On the closing day of IGF London 2025, spiritual leader and ISKCON monk Gauranga Das delivered a stirring speech at the Taj St. James’ Court, calling upon global leaders and change-makers to redefine progress through the revival of Dharma—anchored in cultural wisdom and inner balance. Highlighting the immense economic impact of Indians worldwide, he stressed their equally powerful potential in spearheading a transformation based on spiritual and ethical values. Defining Dharma as "Samaan," the principle of respect, Gauranga Das confronted pressing modern crises like digital addiction, loneliness, and mental health struggles, underscoring how globally, 230 million are addicted to social media, with 70% of teenagers in India spending seven hours daily online, and one in seven people worldwide battling mental health issues.
Gauranga Das shared his own transformative journey, transitioning from being a student at IIT Bombay to a spiritual teacher, reflecting on an exchange with Sundar Pichai, now CEO of Google, in which he quipped that while Pichai deals with Google, which creates stress, he deals with God, which releases stress. He highlighted the extraordinary influence of the Indian diaspora—36 million strong globally, including 16 million NRIs and 20 million of Indian origin. Among the Fortune 500 companies in America, 22 are led by Indian CEOs, collectively employing 1.7 million people and wielding a net worth of $1 trillion. Additionally, Indians own over 60% of American hotels, and 72 of the 650 U.S. unicorn startups boast Indian leadership. Gauranga Das paid homage to India’s spiritual heritage, crediting the Bhagavad Geeta for his life’s path from technology to transcendence and describing the Vedic tradition as an ocean of wisdom.
Gauranga Das is widely recognised for his extensive engagements at prestigious academic institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Chennai, IIM Bangalore, and global universities including MIT, Stanford, and Oxford. He has also addressed corporate giants like Google, Microsoft, and Tata Motors, focusing on themes such as the Art of Happiness and Life Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita. His efforts extend to television appearances and teaching life management skills at IIM Nagpur. Recently, in New York City, he delivered a talk titled "Reconciling Purpose of Life with Pursuit of Work," blending ancient Vedic principles with contemporary workplace challenges and emphasising that true prosperity arises from aligning work with higher purpose, sparking deep reflections among attendees.
Beyond personal and societal transformation, Gauranga Das has voiced urgent concerns regarding environmental sustainability, linking climate change to material addiction and promoting a sattvic lifestyle rooted in Krishna’s teachings. His participation at the C20 summit underscored spirituality’s vital role in inspiring sustainable human behaviour. Moreover, at the India Today Conclave, he contributed to a panel on the ethics of AI clones and digital immortality, emphasizing the need to preserve human values and morality amid rapid technological advances, highlighting tensions between innovation and spiritual-cultural grounding.
The IGF London 2025 forum, featuring over 100 speakers and 1,000 participants across iconic London venues, addressed diverse topics spanning technology, trade, culture, and commerce. Marking a decade since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark 2015 visit to the UK, the event celebrated the recent finalisation of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, positioning IGF London as the first major international platform to explore this historic bilateral milestone. The forum also reflected on the pivotal role of the Indian diaspora in global leadership, mirrored in other sessions that discussed the diaspora’s contributions across business, politics, arts, and governance, illustrating the intertwined futures of the two nations founded on both economic collaboration and shared cultural heritage.
Gauranga Das’ participation and message at IGF London reinforce a growing discourse that the world’s pressing challenges—from mental health epidemics to environmental crises and the ethical dilemmas of emerging technologies—cannot be resolved by material progress alone. Instead, a revival of Dharmic values, spiritual insights, and cultural wisdom is essential to achieve holistic, sustainable progress that honours both the economy and the soul.
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Source: Noah Wire Services