Sundar Pichai met his IIT batchmate-turned monk who looked 'younger'. His reply: 'You deal with Google, I with God'
In an age where CEOs are chasing productivity hacks to stay youthful and stress-free, one IIT graduate says he's already cracked the code—and it has nothing to do with tech. At the India Global Forum 2025 in London, ISKCON monk Gauranga Das shared a fascinating personal story involving none other than Google CEO Sundar Pichai, sparking conversations about stress, spirituality, and the digital crisis.
Speaking on the final day of the event, Gauranga Das—an IIT Bombay graduate who left behind a promising engineering career to pursue a spiritual path—recalled his meeting with Pichai, who was part of the same IIT batch, albeit in a different branch. The two never crossed paths in college, but when they met years later, Pichai was quick to compliment the monk's youthful appearance.
The spiritual leader attributed the difference in their looks to the contrasting lives they lead. Pichai, 53, who navigates the fast-paced, high-pressure world of global tech, apparently told Das, that the monk looks younger than him. To which Gauranga Das responded that Sundar Pichai deals with Google, 'which creates stress,' whereas he deals with God, 'who releases stress.'
The anecdote quickly resonated with the audience, serving as a segue into the monk's broader message about digital addiction and its impact on mental health. Das warned about the growing psychological crisis being amplified by excessive screen time and social media use. Quoting alarming statistics, he said that 230 million people around the world are addicted to social media. He further claimed that in India alone, 70% of teenagers spend seven hours daily online and that one in seven people around the world is suffering from mental health issues. Gauranga Das, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, is a spiritual leader, environmentalist, and educator. Currently a member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission, he serves as the director of Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a model of sustainable living founded by Radhanath Swami. Under his leadership, GEV received the UN World Tourism Organization Award in 2017 and gained accreditation with major UN bodies, including UNEP, ECOSOC, UNCCD, and CBD. Beyond environmental efforts, Gauranga Das plays a significant role in education and leadership development. He is on the board of the Govardhan School of Public Leadership, which prepares aspirants for the civil services, and he heads the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, which preserves ancient Vedic manuscripts and offers postgraduate programs in philosophy.He is also the author of Art of Resilience and Art of Focus.Sundar Pichai was born on June 10, 1972, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He became the CEO of Google in 2015 and later took charge of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, in 2019 from co-founder Larry Page. Pichai spent his early years in Chennai and pursued a degree in metallurgical engineering at IIT Kharagpur, where he received a silver medal for academic excellence. He then earned a master's degree from Stanford University and completed his MBA at the Wharton School. Before joining Google in 2004, Pichai worked with Applied Materials and the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. At Google, he played a key role in the development of major products such as Google Chrome, ChromeOS, Gmail, Google Drive, and Android. As CEO, he has led the company's focus on artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and infrastructure. His influence has been widely recognized—he was named among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in both 2016 and 2020 and received the Padma Bhushan, one of India's top civilian honors, in 2022.
( Originally published on Jun 24, 2025 )
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump hints at ‘rebates' for Americans from tariff revenue surge. What to know
President Donald Trump said on Friday that his team is looking at giving Americans a rebate because of the money coming in from tariffs placed on other countries. Trump has often used tariffs, taxes on goods the US imports, to pressure other countries over immigration, drugs, and trade issues. These tariffs have made markets go up and down, according to a Newsweek report. Donald Trump has stood by his tariff decisions, saying 'some little pain' now will be 'worth the price that must be paid' in the long run.(REUTERS) Experts have warned that tariffs make everyday goods more expensive for Americans. However, Trump has stood by his decisions, saying, 'some little pain' now will be 'worth the price that must be paid' in the long run. What did Trump say? Speaking outside the White House on Friday, Trump said, 'so much money coming in,' and added, 'we're thinking about a little rebate, but the big thing we want to do is pay down debt.' Also Read: Why did Donald Trump warn tech giants like Google and Microsoft against hiring Indians? The US debt is now over $36 trillion Trump, who was about to leave for Scotland, added, 'But we're thinking about a rebate,' and 'a little rebate for people of a certain income level might be very nice.' He didn't say who would get the rebate or how much it would be. Customs duties brought in over $100 billion for the 2025 fiscal year so far. In June alone, the US made nearly $27 billion in tariffs, according to the Treasury Department. What are others saying? Senator Josh Hawley posted on X, 'I will introduce legislation in the Senate to send a rebate check to every working person in America.' Economist Joseph Brusuelas also posted on X, 'Interesting way to concede that tariffs-trade taxes-are going to be passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices & inflation: Trump floats the possibility of tariff rebate checks.' What's next? Trump is heading to Scotland for five days. He'll visit two of his golf courses and meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His trip comes just before the August 1 deadline for the US and the European Union to strike a trade deal. If no deal is reached, Trump plans to hit EU imports with a 30% tariff.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
IIT Bombay researchers develop AI-powered system to predict rain
In what makes for a first-of-its-kind model in the country, a team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has developed a machine learning-based nowcast forecasting system which will analyse weather radars to predict rainfall at least 90 minutes ahead of rains. Set to be launched next week, the model has been installed at Mumbai's Regional Meteorological Centre in Colaba. Once launched, the model will issue nowcast warnings with updates every eight minutes, forecasting rain in Mumbai up to 90 minutes in advance. The data pertaining to the nowcast forecast warnings will be furnished on the website, The AI-powered forecasting system is based on a model developed by Akshay Sunil, a post doc student at IIT Bombay's Centre for Climate Studies. According to Professor Subimal Ghosh, head of the department and the Principal Investigator of the project, the model will work by analysing the rainbands and weather systems over the past few hours to forecast the incoming rain patterns. 'The idea is to analyse the data from the past few hours pertaining to the rainbands, cloud formation, wind speed and other factors. On the basis of such data provided by the radars, the model will use machine learning to understand the existing systems and analyse them to predict the rain over the next hour. The data for the model is being procured from the IMD radars,' said Prof Ghosh. With the model installed at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Colaba, the system has already generated positive forecasts in its testing phase. Funded by HDFC Ergo, the IIT Bombay project is a collaboration between IMD and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The new forecast system is slated to be launched next week, with nowcast warnings set to be made public via the website portal. Launched last year, the portal presently provides hyperlocal forecasts for the next 24-48 hours while also furnishing past data for recorded rainfall and water level. Citizens can also report flooding in their area, with details pertaining to location, water levels as well as feedback. Currently, the Centre for Climate Studies at IIT Bombay is also working on developing a flood forecasting mechanism through flood modelling.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Rs 11 lakh school fee of Google-employed couple's child makes a man rethink his Rs 20 lakh MBA plans
As the cost of private education continues to rise in India's major cities, a recent online discussion has brought attention to how wealthy families are spending staggering amounts on elite schooling. The conversation was sparked by a viral Reddit post that revealed a Google-employed couple spends Rs 11.2 lakh annually on their child's school fees—prompting many to reflect on privilege, class gaps, and the role of expensive institutions in shaping access and opportunity. Eye-Catching School Expense The Reddit post came from a user who claimed to work in a junior position at a small wealth management firm. While reviewing client data, the individual came across the financial details of a young couple who both work at Google and reportedly earn a combined Rs 60 lakh annually. What stood out in their yearly cash flow was a school fee entry amounting to Rs 11.2 lakh for their only child. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA Public Policy CXO Project Management Finance healthcare Data Science Data Science Operations Management Technology Design Thinking Degree Product Management Others Management Data Analytics PGDM Cybersecurity Leadership Healthcare others Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence MCA Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details The user expressed disbelief, noting that while school expenses in the range of Rs 2–6 lakh are not uncommon, this particular figure was significantly higher than anything they had previously encountered. The Redditor also reflected on their own financial choices, sharing how they still hesitate over whether to invest Rs 20–30 lakh in an MBA, highlighting the stark contrast in financial situations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Internet Reacts: Questions of Privilege, Access, and Intent The post quickly gained traction, sparking a conversation around the culture of elite education. Many users commented on how such high-fee institutions cater to the ultra-rich, offering not just academics but social positioning through association with similarly wealthy peer groups. One commenter pointed out that spending on premium education isn't just about learning—it's often about building networks and absorbing a particular mindset. According to them, what these parents are buying is entry into a social ecosystem that helps children see themselves as part of the country's economic elite from a young age. Others took a more critical tone. A few users questioned whether such spending was justified, especially in a country where access to quality education remains unequal. One sarcastic remark noted that the taxes paid by such couples might be indirectly funding government school education for several other children—and possibly even the foreign education of a politician's child. Not all reactions focused on criticism. Some users shared that even if they could afford such fees, they would still choose more modest schools for their children. These users expressed concerns about the values children might pick up in highly privileged environments. One response emphasized the importance of raising children who remain grounded, empathetic, and in touch with the realities of the broader society, rather than isolated in a bubble of affluence.
