At the India Global Forum 2025 in London, a unique and heart-touching moment took place. Google CEO Sundar Pichai met his old IIT Bombay batchmate Gauranga Das, who is now a spiritual monk and member of ISKCON. Their conversation was both funny and deep—it began with a light joke about age but soon turned into a powerful discussion about life choices, stress, and finding peace.
Read more: What Makes Sundar Pichai So Productive? His 10 Rules Might Surprise You!
Two Different Paths from the Same Start
Both Sundar Pichai and Gauranga Das studied at IIT Bombay. But after graduation, they chose very different paths.
- Pichai went into technology and is now one of the most powerful tech leaders in the world.
- Gauranga Das, on the other hand, chose a spiritual path. He joined ISKCON and now teaches people how to live peacefully and mindfully.
When they met, Pichai joked that Gauranga Das looked younger than him. Das replied with a line that went viral:
“You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who removes stress.”
This one sentence deeply touched people across the internet.
A Talk About Mental Health and Digital Addiction
Gauranga Das spoke about serious problems people are facing today, especially due to excessive use of digital devices.
He shared that:
- Over 230 million people around the world are addicted to social media.
- In India, 70% of teenagers spend 7 hours or more online every day.
- Because of this, mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and stress are increasing.
He stressed that we don’t need to reject technology, but we should use it mindfully. Take breaks, avoid overuse, and stay connected to your inner peace.
A Monk With Scientific Knowledge
Gauranga Das is not just a spiritual teacher—he is also an engineer who understands technology well. This helps him connect both science and spirituality in his talks and teachings.
He is the director of Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a spiritual and eco-friendly community that promotes sustainable living.
- GEV has won awards from the United Nations and is known for showing how we can live in harmony with nature and spiritual values.
Building Leaders of Tomorrow
Gauranga Das also runs the Govardhan School of Public Leadership, which helps future civil servants learn ethical leadership using Vedic wisdom and modern education.
He also manages the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, which preserves and teaches ancient Indian scriptures.
Books for the Modern World
To help people deal with everyday stress, he has written two popular books:
- The Art of Resilience
- The Art of Focus
These books mix teachings from the Bhagavad Gita with practical advice for handling stress, distractions, and burnout at work or in life.
Conclusion
The meeting between Sundar Pichai and Gauranga Das reminded the world of one important thing:
Success and innovation are important—but without peace of mind, they mean little.
Gauranga Das’s life and message show that spiritual tools are not just for monks—they are useful for everyone, from CEOs to students, helping us stay calm, focused, and happy in this fast-paced digital world.
