Bhanumathi Narasimhan launches first official biography of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Mumbai amidst fanfare

Team Udayavani, Apr 25, 2018, 12:00 PM IST

Mumbai: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s sister Bhanumathi Narasimhan today launched her book Gurudev: On The Plateau Of The Peak – The Life Of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the first-ever official biography of the revered spiritual leader and founder of The Art of Living – Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, at Royal Opera House, Mumbai. Gracing the event, Neerja Birla and Mrunalini Deshmukh engaged in an intriguing conversation about the book with the author. The session was moderated by the enigmatic Kavita Khanna.

The event witnessed an ecstatic crowd eager to learn more about the life and philosophy of the revered Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Relating to stories from childhood and connecting it to the present, Bhanumathi gives shape to all her joyous memories in Gurudev’s first authorized biography. The book already an Amazon bestseller promises to be a treat for those who are curious about the relatively unknown years of Gurudev.

The book sheds light on his life from his childhood to growing-up years, when he was an unassuming boy, to a teenager in the company of saints, from a young meditation teacher to a revered spiritual Master.

It’s about a life that has brought about a profound and holistic shift in every sphere of human endeavour— from art to architecture, health care to rehabilitation, inner peace to outer dynamism.

Speaking at the launch of the biography, Bhanumathi, who is also the Chairperson of the International Women Conference, said, “Gurudev is an open book, and though everybody knows him, nobody really knows him. When I started writing, I wanted to make sure that it is relevant to the new readers. My aim in writing the book, is just to make the reader happy. I hope to enrich the lives of the readers through this book.”

Speaking on Bhanumathi’s passionate work towards women and children welfare, Mrunalini Deshmukh said, “The radiance and brilliance of Bhanu didi is overwhelming.”

Apart from authoring this book and being the younger sister of Gurudev, Bhanumathi Narasimhan also leads several empowerment projects, including the Art of Living’s school project under which more than fifty thousand students get free education in schools in the remotest regions of the country. She also travels across the world teaching meditation to thousands of people from all faiths and nationalities.

Gurudev: On The Plateau Of The Peak- The Life Of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is published by Westland (an Amazon company) and is available at:

About Bhanumathi Narasimhan :

Bhanumathi Narasimhan is the younger sister of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Innocently at first, and with joyful awareness later, she has followed her brother, her Master, every step of the way. Walking the path, she has witnessed the unfolding of the mystical life of the Master and shares these insightful moments with a wider audience in the book. Inspired by his vision for a stress-free world, she leads the women welfare and child-care initiatives at the Art of Living foundation.

About her book – Gurudev: On The Plateau Of The Peak – The Life of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

It was an era when the wisdom of yoga had been buried under years of ritual practices, when religion outweighed human values, when games were becoming wars and wars were being played like games. It was at such a time that, in a quaint village in south India, a small child was found in deep meditation. He would say, ‘I have family everywhere. People are waiting for me.’

Nobody believed him then.

Time would reveal the destiny of the millions who would come to him to discover themselves. Over the years, his sublime presence and pragmatic teachings would make the ethereal tangible, the Sudarshan Kriya a household practice, and inspire people to seek a higher purpose in life. He would teach the values of joy, peace and love towards people and the world.

From an unassuming boy to a teenager in the company of saints, from a young meditation teacher to a revered spiritual Master, this book is a peek into the life of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who brought about a profound shift in every sphere of human endeavour— from art to architecture, health care to rehabilitation, inner peace to outer dynamism.

Gurudev: On the Plateau of the Peak is an attempt to fit the ocean in a teacup, offering readers a sip of infinity.