The Art of Living completes 45 years of global service
As The Art of Living marked 45 years of humanitarian service and global outreach, the organisation celebrated the occasion with the launch of five major initiatives focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, sustainability, consciousness studies, and education. The event, held at The Art of Living International Center, also coincided with the 70th birthday celebrations of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose teachings on peace, well-being, and human values have influenced millions across the world.
Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan presided over the launch ceremony and joined dignitaries in unveiling a commemorative postal stamp on the occasion.
The newly launched initiatives — the Youth Career Excellence Programme, Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems, Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation, Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential, and Eco Shanti — reflect the organisation’s expanding vision in addressing contemporary social, educational, environmental, and human development challenges.
The launch ceremony marked the culmination of month-long celebrations at The Art of Living International Center, attended by 678 distinguished guests from India and abroad.
Addressing the gathering, CP Radhakrishnan spoke about the extraordinary global reach 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 civilisation of mankind is getting linked through this movement,” he said.
Praising Gurudev’s simplicity and compassion, the Vice President remarked that what made his contribution extraordinary was “the humility and humanity he embodies”.
Welcoming the Vice President and guests, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted the growing global recognition of meditation and inner well-being in modern life. “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.
Emphasising holistic human development, he noted that “knowledge, meditation, and music” must accompany people throughout life.
Gurudev concluded with a call for global harmony rooted in the ancient Indian ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One World Family. “Let us dream of a world free from fear, tension, and hatred. A peaceful and harmonious world begins with peaceful and harmonious individuals,” he said. Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot also addressed the gathering, highlighting Karnataka’s connection to the origins of the global 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 promoted peace and well-being at the individual, community, and global levels through a variety of programmes,” he said. The Governor also praised Gurudev’s contribution to peace-building efforts across the world.
The five initiatives launched during the event aim to address some of the most pressing needs of contemporary society through innovation, education, sustainability, and human development.
The Youth Career Excellence Program seeks to prepare young people for careers in the civil services while also providing 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, social, and ecological challenges.
The Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation initiative aims to support innovation-driven and hardware-focused start-ups through mentorship, prototyping facilities, and early-stage funding, with a vision to nurture 500 start-ups.
Meanwhile, the Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential will create an interdisciplinary ecosystem for research and innovation in consciousness, cognition, mental well-being, and human potential.
Eco Shanti, the organisation’s sustainability initiative, seeks to eliminate single-use plastics through sustainable alternatives and aims to reduce plastic production and usage by at least 100,000 tonnes annually by 2030.
For nearly a month, The Art of Living International Center hosted a series of celebrations reflecting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The event drew participation from prominent personalities across politics, business, spirituality, arts, and public life.
Among those who joined the celebrations were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, along with leading diplomats, scholars, faith leaders, and artists.
The month-long celebrations featured global meditations at the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir, cultural performances celebrating India’s artistic heritage, discussions on mental well-being and consciousness, and stories of transformation from people whose lives have been impacted by Gurudev’s work over the past 45 years. At its core, the celebration reaffirmed Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s enduring vision of building a stress-free, violence-free society rooted in inner peace, service, compassion, and human values.
