Punjab Honours Those Who Serve and Inspire: The Art of Living Celebrates Unsung Heroes Across India

Chandigarh, May 3, 2026: A moment of profound peace had been created when The Art of Living’s nationwide Unsung Heroes Awards, a grand felicitation ceremony took place at Hotel Hyatt, Chandigarh. The event marked the celebrations for the organisation’s 45th year of service to humanity.
The ceremony was graced by Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab as chief guest. He said, “Honouring unsung heroes is one of the most difficult tasks. Recognizing those who have not come into the public eye is truly challenging, and this effort by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar is deeply commendable. Often, we are able to honor only those who have achieved something visibly significant, but to acknowledge and celebrate those who remain unseen requires Gurudev’s grace and far-sighted vision.
Like the saying goes, the signs of greatness are visible from early childhood, it seems that Gurudev’s innate talents were evident from birth. Reading the Bhagvat Gita at the age of four reflects that his extraordinary abilities were present from a very young age. People across the world are thirsty for this knowledge. The Sudarshan Kriya technique that Gurudev has given for inner peace is a blessing for all of humanity. Gurudev is a living example of how one individual can transform so many lives.
Historically, India has been known not for conquering emperors, but as a land of peace, and Gurudev stands as a true messenger of that peace. He expresses his thoughts in simple language, which is why people admire him so much.
Those who have been honoured today first learned to earn in life, and then to give back. Service cannot be measured as big or small, whether a person is rich or poor, everyone makes an effort to serve in their own way. The work these individuals are doing for society is truly commendable. Guru Nanak Dev Ji also taught that we should share what we have and partake together. Our Guruji showed the world the true meaning and purpose of human life, and conveyed the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, that the entire world is one family. Guru Nanak Dev Ji explained in simple terms that air is our teacher and water is our father. Giving back is true altruism. When I was invited to this program, I felt truly fortunate.”
The ceremony honoured distinguished changemakers from Punjab whose quiet contributions have uplifted and created lasting positive change in the society. Dr Anish Dua while hosting explained about the inspiring stories of these unsung heroes. There were several fields like business and philanthropy, excellence in sports and youth leadership. The people who were awarded were Sudhir Goyal from Fatehgarh Sahib, Manukhta di Sewa Society from Ludhiana, Munish Goyal from Patiala, Col Gulshan Mehta from Bathinda, Vipul Taneja from S.A.S Nagar, Prabhat Sharma from Rupnagar, Sanjeev Kumar Tinku from Sri Muktsar Sahib, Sahil Jethi from Barnala, Manpreet Singh from Faridkot, Tejinder Singh from Faridkot, Chetan Sharma from Moga, Ritika Verma from Chandigarh, Dr Sandeep S Chhatwal from Chandigarh, Rajkaran Singh from ARKS School, Patiala, Jaswinder Gill from Fazilka, Sandeep Kumar Arora from Faridkot, Dr Anirudh Gupta from Ferozepur, Dr Disha Khanna from Jalandhar, Sanjhi Sikhiya Foundation from S.A.S Nagar.
Satnam Sandhu, Member of Parliament was present as the Guest of Honour. Addressing the gathering, he said, “This is a beautiful initiative to honour unsung heroes, those people who are working just to fulfill their passion and serving the society without any expectation, without any coverage. Government of India has also started the same thing now. The awards are now being conferred to those who deserve. Organisation like the Art of Living should run campaigns to save Punjab from the menace of Drugs and save the waters of Punjab. The Art of Living’s work is not only social, it also has spiritual intent, so people listen to what Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar says.”
The morning’s event started with singing Vande Mataram, followed by lighting the lamp.
“Spirituality is nothing but caring and sharing; offering oneself in service,” says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar, “Our lives will take a new direction if we take pride in non-violence, compassion, and service.”
The Unsung Heroes Awards are part of a nationwide initiative recognising district-level changemakers across three categories: Youth Leaders, Sportspersons, and Business & Philanthropy Leaders. Communities across more than 490 districts in India are participating in the celebrations through April and May.
Under Gurudev's vision of a stress-free, violence-free society, the organisation has, over four and a half decades, touched the lives of over 100 crore people across 182 countries through focused, grassroots programs in mental well-being, education, sustainable farming, water conservation, and youth leadership- all driven by an ever-growing movement of selfless volunteers. The organization’s impact extends to even the most unlikely places, with over 800,000 prison inmates across 65 countries have experienced transformation through the Art of Living Prison Rehabilitation Program.
This ethos of joyful service has given rise to some of India's most far-reaching grassroots programs. Across the country, 1,356 free schools bring the light of learning to over 1.2 lakh children, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Thousands of water conservation structures, built by volunteers, have improved groundwater levels across multiple states. Through natural and zero-budget farming initiatives, lakhs of farmers have adopted sustainable practices that reduce input costs, restore soil health, and free families from debt. Youth leadership programs have empowered lakhs of young leaders to drive change at the grassroots level, one community at a time.
The Art of Living Unsung Heroes Awards are a call to a nation to pause and recognise the silent force that has driven India forward: ordinary people, doing extraordinary things, expecting nothing in return. The Art of Living movement exemplifies the idea that cultivating inner peace naturally leads to service, and that even the quietest acts of selfless giving can create lasting social change.