From IIT to Inner Transformation: Gauranga Das Calls for a Revival of Dharmic Values at IGF London
London [UK], June 23: On the final day of IGF London 2025, spiritual leader and ISKCON monk Gauranga Das delivered a profound address at Taj St. James' Court, urging global leaders and changemakers to reimagine progress through the lens of Dharma, cultural wisdom, and inner balance.
* Spiritual leader Gauranga Das urges a return to purpose-driven living, cultural humility, and inner well-being in a world dominated by material success and digital stress
"Indians across the world are having immense impact in terms of Artha or economy. I stand here to testify that Indians also have a powerful role to play in the transformation of Dharma."
Defining Dharma as "Samaan" - the principle of respect - he addressed the deepening crisis of digital addiction, loneliness, and anxiety. "We have a huge problem. Globally, 230 million are addicted to social media. In Bharat alone, 70% of teenagers spend seven hours daily online. One in seven people around the world is suffering from mental health issues."
Sharing his own transformative journey--from an IIT Bombay student to a spiritual teacher--Gauranga Das offered a deeply personal reflection: "I went to IIT in the same batch as Sundar Pichai. Years later, we met, and he said, "You look younger than me." I replied, "You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress."
Highlighting the extraordinary impact of the Indian diaspora, Gauranga Das noted: "Today we have 36 million Indians globally. Almost 16 million NRIs, 20 million of Indian origin. Out of the Fortune 500 companies in America, 22 are led by Indian CEOs who employ 1.7 million people and represent a net worth of $1 trillion. More than 60% of hotels in America are owned by Indians, and 72 out of 650 US unicorns are led by Indians."
He closed with a tribute to India's spiritual heritage: "I never imagined I'd wear saffron. But the Geeta changed my life. Our Vedic tradition is an ocean of wisdom, and I'm proud to be part of a movement from technology to transcendence."
Gauranga Das' remarks were a part of three-day forum that convened business leaders, policy thinkers, and cultural icons, reminding the world that in forging global partnerships, spiritual and cultural grounding remains essential.
The forum forms part of IGF London 2025. With over 100+ speakers, 1000 participants, and events across iconic venues in London, IGF London 2025 encompasses a spectrum of topics - from technology and trade to culture and commerce. This year's edition marks a powerful milestone - a decade since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark 2015 visit to the UK, and the two nations have finalised the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement. IGF London is the first major international platform to celebrate and analyse this historic achievement, unlock new opportunities that emerge from its conclusion, and shape the next phase of UK-India collaboration.
About India Global Forum
India Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity. To know more, click here
Social Media Handles & Hashtag to Follow
Twitter: @IGFUpdates & @manojladwa
LinkedIn: India Global Forum
#IGFLondon
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2716121/IGF_London.jpg
London - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566069/5381470/IGF_Logo.jpg
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
22 minutes ago
- Hans India
Indian markets dip marginally this week amid tariff concerns
Mumbai: The Indian benchmark index Sensex plunged over 600 points this week, while the Nifty fell to a two-month low, closing below the 24,600 mark amid widespread selling across sectors. Market sentiment was weighed down by concerns over the newly imposed 25 per cent US tariff on Indian exports, persistent FII selling, and weakness in global markets, analysts said on Saturday. "The market oscillated between cautious optimism and defensive positioning, ultimately ending lower due to a persistent FII outflow. With global headwinds, investors showed a preference for domestically driven stories with non-discretionary appeal, as broader sentiment turned selective. FMCG stocks stood out, benefiting from attractive valuations and insulation from external shocks," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited. FMCG stocks rallied sharply after companies like HUL, Dabur India, and Emami reported strong Q1 results, pushing the Nifty FMCG Index up nearly 1 per cent. Key sectors such as auto, metal, IT, and pharma declined 2–3 per cent amid concerns over the U.S. trade action. Analysts said that the US tariffs will not have a direct bearing on Indian markets, given that major exports are of traditional items such as gems & jewellery, leather and textiles that do not have large representation in the listed space. They feel the bulk of the tariff concerns may already be priced in, and a steep fall is highly unlikely. The Nifty index formed a bearish candle on the daily and weekly timeframes and has been making lower lows for the past four weeks. If it remains below 24600 zones, weakness could be seen towards 24,442 and 24,250 zones, with hurdles shifting lower to 24800 and 24950 zones, according to analysts at Motilal Oswal. During the week shares of tech major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) slipped 5 per cent, following the company's announcement to lay off around 12,200 employees in FY26. Asian, European, and US index futures dropped around 1 per cent after President Trump signed an executive order introducing 'reciprocal' tariffs on multiple countries, with rates ranging from 10 per cent to 41 per cent, set to take effect in seven days. The move has sparked fears of rising inflation and slowing global growth. Amid such widespread concerns of global slowdown, the International Monetary Fund's July update to its World Economic Outlook raised the global growth forecast for 2025 to 3 percent, which is a 0.2 percentage point increase from its April projection.
Hans India
22 minutes ago
- Hans India
India doubles down on shipbuilding to become global maritime power
New Delhi: The shipbuilding industry in India is undergoing a transformational shift, as the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi accelerates efforts to build a world-class maritime ecosystem, according to Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. In line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the long-term strategic roadmap of Amrit Kaal, the Union Budget 2025 has announced a series of reforms and investments aimed at significantly enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of Indian shipyards. 'These initiatives are expected to strengthen India's position as an emerging global maritime power,' Sonowal said at the ongoing monsoon session of the Lok Sabha. Highlighting the government's commitment, Sonowal underlined the 'Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy which is being revamped to address cost disadvantages,' thereby helping Indian shipyards compete on equal footing with their international counterparts. The inclusion of credit notes for ship breaking in Indian yards reinforces the push towards a circular and sustainable maritime economy. To boost infrastructure financing, large ships above a specified size will now be classified under the Infrastructure Harmonised Master List, making them eligible for long-term, low-interest funding. Simultaneously, the government will facilitate the development of integrated shipbuilding clusters, equipped with modern infrastructure, skill development centres, and advanced technologies. This, the Budget notes, is aimed at 'increasing the range, categories and capacity of ships' built in India. In a landmark move to address the industry's need for long-term capital, the government has proposed a Rs 25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, with up to 49 per cent government contribution. This fund will mobilise private and port-led investments to expand and modernise India's shipbuilding and repair capabilities. Recognising the long gestation nature of the industry, tax exemptions on Basic Customs Duty (BCD) for raw materials and components used in shipbuilding and ship-breaking have been extended for another 10 years. 'Our commitment to empower and enable our maritime sector is absolute and it is with this intent we are working under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi,' said Sonowal. To give Indian shipbuilders a competitive edge in public procurement, the government has extended the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) for tenders floated by public sector units. As per the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017, vessels valued under Rs 200 crore must be procured from Indian yards, thereby reinforcing the goal of self-reliance in maritime assets. On the ship repair front, Cochin Shipyard Limited has inaugurated a Rs 970 crore International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) in Kochi.
India.com
22 minutes ago
- India.com
India-Russia oil trade: Rs 5.9 lakh crore trade at risk after US' ultimatum, if Trump cuts India off from Russian oil, Putin may hit back with...
Putin is true friend of India due to..., it helped at every step in making of..... but what is China connection? India is the world's third-largest oil importer and since 2022, it has become the top buyer of Russian oil. India buys up to 2 million barrels of oil from Russia every day. That's about 2 per cent of the world's total oil supply. China and Turkey are also among the biggest buyers of Russian oil. Putin may hit back by shutting down the CPC pipeline According to experts at JP Morgan, India plays a very important role in Russia's oil export plans. If anything disrupts this path, Russia could strike back by shutting down the CPC pipeline that runs through Kazakhstan. This pipeline is important because major US oil companies like Chevron and Exxon have big stakes in it. So, Russia also has ways to put pressure on the West. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has warned that if Russia doesn't agree to a peace deal with Ukraine by August 7–9, he will impose up to 100 per cent tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil. On top of that, a 25 per cent tariff on all Indian goods entering the US has already come into effect starting this Friday. Rs. 5.9 lakh crore trade at risk According to a Reuters report, after Donald Trump's warning, Indian state-run oil companies have stopped buying Russian oil this week. If India gives in to US pressure and stops buying oil from Russia, the impact will not just be on Russia, it could shake the entire global oil market. Crude oil prices might rise above USD 80 per barrel worldwide. India and Russia have always shared a strong bond. In the financial year 2024–25, the trade between the two countries reached USD 68.7 billion i.e. nearly Rs. 5.9 lakh crore. That's about 5.8 times more than the trade before the COVID-19 pandemic. A big part of this trade is crude oil. Russia now supplies around 40 per cent of all the oil India needs. But the partnership between India and Russia is not just about oil. It also includes defence and nuclear energy. India buys many of its military weapons from Russia, and both countries are working together to build nuclear reactors. Now, Trump's pressure could weaken this strong partnership. If things go wrong, it may harm India's energy security and defence strength. India caught between two powerful partners India is facing a tough situation. On one side, it has deep and long-standing ties with Russia. On the other, it has important trade relations with the United States. Now, all of this has come down to a difficult choice involving USD 68 billion (around Rs. 5.9 lakh crore) in trade. Trump has even warned of tariffs as high as 500 per cent on countries that continue buying oil from Russia. This is like a sword hanging over India's head. Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami made it clear that the country cannot shut down its economy just to follow Western sanctions. He also pointed out that European countries are still trading with Russia, so it's unfair to expect India to stop completely.
