Art of Living International Centre, Bengaluru
A country or a society, where women are unhappy, will remain impoverished,”
shared Gurudev in his inaugural address
at the 10th International Women’s Conference
Over three transformative days, voices
from different walks of life merged into a powerful dialogue—on breaking barriers, rediscovering the self, and embracing
wellbeing. The sessions blended profound discussions with deep rest, reflection, and cultural expressions, creating a space where knowledge met wisdom, and inspiration flowed from the heart.
In one special session, the coordinator of
Bahrain’s General Sport Authority from
Bahrain, an Indian actor and another
pioneer in digital and AI-generated art
from Turkey sat across the table for a
discussion on the role of creativity on the
mind and consciousness.
Sonakshi Sinha, leading Bollywood actress,
reflected: “Growing up, art was meditative
for me—it flowed naturally. The moment
I entered here, I felt a shift in my energy.
Creativity thrives where people strive to be
and do better.”
FMs. Noorah Abdullah, Head of Following
and Coordinator, General Sport Authority,
Bahrain, shared her transformation: “With
The Art of Living, I found the freedom
to create and realized true creativity serves
the community.”
Underlining the importance of rest and
balance in the lives of women, Smt.
Bhanumathi Narasimhan, Chairperson
and the force behind the International
Women’s Conference shared, “As women
we are in a hurry to achieve more and get
more done. This is the time to relax and
just be. When you are relaxed, then you
can achieve more.”
Expanding on the essence of the
conference Smt. Amruta Fadnavis,
philanthropist and social activist, shared,
“It is about moving yourself away from
all the shackles that bind you mentally and
without these shackles you can achieve
anything that your mind perceives.”
A Tribute to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar For Bringing Inner Peace to
Millions
Many of the luminaries present
acknowledged the role played by the
global peace leader Gurudev Sri Sri
Ravi Shankar in bringing inner peace
for millions across 180 countries. Smt.
Droupadi Murmu, Hon. President of
India, highlighted Gurudev’s role in
preserving spiritual values: “India is a
spiritual country, but with changing times,
we are moving away from our roots. That
is why spiritual leaders like Gurudev are
here—to remind us of our forgotten
values and inspire us.”
On receiving the prestigious Vishalakshi
Award, Former Union Minister of
Education Smt. Smriti Irani shared: “There
is nothing more rewarding than receiving
an award in the name of a mother who
gave birth to a saint.”
Hon. Akie Abe, Former First Lady of
Japan, echoed Gurudev’s vision for a
violence-free world, reflecting on personal tragedy: “I have heard Gurudev say that
inside every culprit, there is a victim.
Instead of hating the person who took my
husband’s life, can I have compassion? Can I help prevent such violence? A society with less crime is certainly better than one that only supports victims after a crime.”
Sita Charitam: A Cultural and Visual
Splendor
The 10th International Women’s
Conference is a delightful blend of not
just dialogue and introspection, but it
also turned into a platform for cultural
expression as witnessed in the moving
theatrical presentation Sita Charitam. It
was a poetic retelling of the much-loved
and timeless epic Ramayana retold from
the perspective of Mother Sita with a
narrative soaked in unconditional love,
wisdom, resilience, devotion and grace.
A mega cast of 500 artists presenting 30
diverse dance, music and art forms woven into India’s first immersive 4D musical
ballet left the global audiences spell bound.
The show will carry the timeless tale
to 190 countries. The script, crafted in
English draws from over 20 versions of
the Ramayana, with original scores in
multiple indigenous languages that make it
a truly global cultural experience.
Srividya Varchaswi, Creative Director
of Sita Charitam, spoke about the
inspiration behind the production, “Sita’s
story reflects a story of transformation.
The entire play, script, and dialogues are
infused with Gurudev’s wisdom.” As the
curtains fell, the echoes of sisterhood,
creativity, and universal values lingered in every heart, lighting the path for a future shaped by wisdom, compassion, inner peace and joy.
