What was spiritual leader Gauranga Das’ ‘Google vs God’ reply to Sundar Pichai that went viral?
At the India Global Forum 2025 in London, ISKCON monk Gauranga Das shared a personal story that struck a chord with many. He recalled a casual conversation with his IIT batchmate and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a wedding. Pichai had joked that Gauranga Das looked much younger. Smiling, the monk had replied:“Naturally — you deal with Google, I deal with God.”That one simple line has since gone viral—not just for its humour, but for the deeper message behind it. Speaking at the event, Gauranga Das used the story to reflect on rising stress, environmental problems, and the growing mental health crisis. He called for a return to values like Dharma, selfless service, and respect for nature as a way to bring real change and balance into the world.From IIT to very different livesBoth Pichai and Das started out as students at India’s premier engineering institutes– Sundar Pichai at IIT Kharagpur, and Gauranga Das at IIT Bombay. But their journeys took very different turns. While one went on to lead one of the world’s biggest tech giants, the other chose a life dedicated to spiritual exploration and service.
Today, Gauranga Das is a senior monk with ISKCON, actively involved in various initiatives that blend spiritual principles with environmental sustainability, education, and leadership development.The rising stress of screen time and social mediaAccording to a Times of India report, while speaking at the forum, Gauranga Das raised concerns about the growing impact of digital overuse on mental well-being. He highlighted that over 230 million people around the world are currently addicted to social media– a number that, he said, points to a deeper mental health crisis tied to how we engage with technology.Focusing on India, he noted that nearly 70% of adolescents in the country spend close to seven hours a day online– a trend that’s become a serious concern for educators and health experts.
Das emphasized that the rise in screen time is closely linked to a surge in stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders. But he made it clear– this isn’t about blaming technology. Instead, it’s a reminder to reflect on how we’re choosing to use it.Where tech knowledge meets spiritual wisdomGauranga Das combines his background in engineering with his spiritual path, offering a unique view that connects modern thinking with traditional wisdom. Once a tech student, he now takes a thoughtful and practical approach to today’s challenges. He leads the Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a sustainable living project near Mumbai guided by ISKCON’s Radhanath Swami. The Ecovillage has received global recognition, including an award from the UN World Tourism Organization, and works with groups like UNEP, ECOSOC, UNCCD, and CBD.Under his leadership, GEV promotes eco-friendly practices, rural development, and community living based on spiritual values.
Training future leaders with values and purposeApart from his work in sustainability, Gauranga Das is also involved in leadership training through the Govardhan School of Public Leadership. The school helps train future Indian civil servants by combining Vedic values with public policy, aiming to shape ethical and resilient leaders.He also leads the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre, which works to preserve and translate ancient scriptures. The center offers higher education in philosophy and comparative religion, connecting traditional knowledge with today’s social challenges.Books that turn ancient wisdom into modern toolsTo make spiritual tools more useful in today’s world, Gauranga Das has written two books– The Art of Resilience and The Art of Focus. Both are based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita but focus on modern problems like distraction, stress, and burnout.
