Did you know this humanitarian leader has been educating over 1.2 lakh children for free from India’s remotest corners since last 45 years? He is also responsible for bringing 72 rivers and tributaries back to life that had existed only on paper.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has emerged as one of the strongest voices for humanitarianism in the modern world. Whether by guiding over 800 million people across 182 countries to find inner peace and happiness, or by stepping into long-standing conflicts to make dialogue possible and for violence to cease, Gurudev has inspired a global movement rooted in service, from free education to water conservation, youth empowerment to uplifting the lives of farmers.

How The Art of Living was born

A pivotal moment in Gurudev’s journey came one night at the Hubli railway station, a moment that was going to shape one of the largest humanitarian and spiritual movements born out of India. He stood holding tickets to two different destinations-Bangalore and Solapur. Had he embarked on the journey to Bangalore, he would have never started The Art of Living and instead would have continued to building and growing existing institutions.

In his own words, “My legs simply started walking towards the train to Solapur.” He later shared, “I knew if I took the train to Solapur, something new would begin. People were waiting for me all over the world.” This decision led to the birth of The Art of Living movement, which would go on to impact millions of lives.

In the early days of The Art of Living, the formation of its trust reflected a rare coming together of sharp intellect and deep faith. Among its first trustees was former Chief Justice of India Justice P. N. Bhagwati, alongside Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, one known to be deeply spiritual and a believer and the other an avowed rationalist and to that extent an atheist. Yet both were drawn to the vision of Gurudev and agreed to serve as founding trustees, signaling from the very beginning that the movement would transcend ideology and rest on a broader human quest for peace and wisdom.

In the early 1980s, another significant chapter of this journey began with the establishment of The Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru. What was once a dry, rocky, and barren landscape, where even weeds struggled to grow, was gradually transformed into a lush, green oasis. Guided by Gurudev’s vision and brought to life through the tireless efforts of thousands of volunteers, the land evolved over nearly four decades into a thriving ecosystem. Today, it stands not only as a spiritual hub but also as a symbol of environmental regeneration and a significant carbon sink, reflecting the harmony between human consciousness and nature.

Gurudev founded The Art of Living as an international, non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organization dedicated to eliminating stress and promoting well-being. Today, its programs are offered in 182 countries, empowering individuals with practical tools for inner peace and resilience. In 1997, he co-founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), which focuses on sustainable development, conflict resolution, and the promotion of human values worldwide.

“The Art of Living is more of a principle, a way of living life to its fullest,” Gurudev says, “Its core value is to find peace within oneself and to unite people of all cultures, traditions, and nationalities.”

Work that speaks for itself

Gurudev’s work, through these sister organizations, in conflict zones offers a glimpse into how inner peace can translate into collective healing.

“We will not rest till the last gun is laid down,” Gurudev said during his address at a first-of-its-kind conference organized by The Art of Living, which brought together 67 militant groups from India’s Northeast, many of them with opposing ideologies, onto a common platform to discuss peace and stability in the region.

For many who were present there, the shift was very personal. “My anger has turned into a smile,” said one of the surrendered militants. “Earlier, it was difficult to imagine a normal life. Today, I’m leading a peaceful life.”

It speaks volumes about the reach and universality of Gurudev’s wisdom and techniques that far in the Middle East, the impact of this work remains movingly visible.

Ibrahim was playing in his backyard when Daesh shot and killed two of his brothers. He escaped ISIS, but the trauma stayed with him. Sleep evaded the 12-year-old Syrian boy.

“Every time he closed his eyes, he would see them,” recalls his Art of Living meditation teacher. “One day he said, ‘These ten-minute meditations here are worth a night’s sleep because I am finally able to rest.’”

In another workshop in the region, laughter became a form of release for female soldiers, many of whom had never been allowed emotional expression.

Back in 2008, Gurudev met leaders across divides in Iraq, Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish, at a time when such dialogue seemed nearly impossible. Peace observers note that very few global leaders have been able to bring all sides to the table in the middle of a conflict. Alongside dialogue, trauma relief workshops have reached thousands of war-affected individuals and youth.

In Kosovo, where conflict between Serbs and Albanians had claimed over 13,000 lives and displaced millions, the work took on another dimension. Gurudev engaged with leaders on both sides, while Art of Living trainers began conducting trauma relief programs in refugee camps. Women, including survivors of sexual violence, along with medical professionals and displaced families, found a space to begin healing.

Flora Brovina, then Parliament Delegate and Director of the Center for Mothers and Children, observed, “The Art of Living program helped the women alleviate the shame, guilt, numbness, disorientation, sense of isolation, distrust, and disconnection.”

The impact was such that Kosovo’s Ministry of Health went on to recommend that mental health workers across the country participate in these programs and be trained in the Breath Water Sound workshop designed for trauma relief.

Yet, Gurudev’s work is not limited to conflict resolution alone but extends just as powerfully to the conflicts within.

His prison rehabilitation programs have reached over 8,00,000 inmates worldwide, offering them tools to navigate anger, anxiety, and emotional turbulence. “The program has made me feel free from inside,” shared a Belgian prison inmate. “And isn’t that a wonderful feeling for a prisoner?”

This interplay between inner transformation and outer impact is perhaps most visible in India’s villages.

At a time when water scarcity continues to define the lives of millions, The Art of Living’s river rejuvenation project has revived 75 rivers and streams across the country. The initiative has benefited 3.4 crore people, conserved 175 billion litres of water, and restored over 59,000 square kilometres of land, raising both water tables and farm incomes.

The work with farmers, who have suffered for decades owing to the use of hazardous chemicals that have stripped the soil of its fertility, the monopoly of seed and fertilizer companies, and treacherous debt cycles, remains equally significant.

“A few years ago, Vidarbha witnessed a tragic wave of farmer suicides. During that time, everyone was concerned about how to support the farmers,” said Shweta Mahale, MLA from Chikhli Constituency, during an address at Kishan Samruddhi Mahotsav 3.0 at The Art of Living International Center. “It was Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who extended a helping hand to them.”

Since then, efforts to promote natural farming and reduce dependence on chemical inputs have reached over three million farmers, helping improve yields, increase income, and address the deeper emotional stress linked to agrarian distress. Parallelly, reforestation initiatives have led to the planting of over 100 million trees worldwide.

In the field of free education, too, Gurudev’s tireless work will go into the annals of modern history as a model that revolutionized basic education at the grassroots.

What began with a small rural school near the Art of Living International Center, with just a handful of children who had no access to education, has grown into a nationwide network. Today, over 1.2 lakh children from more than 2,000 villages, many of them first-generation learners, receive free and holistic education through 1,356 schools.

Gurudev often says that when there is peace and enthusiasm within, a natural question arises: “What can I do for you?” From that question has emerged a global volunteer movement, where service becomes an expression of joy, and a pathway to building more connected, resilient communities.