Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy attended a satsang at the Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru on Sunday, 25 May 2026, as part of celebrations marking 45 years of the Art of Living Organisation and the 70th birthday of its founder, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Context

Addressing the gathering, Reddy highlighted the Art of Living's role in carrying India's spiritual values, yoga, and the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ('the world is one family') to a global audience. He underscored the organisation's decades-long work in spreading peace, harmony, and humanitarian service through spirituality.

The Art of Living Foundation, established in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is headquartered in Bengaluru and operates yoga, meditation, and relief programmes across more than 150 countries, making it one of the largest spirituality-focused NGOs of Indian origin.

Policy Backdrop

Reddy's participation fits a pattern of senior government ministers engaging with major spiritual institutions as part of India's soft-power strategy. Since 2014, successive Union governments have actively promoted yoga and Indian cultural heritage in international diplomacy, anchored by India's successful push for the United Nations to declare 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has also been formally adopted as the theme of India's G20 Presidency in 2023, reflecting how ancient philosophical ideas are being woven into contemporary foreign policy narratives. Organisations such as the Art of Living serve as non-state carriers of this messaging on the global stage.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Art of Living's milestone anniversary draws significance not only for its millions of practitioners in India but also for its extensive international volunteer and wellness network. The organisation's programmes — spanning stress-relief workshops, rural development, and disaster relief — have positioned it as a significant civil-society actor alongside formal government outreach.

For Telangana and the broader BJP base in southern India, Reddy's visible presence at a high-profile spiritual gathering in Bengaluru also carries political resonance, reinforcing the party's cultural-nationalist messaging ahead of future electoral cycles in the region.

What's Next

Observers will watch whether the government moves to formally integrate Art of Living wellness or skill-development modules into AYUSH Ministry programmes or related national schemes, a step that would deepen institutional ties between the state and the organisation. Any reference to such collaboration in forthcoming parliamentary sessions or Union budget allocations would signal a more structured partnership beyond ceremonial participation.