,” he said.
Highlighting Gurudev’s role in peacebuilding and humanitarian service, the Governor added, “Beyond humanitarian service, Gurudev’s peace-building efforts have played a significant role in resolving long-standing conflicts. His vision of a violence-free and stress-free society through the revival of human values has received appreciation and recognition across the world.”
The five initiatives launched at the event aim to address contemporary challenges through education, innovation, sustainability and human development.
The Youth Career Excellence Program has been designed to prepare young people for careers in civil services while also offering industry-oriented hospitality training to improve employability among rural and urban youth.
The Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems will function as a multidisciplinary platform integrating Eastern wisdom traditions with modern education and research to address ethical, ecological and social challenges.
The Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation initiative aims to support innovation-driven and hardware-focused startups through mentorship, prototyping facilities and early-stage funding support, with a target of enabling 500 startups.
The Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential will create an interdisciplinary ecosystem for research, innovation and education in consciousness, cognition, mental well-being and human potential.
Eco Shanti, a sustainability initiative of The Art of Living, aims to eliminate single-use plastics through sustainable alternatives and targets reduction of plastic production and usage by at least 100,000 tonnes annually by 2030.
During his visit to the Ashram, the Vice President toured several facilities and initiatives of the organisation. He visited Sri Sri Gurukulam, interacted with students, offered prayers at the Prathap Ganpati Temple, took darshan of the sacred relics of Shri Somnath Jyotirlingam and visited the Sri Sri Gaushala, which houses nearly 1,600 indigenous cows.
A special highlight of the visit was a demonstration by children trained under The Art of Living’s Intuition Program, where participants showcased intuitive abilities developed through systematic practice and training.
For nearly a month, The Art of Living International Center hosted celebrations reflecting the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- One World Family.
Among the prominent personalities who participated in the celebrations were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, N Chandrababu Naidu and Pramod Sawant, Governors Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, actor Rajinikanth, actor Vikrant Massey, industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani and Niranjan Hiranandani, along with faith leaders, diplomats, scholars and artists.
The month-long celebrations featured global meditation sessions at the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir, cultural performances showcasing India’s artistic heritage, discussions on consciousness and mental well-being, and testimonies from people whose lives have been transformed through Gurudev’s work over the past 45 years.
At the core of the celebrations was a reaffirmation of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of a stress-free and violence-free society rooted in service, inner peace and human values.
The Vice President also unveiled a commemorative postal stamp marking 45 years of The Art of Living’s contribution to individual well-being, social transformation and global peace.
The initiatives launched during the event included the Youth Career Excellence Program, Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems, Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation, Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential, and Eco Shanti.
The ceremony marked the culmination of a month-long celebration at The Art of Living International Center attended by 678 distinguished guests, including political leaders, business icons, sportspersons, entrepreneurs, academicians, diplomats, faith leaders, artists and social changemakers from India and across the world.
Addressing the gathering, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan spoke about the global impact of the movement founded by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
“Today is a celebration of a great vision that has touched millions of lives across continents. I was astonished to learn that The Art of Living is present in 182 countries. Almost the entire civilization of mankind is getting linked through this movement,” he said.
Describing the organisation’s journey over the last four-and-a-half decades, he added, “Forty-five years ago, a movement began with a simple yet profound idea: that inner peace is the foundation of outer harmony. In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar continues to inspire humanity with the values of wisdom, awareness, peace and harmony.”
Praising Gurudev’s simplicity and humanitarian contribution, the Vice President further remarked, “His smile, his humility and his affection touch everyone’s heart. What makes his contribution extraordinary is the humility and humanity he embodies.”
Welcoming the Vice President, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted the growing importance of meditation and inner well-being in modern society.
“The world today has recognised that meditation is no longer a luxury. With 192 countries coming together to declare World Meditation Day, there is a growing understanding that meditation is a basic necessity for a healthy, happy and stress-free life,” Gurudev said.
Calling for a holistic approach to life, he added, “Three things must always accompany us through life: knowledge, meditation and music.”
Gurudev concluded with a message of global harmony, saying, “Let us dream of a Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, one world family free from fear, tension and hatred. A peaceful and harmonious world begins with peaceful and harmonious individuals.”
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot also addressed the gathering and spoke about Karnataka’s connection with the origins of The Art of Living movement.
“It is a matter of pride for Karnataka that the roots of this global movement are connected to our sacred land. For more than four decades, The Art of Living has been promoting peace and well-being at the individual, community and global levels through a variety of programs,” he said.
Highlighting Gurudev’s role in peacebuilding and humanitarian service, the Governor added, “Beyond humanitarian service, Gurudev’s peace-building efforts have played a significant role in resolving long-standing conflicts. His vision of a violence-free and stress-free society through the revival of human values has received appreciation and recognition across the world.”
The five initiatives launched at the event aim to address contemporary challenges through education, innovation, sustainability and human development.
The Youth Career Excellence Program has been designed to prepare young people for careers in civil services while also offering industry-oriented hospitality training to improve employability among rural and urban youth.
The Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems will function as a multidisciplinary platform integrating Eastern wisdom traditions with modern education and research to address ethical, ecological and social challenges.
The Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation initiative aims to support innovation-driven and hardware-focused startups through mentorship, prototyping facilities and early-stage funding support, with a target of enabling 500 startups.
The Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential will create an interdisciplinary ecosystem for research, innovation and education in consciousness, cognition, mental well-being and human potential.
Eco Shanti, a sustainability initiative of The Art of Living, aims to eliminate single-use plastics through sustainable alternatives and targets reduction of plastic production and usage by at least 100,000 tonnes annually by 2030.
During his visit to the Ashram, the Vice President toured several facilities and initiatives of the organisation. He visited Sri Sri Gurukulam, interacted with students, offered prayers at the Prathap Ganpati Temple, took darshan of the sacred relics of Shri Somnath Jyotirlingam and visited the Sri Sri Gaushala, which houses nearly 1,600 indigenous cows.
A special highlight of the visit was a demonstration by children trained under The Art of Living’s Intuition Program, where participants showcased intuitive abilities developed through systematic practice and training.
For nearly a month, The Art of Living International Center hosted celebrations reflecting the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- One World Family.
Among the prominent personalities who participated in the celebrations were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, N Chandrababu Naidu and Pramod Sawant, Governors Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, actor Rajinikanth, actor Vikrant Massey, industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani and Niranjan Hiranandani, along with faith leaders, diplomats, scholars and artists.
The month-long celebrations featured global meditation sessions at the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir, cultural performances showcasing India’s artistic heritage, discussions on consciousness and mental well-being, and testimonies from people whose lives have been transformed through Gurudev’s work over the past 45 years.
At the core of the celebrations was a reaffirmation of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of a stress-free and violence-free society rooted in service, inner peace and human values.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
Related Topics
Explore more stories