Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Why the World Needs Spiritual Leaders More Than Ever

Republic Plenary Summit 2025 LIVE: More than 65 crore Hindus visited the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said this was possible because of the good facilities and infrastructure provided by the BJP government.  

He spoke about how people once felt hesitant about their religious identity and how that has changed now.  

People Were Shy About Their Religion  

"When the country is going through a tough time, there's a need for religious or spiritual leaders to go to people and provide support," he said.  

He explained that earlier, people felt shy about openly practicing their traditions. They thought religion was a personal matter and kept it to themselves.  

"There was a kind of low self-esteem. People were shy to express their faith. We always thought religion was our personal thing. We kept it to ourselves, thinking we cannot talk about it openly. There was a narrative going around that made people believe it is not cool or modern to go to Kumbh, visit temples, or follow traditions. People thought only uneducated or rural folks do that, and city people have nothing to do with it. But now that has changed. The country's leadership proudly claims, acknowledges, and honors our roots."  

He gave an example of how even government officers used to hide their religious identity.  

"Officers also went to temples and put a tika on their forehead, but when they stepped outside, they would wipe it off. But now, they don’t do that. Now, we are true to who we are. Earlier, we were hiding our identity. Now, the leadership stands for our culture, our civilization, our religion. Our Prime Minister stands for it, and other ministers also stand for it. People have woken up, and now they feel comfortable. It’s like coming out of shackles. We were trying to be someone we are not. Now we know it’s okay to be who we are. That self-confidence has come."  

Transformation of Indian Temples 

Gurudev spoke about how many temples in India were in bad condition before but have now been restored.  

"Kedarnath was in shackles when we went there. Now, there is such a big difference. Same with Kashi. Earlier, the lanes were dirty, and people didn’t want to go there. The waiting time was too long. But thanks to the Prime Minister for making Kashi Vishwanath like the Vatican of India. It needed good facilities, and now it has them. The same thing has happened in Mahakal, Ujjain. The glory of Ujjain, which we had only read about in books, can now be seen."  

How the West Sees India  

Gurudev also spoke about how people in the West have wrong ideas about India and how things are changing now.  

"People’s minds were blocked by prejudice, superiority, and limited thinking. But now, the changes happening in the world have broken those walls. People can see beyond them now.  

If you look at the news in the United States, 95% of the coverage is only about America. If something happens in the Middle East, it takes up more space. But what happens in Korea, Japan, or other parts of the world? They don’t care about it. But this is changing. The narrative is not the same anymore."
 

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"Kedarnath was in ruins when we first went there. Now, it has completely transformed. The same happened with Kashi. Earlier, the lanes were in poor condition, and people were reluctant to visit. But thanks to the Prime Minister, Kashi Vishwanath has been restored—it is like the Vatican of India, and it deserves the best facilities. The same transformation has happened in Ujjain with Mahakal. The glory of these places, which we had only read about in books, is now visible again."  

The Republic Plenary Summit 2025, India’s biggest and most influential news event, is live, bringing together the brightest minds to shape the future of a Limitless India—an India of infinite potential, innovation, and global leadership. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest, the summit opened with a ceremonial lamp lighting by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, setting the stage for transformative discussions. 

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