On May 16, 2025, the Indian Consulate, in collaboration with Bhakti Center, hosted a conversation with renowned monk and leadership coach and ISKCON Director Gauranga Das, known also for his work as a sustainability advocate and social reformer. The subject discussed at the forum was “Reconciling Purpose of Life with Pursuit of Work”
“In a world where success if often measured by titles and bank balances, Shri Gauranga Das invited us to pause – and reflect. Drawing from ancient Vedic wisdom and decades of personal practice, he shared that true prosperity lies in alignment: when our work becomes an expression of our higher purpose,” the Consulate posted on its X account.
A packed hall of some 150 attendees from across the city, listened intently to Das who is the director of Goverdhan Eco village in Palghar District, Maharashtra; on the ISKCON Governing Body Commission and plays many roles at ISKCON including as the chef who transformed the kitchens of this global spiritual organization. He is a Visiting Faculty at India Institute of Management in Nagpur, on the Board of Advisors of the Chanakya IAS Academy; a Counsellor at the United Nations Environment Program; author of several books, and the recipient of numerous awards.
Gauranga Das Prabhu’s talk explored how timeless spiritual principles can bring meaning and balance to modern professional lives. It sparked a discussion and questions from an audience that included business leaders, community organizers and spiritual seekers, a press release from Bhakti Center noted.
His ability to inspire and transform lives has earned him “a well-deserved reputation as a true champion in both the business world and the realm of personal growth,” his bio on the eponymous website gaurangadas.com says.
The Consul General of India in New York Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, in his speech to the gathering, offered his support for initiatives that promote spiritual understanding and inner well-being. Also present were Padma Shri recipient and Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media/ITV Gold Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Dr. Sudha Parikh, as well as Dilip Chauhan, NYC Deputy Commissioner for Trade and International Affairs, and Hemant Patel of Bhakti Center.
Govardhan Ecovillage headed by Das is a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ecovillage community accredited by multiple UN bodies, including UNEP, UNCCD, UN ECOSOC, and UN CBD. He also serves as UNEP’s Faith for Earth Counsellor, according to the Wikipedia profile on Das.
In 2023, he was the co-facilitator for the Food Systems, Hunger, and Poverty Working Group in the C20 Brazil on behalf of India. At that forum, he also served as the Co-Ordinator of the Food and LiFE Sub Working Group and led the initiative to declare 2023–2033 as the decade of conscious food production and consumption.
The Bhakti Center, which collaborated with the Indian Consulate for the event, is a spiritual cultural center in New York City’s East Village “devoted to sharing the experience of self-transformation through the timeless culture and practices of Bhakti-yoga,” the website says.
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