At a time when tech leaders are constantly seeking productivity tools and life hacks to remain youthful and stress-free, an Indian monk and IIT graduate believes he has already unlocked the secret—and it’s entirely non-digital. Speaking at the India Global Forum 2025 in London, ISKCON monk Gauranga Das shared a compelling personal anecdote involving Google CEO Sundar Pichai, triggering thoughtful discussions on spirituality, digital burnout, and the toll of modern life.
On the final day of the event, Gauranga Das, a graduate of IIT Bombay who once appeared set for a bright career in engineering before taking a spiritual path, captivated the audience with his story. During his address, he recalled meeting Sundar Pichai, who was part of the same graduating batch at IIT, though in a different department. Despite not interacting during their student days, the two eventually crossed paths years later under very different circumstances.
What stood out during their meeting was a light-hearted yet meaningful exchange about their appearance. Gauranga Das recounted that Pichai, now 53 and at the helm of one of the world’s most powerful tech giants, remarked on the monk’s notably youthful appearance. In response, the spiritual leader pointed to the divergent lifestyles they lead. He quoted the Google CEO as saying that he looked younger, to which Gauranga Das replied, “You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress.”
The crowd responded warmly to the story, appreciating its humor and underlying wisdom. The remark provided a perfect segue into the monk’s deeper message about the modern mental health crisis, especially one driven by digital overuse. Gauranga Das used the platform to issue a stark warning about the consequences of excessive screen time and growing social media dependence.
He backed up his concerns with data that emphasized the alarming spread of digital addiction. According to him, a staggering 230 million people across the globe are currently addicted to social media. Narrowing it down to India, he claimed that 70 percent of the country’s teenagers are spending an average of seven hours each day online. Additionally, he pointed out that one in every seven individuals worldwide is suffering from mental health disorders.
Gauranga Das used this backdrop to urge a return to more mindful living, emphasizing that a connection with the divine or spiritual discipline could act as a much-needed antidote to the overwhelming pressures of modern digital life.
So who is Gauranga Das? He is not just any monk; his multifaceted profile reveals a deep engagement with both the spiritual and the environmental realms. A product of IIT Bombay, he chose to renounce material pursuits early in life and is now a spiritual teacher, environmental advocate, and education reformer. Presently, he serves as a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission and is the director of the Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), an innovative project envisioned by Radhanath Swami that serves as a model for sustainable living.
Under Gauranga Das’s stewardship, Govardhan Ecovillage has gained international recognition. It was honored with the United Nations World Tourism Organization Award in 2017 and has earned accreditations from multiple key UN institutions, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
In addition to his environmental work, Das plays a pivotal role in education and leadership training. He serves on the board of the Govardhan School of Public Leadership, which helps prepare candidates for India’s civil services. He also heads the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, an institution that works to preserve ancient Vedic manuscripts and provides postgraduate education in philosophy. His literary contributions include the books Art of Resilience and Art of Focus, both of which explore timeless wisdom through a modern lens.
While Gauranga Das has carved his niche in spiritual and ecological circles, Sundar Pichai’s journey has unfolded in the high-stakes world of global technology. Born on June 10, 1972, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Pichai grew up in Chennai and later enrolled in IIT Kharagpur, where he pursued metallurgical engineering. His academic brilliance was evident early on—he received a silver medal for his performance at IIT.
Pichai’s pursuit of knowledge took him abroad, where he earned a master’s degree from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Google in 2004, he worked with Applied Materials and the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
At Google, Pichai was instrumental in shaping several flagship products that have become staples of the digital era. He played key roles in the creation and growth of Google Chrome, ChromeOS, Gmail, Google Drive, and Android. His influence at the company continued to grow, and in 2015, he was appointed CEO of Google. In 2019, he assumed leadership of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, succeeding co-founder Larry Page.
As CEO, Pichai has overseen Google’s strategic push into artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. His leadership and impact have earned him global recognition. He was named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in both 2016 and 2020. In 2022, he received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, for his distinguished contributions to trade and industry.
Despite their vastly different paths—one driven by Silicon Valley innovation, the other by ancient Vedic wisdom—both men have emerged as iconic representatives of modern India on the world stage. Their chance meeting and Gauranga Das’s humorous yet thought-provoking remark have opened up a broader conversation about stress, life choices, and the need to re-evaluate what success truly means in an increasingly digital world.
By placing spirituality in the spotlight amid a tech-dominated narrative, Gauranga Das left his audience with a resonant message: real rejuvenation may not lie in productivity apps or CEO routines but in meaningful connection—to others, to nature, and perhaps, to a higher power.