Gauranga Das, an ISKCON monk and alumnus of IIT Bombay, recently shared a light-hearted yet thought-provoking anecdote about his encounter with Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Speaking on the final day of the India Global Forum 2025 in London, Das recalled their meeting years after graduating from IIT. Although both were part of the same batch—Das from IIT Bombay and Pichai from IIT Kharagpur—their paths never crossed during college. However, when they eventually met, Pichai, now 53, complimented Das on his youthful appearance.
“I went to IIT in the same batch as Sundar Pichai. Years later, we met, and he said, ‘You look younger than me.’ I replied, ‘You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress,’” Das shared, drawing laughter and reflection from the audience. His remark humorously highlighted the contrast between the fast-paced tech world and the peace he found through spirituality after leaving a promising engineering career.
During his address at Taj St. James’ Court, Gauranga Das also raised serious concerns about digital well-being. He spoke about the growing impact of social media on mental health, especially among the youth. “We have a huge problem. Globally, 230 million are addicted to social media. In Bharat alone, 70% of teenagers spend seven hours daily online. One in seven people around the world is suffering from mental health issues,” he noted, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and balance in the digital age.
