ISKCON monk and IIT Bombay alumnus Gauranga Das shared a light-hearted yet thoughtful moment from a past meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, revealing how Pichai complimented him on his youthful appearance during a reunion years after college.
Speaking at the India Global Forum 2025 in London, Gauranga Das recounted, “Sundar and I were in the same batch at IIT, though in different branches. When we finally met years later, he looked at me and said, ‘You look younger than me.’ I told him, ‘You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress.’”
The monk used this anecdote to highlight the impact of spiritual living versus high-stress corporate life, further connecting it to a growing global mental health crisis.
Citing alarming figures during his address at Taj St. James’ Court, Gauranga Das said, “Globally, 230 million people are addicted to social media. In Bharat alone, 70% of teenagers spend seven hours a day online. One in seven people worldwide suffers from mental health issues.”
He concluded by urging awareness around digital addiction and its psychological effects, while promoting spirituality as a path to resilience, peace, and emotional well-being.
