60th birth anniversary celebrates not just one life, but the lives transformed by it; galaxy of saints, stalwarts and seekers gathers as 60 landmark initiatives are announced
Mumbai, September 27, 2026: The Jio World Convention Centre became a meeting point for spiritual seekers, leaders and well-wishers from across the world on September 25–26, as Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur hosted “Aho Gurudev – 60 Years of an Enlightened Existence.”
The two-day celebration marked the 60th birth anniversary of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, spiritual master, humanitarian, ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandraji and founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur.
Ostensibly a celebration of a milestone birthday, the gathering went beyond conventional commemorations. Spiritual leaders, corporate leaders, philanthropists, young volunteers and thousands of seekers from 214 cities and 24 countries came together under one roof to celebrate a life dedicated to spiritual awakening and humanitarian service.
The gathering featured revered spiritual figures including Pujya Morari Bapu, Pujya Anandmurti Gurumaa, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji, Brahma Kumari Sister Shivani, Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswatiji and Bhiku Sanghasenaji.
The event also witnessed the participation of distinguished dignitaries and public figures, including Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha; Padma Vibhushan N. R. Narayana Murthy, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Infosys; Padma Bhushan N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons; Lt. Gen. D. S. Kushwah, PVSM, AVSM, SM, GOC, Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa Area; Padma Shri Hema Malini, Member of Parliament from Mathura; Padma Bhushan Deepak Parekh, former Chairman of HDFC; Padma Shri Dilip Shanghvi, Founder and Managing Director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries; Padma Shri Sanjeev Kapoor, culinary personality and Co-Founder of Wonderchef; Manoj Modi, Director, Reliance Retail & Reliance Jio; Vinod Adani, Promoter, Adani Group; Ashok Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Group; actor and producer Ranbir Kapoor; Sudhir Mehta, Chairman Emeritus, Torrent Group; Sonam Kapoor Ahuja; Nilesh Shah, MD, Kotak Mahindra AMC; Motilal Oswal; and Madhukar Parekh, Chairman, Pidilite Industries.
60 Landmark Initiatives for Spiritual and Humanitarian Upliftment
A defining highlight of the celebration was the announcement of 60 new initiatives, divided equally between spiritual and Seva projects.
The Seva initiatives include the Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal Cancer Hospital, the Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal Hospital and Medical College in Surendranagar, the Shrimad Rajchandra Mental Health Initiative, and 60 new Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care Centres.
The initiatives also include multi-speciality mega medical camps, anaemia and vision-care camps across India with an aim to reach 60 million lives, as well as a major animal-care campus in Dharampur comprising four institutions — the Shrimad Rajchandra Animal Hospital, animal shelter, Institute of Veterinary Science and Ahimsa Awareness Centre — along with an animal hospital in Malad.
Other initiatives include Shrimad Rajchandra DISHA, a free AI-powered career guidance platform; the Shrimad Rajchandra School for Special Needs Children in Mumbai; Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal University for rural India; an afforestation initiative; and programmes focused on women’s empowerment, community welfare and environmental sustainability.
Initiatives for Spiritual Growth
The spiritual initiatives include new spiritual centres in Mumbai and additional spaces at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, including the Shrimad Rajchandra Wellness Centre, Solitude Groves (Ekant Kutirs) and the Shrimad Rajchandra Museum.
The Mission also announced six new satsang centres in South America and plans to make Pujya Gurudevshri’s discourses, books and meditations available in eight of the world’s most widely spoken languages.
Among the other initiatives are 60 books, comprising six titles in 10 languages; Pujya Gurudevshri’s commentary on Shrimad Rajchandraji’s Atmasiddhi Shastra in 60 languages; Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra in 60 languages; and “BEYOND,” a visual biography of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji.
Eleven Seekers Take Atmarpit Diksha
The celebration also witnessed the sacred Atmarpit Diksha ceremony, during which eleven young seekers took vows of celibacy and committed themselves to a life dedicated to a higher spiritual purpose.
On the evening of September 26, the cultural tribute “Aho Gurudev” brought together youth performers who paid tribute to the life and work of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji.
Across the two-day programme, Gurudevshri Rakeshji delivered three discourses centred on “Choosing Consciously,” “Renouncing Courageously” and “Serving Compassionately.”
From Early Spiritual Inclination to a Global Mission
According to the Mission, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji began drawing seekers from an early age. Over six decades, his spiritual journey has developed into a global presence spanning continents and reaching millions of people.
His work has connected with young people seeking purpose, professionals seeking spiritual perspective, communities receiving humanitarian assistance and people across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
From educational initiatives and healthcare services to animal welfare and environmental programmes, the Mission’s activities reflect an approach in which spirituality is expressed through service and compassionate action.
The celebration therefore focused not merely on the passage of six decades, but on the lives touched and transformed through Gurudevshri’s teachings and humanitarian vision.
Narayana Murthy: “India’s Future Will Be Shaped by the Quality of Its People”
Addressing the gathering, Padma Vibhushan N. R. Narayana Murthy, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Infosys, paid tribute to Gurudevshri Rakeshji and spoke about the connection between spirituality, compassion and social action.
“The true measure of any spiritual tradition lies not just in its teachings, but in the compassion it inspires through action,” Murthy said, referring to the 60 initiatives unveiled during the celebration.
He emphasised the importance of human values in India's development, saying that the country's future cannot be determined by technology and infrastructure alone and that its destiny would ultimately be shaped by the quality of its people.
Recalling his interaction with Gurudevshri, Murthy said he had requested him to help initiate a cultural transformation, adding that if India’s culture could be transformed into a desirable one, “Viksit Bharat” could be achieved more rapidly.
N. Chandrasekaran Highlights Values and Purpose
Padma Bhushan N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, described the occasion as a privilege and spoke about the values associated with Gurudevshri’s work.
Reflecting on his four decades with the Tata Group, Chandrasekaran highlighted trust, character, discipline, perseverance and hard work as values that build great individuals and institutions.
He said Gurudevshri’s teachings and his work with young people were helping spread these values and a sense of purpose among growing numbers of people.
Chandrasekaran expressed gratitude to Gurudevshri and sought his blessings for himself and everyone present at the celebration.
Ranbir Kapoor: “That Is What True Spirituality Is”
Actor and producer Ranbir Kapoor described his experience at the celebration as deeply moving, speaking about the collective atmosphere of joy and happiness.
Kapoor congratulated Gurudevshri on his 60th birthday and acknowledged his work in serving and uplifting people.
He particularly highlighted the Mission’s healthcare initiatives, saying that seeing specialised doctors and healthcare professionals travel to remote parts of the country to heal people and serve communities represented, in his view, an expression of true spirituality.
Kapoor also reflected on his own spiritual journey and his experience of portraying Bhagwan Ram in Ramayan, saying the role brought him closer to India’s spiritual heritage.
He expressed his desire to visit the ashram in Dharampur and concluded by extending his birthday wishes to Gurudevshri.
A Celebration That Moves Beyond a Milestone
The grandeur of “Aho Gurudev – 60 Years of an Enlightened Existence” was visible in the scale of the gathering, but the central message remained rooted in a simple idea: that inner transformation can find expression through compassionate action.
With Mumbai serving as the first destination, the year-long celebration is scheduled to travel across India and overseas, including Dubai, London, Toronto and cities across the United States.
The celebration thus marked six decades of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s life while placing equal emphasis on the people, communities and causes touched by his spiritual and humanitarian work.
