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Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What was spiritual leader Gauranga Das' ‘Google vs God' reply to Sundar Pichai that went viral?
At the India Global Forum 2025 in London, ISKCON monk Gauranga Das shared a personal story that struck a chord with many. He recalled a casual conversation with his IIT batchmate and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a wedding. Pichai had joked that Gauranga Das looked much younger. Smiling, the monk had replied: 'Naturally — you deal with Google, I deal with God.' That one simple line has since gone viral—not just for its humour, but for the deeper message behind it. Speaking at the event, Gauranga Das used the story to reflect on rising stress, environmental problems, and the growing mental health crisis. He called for a return to values like Dharma, selfless service, and respect for nature as a way to bring real change and balance into the world. From IIT to very different lives Both Pichai and Das started out as students at India's premier engineering institutes– Sundar Pichai at IIT Kharagpur, and Gauranga Das at IIT Bombay. But their journeys took very different turns. While one went on to lead one of the world's biggest tech giants, the other chose a life dedicated to spiritual exploration and service. Today, Gauranga Das is a senior monk with ISKCON, actively involved in various initiatives that blend spiritual principles with environmental sustainability, education, and leadership development. The rising stress of screen time and social media According to a Times of India report, while speaking at the forum, Gauranga Das raised concerns about the growing impact of digital overuse on mental well-being. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover Why These Off-Plan Dubai Apartments Sell Fast? Binghatti Developers FZE Read More Undo He highlighted that over 230 million people around the world are currently addicted to social media– a number that, he said, points to a deeper mental health crisis tied to how we engage with technology. Focusing on India, he noted that nearly 70% of adolescents in the country spend close to seven hours a day online– a trend that's become a serious concern for educators and health experts. Das emphasized that the rise in screen time is closely linked to a surge in stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders. But he made it clear– this isn't about blaming technology. Instead, it's a reminder to reflect on how we're choosing to use it. Where tech knowledge meets spiritual wisdom Gauranga Das combines his background in engineering with his spiritual path, offering a unique view that connects modern thinking with traditional wisdom. Once a tech student, he now takes a thoughtful and practical approach to today's challenges. He leads the Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a sustainable living project near Mumbai guided by ISKCON's Radhanath Swami. The Ecovillage has received global recognition, including an award from the UN World Tourism Organization, and works with groups like UNEP, ECOSOC, UNCCD, and CBD. Under his leadership, GEV promotes eco-friendly practices, rural development, and community living based on spiritual values. Training future leaders with values and purpose Apart from his work in sustainability, Gauranga Das is also involved in leadership training through the Govardhan School of Public Leadership. The school helps train future Indian civil servants by combining Vedic values with public policy, aiming to shape ethical and resilient leaders. He also leads the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, which works to preserve and translate ancient scriptures. The center offers higher education in philosophy and comparative religion, connecting traditional knowledge with today's social challenges. Books that turn ancient wisdom into modern tools To make spiritual tools more useful in today's world, Gauranga Das has written two books– The Art of Resilience and The Art of Focus. Both are based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita but focus on modern problems like distraction, stress, and burnout.
India.com
26-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Same IIT Batch, Different Journeys: One Heads Leading Tech Company, Other Embraced Spirituality
photoDetails english 2922473 Updated:Jun 26, 2025, 02:15 PM IST Same Start, Different Paths 1 / 8 Interesting how destiny plays its roles, two people of the same age, from the same batch and studied in one of the most renowned colleges, Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) have such different lives. One leads the giant tech company while the other chooses tranquility. Tech Giant 2 / 8 Studied in IIT Kharagpur, Today, he is one of the most influential figures in the tech world, leading a company that shapes how billions connect, search, and explore. His journey is marked by vision, strategy, and innovation. Monk 3 / 8 Once a student of science and engineering, graduated from IIT Bombay. And he chose to reject the corporate ladder in pursuit of something deeper. Devoted to spiritual growth and selfless service, his days are now guided by introspection, simplicity, and the wisdom of ancient texts. Sundar Pichai 4 / 8 CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai is one of the most influential figures in the global tech industry today. He joined Google in 2004, initially working on the Google Toolbar and later leading the development of Google Chrome, which became one of the most popular web browsers in the world. Gauranga Das 5 / 8 Gauranga Das is a spiritual teacher, monk, and environmental advocate whose journey from the academic halls of IIT Bombay to the ashrams of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is as inspiring as it is unique. He is a motivational speaker, counselor, and mentor to thousands. Their Meet-Up 6 / 8 Recently they met at India Global Forum 2025, where Pichai appreciated Gauranga's looks and he sarcastically replied, 'You deal with Google, I deal with God'. This comment, while humorous, also reflected the essence of their respective lives, one navigating the fast-paced tech world, the other rooted in spiritual discipline and mindfulness. Same Batch 7 / 8 At the same event. Gauranga Das said 'You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress." Two Paths, Same Grace 8 / 8 The reunion of Sundar Pichai and Gauranga Das is a gentle reminder that success and fulfillment can take any form. Whether it's leading one of the biggest tech companies in the world or finding purpose in a spiritual life, both journeys offer lessons in dedication, values, and impact.
Economic Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Sundar Pichai met his IIT batchmate-turned monk who looked 'younger'. His reply: 'You deal with Google, I with God'
Monk Gauranga Das, an IIT Bombay graduate was in the same batch as Google's Sundar Pichai. (Pic courtesy: Agencies) 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 is also the author of Art of Resilience and Art of 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 )
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sundar Pichai's IIT batchmate Gauranga Das who turned 'monk' looks younger than him; his reason: 'You deal with Google, I deal with God'
Sundar Pichai's IIT batchmate Gauranga Das who turned 'monk' looks younger than him; his reason: 'You deal with Google, I deal with God' In a moment that appealed to seekers of spirituality as well as tech enthusiasts, there was an unforgettable exchange between Google CEO Sundar Pichai and ISKCON monk Gauranga Das at the India Global Forum 2025 in London. The discussion between them, which had started lively with a jocular remark about being youthful, soon turned into an introspective discussion on the stark contrast between corporate stress and spiritual tranquility. Gauranga Das, a graduate from IIT Bombay, who now heads programs in sustainable living and spiritual education, used the moment to highlight some of the most pressing concerns of our digital times - mental health and the increasing digital addiction epidemic. The difference between these two IIT graduates was more than physical or professional; it was philosophical. While one sits at the head of one of the most influential tech giants in the world, the other has dedicated his life to leading people to inner understanding and spiritual direction. The meeting wasn't merely a reunion; it was a comparison of two radically different directions based on the same intellectual heritage. It was an effective metaphor for the decisions contemporary society must make today: progress without equilibrium, or innovation backed by internal wellness. IIT Monk to Sundar Pichai: 'Google brings stress, God releases it by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Undo Gauranga Das and Sundar Pichai, though having started at the same time at IIT Bombay, followed different career paths early on in life. Pichai went into technology and became the CEO of Google, a company that is at the heart of the digital revolution. Das instead went down the path of spiritual discovery and service, becoming an ISKCON member and dedicating himself to bringing ancient wisdom into modern settings. Their meeting at the India Global Forum 2025 was noticed when Pichai noted the way young Gauranga Das looked compared to his age. Das responded with an answer that went viral instantly for its simplicity and profundity: "Sundar Pichai deals with Google, which creates stress, whereas I deal with God, who releases stress." This one sentence highlighted a wider discussion regarding what it means to live from purpose rather than performance. It also spawned a wider debate regarding how spiritual tools can assist with coping with rising levels of stress inflicted as a result of round-the-clock digital interaction. 70% of Indian teens spend 7 hours online: ISKCON monk warns of mental health fallout In his address to the forum, Gauranga Das reported shocking statistics regarding digital addiction, specifically social media. Based on the information he provided, more than 230 million individuals globally are addicted to social media. In India alone, 70% of adolescents spend as much as seven hours per day on the net, a figure that indicates increasing worry for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals. Das linked these figures to the wider problem of declining mental health worldwide. Referring to world trends, he identified that one in seven individuals is presently suffering from some sort of mental health difficulty. These are anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and chronic stress; maladies that are increasingly being attributed to excessive exposure to digital content and a mindfulness deficit in daily life. This was not simply an attack on technology, but a call to awaken to how we engage with it. Das leveraged the platform to promote a more holistic digital life, one that includes frequent breaks, mindful use, and spiritual anchoring. A spiritual path grounded in scientific wisdom Gauranga Das is not only a monk who has spiritual wisdom; he is also an engineer who has been trained and who has a deep understanding of how technology functions and how it may affect human psychology. This makes him uniquely qualified in matters that lie at the interface between science and spirituality. Das is also a senior member of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON and the director of Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a green living community that was established under the inspiration of Radhanath Swami. GEV is not only an ashram, it is a widely acclaimed model of how to apply ancient wisdom to modern sustainability practices. It won the UN World Tourism Organization Award in 2017, and it is also accredited with key United Nations organisations such as UNEP, ECOSOC, UNCCD, and CBD. Under Das's stewardship, GEV has turned into an exemplar of the way communities can be in harmony with nature yet maintain essential spiritual principles. It should not be astonishing that numerous young professionals, such as engineers, physicians, and policy makers, now journey to the Ecovillage for leadership training and retreats. Gauranga Das's unique approach to leadership Aside from his work in the Ecovillage, Gauranga Das also heads the Govardhan School of Public Leadership, an institution that prepares wannabe civil servants of India. The founder created the school to develop resilient leaders imbued with ethical values by the integration of Vedic wisdom alongside contemporary public policy training. Das also leads the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, where ancient manuscripts are kept, translated, and analysed in academic contexts. This centre offers postgraduate studies in philosophy and comparative religion, providing students access to systems of knowledge that are both ancient and extremely useful today. Through such platforms, Das prioritises staying resilient, focused, and mentally clear; qualities that are typically undervalued in demanding corporate settings but are key to sustained success and satisfaction. Books that bridge the gap between worlds To make spiritual insights more common, Gauranga Das has written two influential books: The Art of Resilience The Art of Focus Both books borrow from scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita but touch on very contemporary issues like office burnout, distraction, and individual discontentment. These books have spoken to spiritual seekers as well as working professionals seeking down-to-earth, real-life counsel on surviving life's stress. In interviews and talks, Das has consistently emphasised that spiritual tools are not exclusive to monks or renunciants. They are equally relevant to CEOs, students, and anyone navigating the complexities of modern life. Also read | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is available for just Rs 87,000 on Flipkart; know how to grab the deal AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
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Business Standard
25-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
'You deal with Google, I with God': When IIT batchmate met Sundar Pichai
While tech leaders chase productivity hacks to fight stress and ageing, IIT Bombay graduate-turned-monk Gauranga Das says spirituality is the real solution. At the India Global Forum 2025 in London, he shared a memorable encounter with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, sparking a wider conversation on mental health, digital addiction, and inner peace. When Gauranga Das met batchmate Sundar Pichai? Gauranga Das, a former IIT Bombay student who renounced his promising engineering career to follow a spiritual path, recalled meeting Sundar Pichai, his IIT contemporary, years after graduation. While they never interacted during college, Pichai was quick to compliment the monk's youthful appearance during their reunion. The monk's witty response, 'You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress,' drew laughter and sparked reflection among attendees. Gauranga Das on the mental health issue The anecdote served as a powerful entry point into Gauranga Das's broader commentary on digital overuse and the mental health crisis. Citing alarming statistics, he said over 230 million people globally are addicted to social media, and in India, 70 per cent of teens spend an average of 7 hours online daily. He warned that 1 in 7 people worldwide suffer from mental health issues, fueled in part by excessive screen time and constant digital engagement. Who is Gauranga Das? Gauranga Das is a globally recognised spiritual leader, environmentalist, and educator. An alumnus of IIT Bombay, he is currently a senior monk in the ISKCON Governing Body Commission and director of the Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a model for sustainable living that won the UNWTO Award in 2017 and holds accreditations from UNEP, ECOSOC, UNCCD, and CBD. Apart from his environmental work, he plays a key role in leadership and education. He is a board member at the Govardhan School of Public Leadership, which prepares aspirants for India's civil services, and heads the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, which preserves ancient Vedic scriptures and offers postgraduate programs in philosophy. He is also the author of 'Art of Resilience' and 'Art of Focus'. Gauranga Das's insights at the India Global Forum 2025 emphasised the urgent need to balance digital life with spiritual grounding, an idea that resonated across the tech and wellness communities alike.
