In Srinagar, 20,000 Students Join Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Call for a Drug-Free Kashmir 

SRINAGAR: In a major youth mobilisation drive against drug abuse, over 20,000 college and university students from across Kashmir gathered at Bakshi Stadium on Tuesday for the Edu-Youth Meet, addressed by global spiritual leader and founder of The Art of Living Foundation, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The event, organised by the Higher Education Department in collaboration with the Youth Services and Sports Department, marked one of the largest youth outreach efforts in recent years, aimed at tackling substance abuse and promoting mental wellness through holistic education.

Addressing the packed stadium, Gurudev called upon the young generation to take collective action against drugs and violence and to redefine education as a path of happiness, creativity, and compassion. “We will see that Kashmir is free from drugs,” he said, adding that the real solution lies within each individual. “Using their own power of breath, meditation and some exercises, one can easily come out of drug addiction.”

Drawing from Kashmir’s own spiritual heritage, Gurudev invoked the Spanda Karika and ancient breathing traditions of Kashmir Shaivism, describing meditation as “the heritage of Kashmir, not foreign to it.” He said, “This land gave meditation to the world, and it has nothing to do with any religious belief. Meditation keeps the intellect sharp and the mind happy.”

In a message that resonated deeply with the audience, Gurudev urged Kashmiri youth to uphold communal harmony and embrace love over conflict. “Kashmiri youth stand for communal harmony. Life is too short. Mohabbat karne ke liye samay kum hai, hum jhagre jhanjhat mein kyon pade,” he said, drawing loud applause from the students.

Earlier in the day, Gurudev interacted with seven Vice-Chancellors and over 30 college Principals from across Jammu and Kashmir, where the Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST proposed the establishment of Art of Living Centres on university campuses to help students cope with anxiety and stress. Gurudev pledged full support to integrate the Foundation’s wellness and life-skill programmes as co-curricular components in higher education institutions across the Union Territory, focusing on emotional resilience, leadership, and mindfulness.

Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Shantmanu, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to implementing such initiatives across colleges and universities to build a stress-free, value-based learning environment. He said the government’s goal was to make higher education more responsive to the emotional and mental health needs of students.

The day also saw Sri Sri Ravi Shankar meeting prominent educationists and citizens to discuss the future of youth engagement in Jammu and Kashmir. Later, he met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and is scheduled to visit the Srinagar Central Jail on Wednesday to interact with inmates who have undergone The Art of Living’s prison programme, designed to promote emotional stability, peace, and rehabilitation.

The Edu-Youth Meet concluded with students taking a pledge to build a peaceful, compassionate, and drug-free Kashmir — a vision that resonated across the stadium as Gurudev’s call for inner transformation found an eager and hopeful audience among the Valley’s young generation.