Bengaluru: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Transport and Youth Services & Sports Satish Sharma on Tuesday visited the Art of Living Foundation International Center in Bengaluru during celebrations marking 45 years of the organisation.
During the visit, the minister met spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and participated in a special Satsang at the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir meditation hall.
The hall was inaugurated earlier this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The month-long celebrations have brought together policymakers, artists, industrialists, sportspersons and spiritual leaders from India and abroad to mark four and a half decades of the organisation’s humanitarian initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, Satish Sharma highlighted the importance of compassion, emotional resilience and collective efforts in rebuilding communities and strengthening society.
He acknowledged the role played by the Art of Living Foundation in conducting stress-relief and trauma-healing interventions in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly for children and communities affected by conflict.
“The relief and healing that our children received from stress and trauma through your guidance is, in my view, among the greatest contributions made anywhere in India,” the minister said.
Satish Sharma also spoke about his personal journey of resilience and renewal during a difficult phase of life.
Highlighting the changing landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, he said the region is witnessing a period of transformation marked by growing optimism, renewed confidence and increasing opportunities for youth and communities.
The minister also spoke about tourism potential and expressed confidence that Jammu and Kashmir would emerge as a leading destination in the coming years.
During his visit, Satish Sharma toured various initiatives at the international centre, including the Sri Sri Gaushala, Gurukul and Ved Agama Paathshala, which focus on preserving traditional knowledge systems alongside contemporary education and values.
Officials said the visit also highlighted the work carried out by the Art of Living Foundation in Jammu and Kashmir over the past two decades in areas including trauma relief, youth leadership, peace building, prison rehabilitation, skill development and community empowerment.
