May 10, 2026: The Bengaluru-based Art of Living International Center witnessed a historic gathering today as the Prime Minister of Bharat, Narendra Modi, joined Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to celebrate 45 years of The Art of Living movement and the 70th birthday of its founder.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the magnificent Dhyan Mandir, a unique high-vibration meditation space representing one of the world’s largest meditation communities.
The dedicated meditation center will allow lakhs of seekers from across countries, cultures, and backgrounds to experience deep inner stillness through collective meditation and chanting. Referring to the newly inaugurated meditation space, Dhyan Mandir, PM Narendra Modi said, “I am confident that the Dhyan Mandir inaugurated today will become a center of peace and solace for thousands of people in the coming generations.”
The Prime Minister paid rich tribute to Gurudev, describing him as “a living embodiment of India’s timeless tradition of giving — giving knowledge, giving peace, giving hope.”
The Prime Minister recalled that whenever he had visited the International Center earlier, he had experienced “the same energy of seva that the Rishis once carried into the world.” Speaking about the role of spirituality and mental well-being in nation-building, he said, “A developed India will be built by youth who are mentally calm, socially responsible, and sensitive towards society. Spiritual well-being, mental health, yoga, and meditation have a very important role in this journey. Organizations like Art of Living strengthen the feeling of connection, belonging, and collective responsibility among people. They also give people the opportunity to know and understand their culture.” Appreciating the organisation’s contribution, he said, “It is a great pleasure to see that the Art of Living organization always supports the power of society.”
Welcoming the Prime Minister, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar spoke warmly about the transformation India has witnessed in recent years and the spirit of confidence that has emerged across the nation. Speaking about India’s growing global standing, Gurudev remarked, “In less than ten years, you transformed India from a country that asked into a country that gives.”
Recalling the early days of The Art of Living, Gurudev shared how the organisation’s very foundation reflected a coming together of diverse worldviews. Among the first trustees of The Art of Living were former Chief Justice of India P. N. Bhagwati and V. R. Krishna Iyer. While one was deeply spiritual and the other known to be a committed rationalist, both were drawn to Gurudev’s vision and agreed to serve as founding trustees.
The Prime Minister launched nine nationwide service initiatives aimed at bringing inclusive development across education, youth and women empowerment, reforestation, environmental conservation, tribal welfare, healthcare, prison reform, and digital literacy.
The organisation also launched 12 RuTAGe Smart Village Centers across 11 states as holistic rural transformation hubs. Through its Youth Leadership Program and Women Leadership Program, it aims to train 50,000 youth and women in leadership and high-demand technical skills, building on an existing impact of over six lakh beneficiaries. The Sri Abhayam Project is being expanded into a 450-village tribal welfare mission focused on healthcare, education, and livelihoods, while the Gram Digital Sevak Initiative will train village youth to help rural communities access welfare schemes, tele-health, and digital services through AI-enabled tools. Nine telemedicine centres are also being launched across several states to improve specialist healthcare access in underserved regions.
The Art of Living further announced the expansion of its prison reform initiatives through 1,000 programmes across 550 prisons, benefiting nearly 60,000 inmates and staff with trauma relief and vocational training.
Its free education network, which currently spans 1,356 schools across 22 states, including Manipur, and reaches over 1.2 lakh children in 2,754 villages, will now expand to 2,000 schools. Women empowerment initiatives that have already impacted over six lakh women and girls across India are also being scaled up with a goal to reach 10 lakh women and girls nationwide.
The month-long celebrations have brought together over one lakh participants from 182 countries, including Union Ministers, Governors, Members of Parliament, entrepreneurs, civil servants, farmers, prison inmates rehabilitated through Art of Living programmes, and international delegates. Some of the dignitaries include Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, Sarbananda Sonowal, Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Governor of Nagaland Nand Kishore Yadav, and Governor of Uttarakhand Gurmit Singh.
Across four and a half decades, The Art of Living has grown into one of the largest volunteer-driven humanitarian movements, reaching more than a billion lives in 182 countries through breath, meditation, education, and grassroots service. Today’s gathering was an affirmation of the simple yet powerful idea that a calmer mind, a kinder society, and a healthier planet are possible.
