India Behind The Lens (News Centre)

Bhanu Narasimhan has played a key role in The Art of Living Foundation, since its inception. Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) engaged in stress-management and service initiatives. The organization operates globally in 151 countries. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, her brother and guide, has been a constant source of support and direction for her.

हिंदी में पढ़ें : भानुमती नरसिम्हन, एक परिचय ...
Bhanu has been instrumental in instituting the “Carefor-Children” program, which provides education for underprivileged rural children, free of cost. The first school to be supported by this program started in 1981 with 30 children in rural Bangalore. Now, 30 years later, there are there are 175 schools in 19 states of India educating over 24,500 children. She is especially focused on education for girls and empowerment of women.

In 1997, Bhanu was one of the founding members of VISTA India (Value Integrated Services To All), an initiative that aims to provide economic and social self-sufficiency for disadvantaged women. The project was launched under the aegis of the Art of Living Foundation, and it has provided vocational training, entrepreneurship, and self-development workshops to more than 8,000 women in India. As part of their training, women are also introduced to programs that promote hygiene and women’s health in rural areas.

Sri Sri Women’s Empowerment Program is another initiative on similar lines of VISTA and caters to underprivileged women in rural areas. There are two centers currently operating – one in rural Tamil Nadu and another in the outskirts of Bangalore. Women are trained in various vocational skills like tailoring, candle making, incense stick production, packaging and marketing, and other related skills in order to make them economically self-reliant.

Bhanu started the HARA (HIV/AIDS Awareness in Rural Areas) project to create awareness on HIV/AIDS in rural areas. The youth volunteers trained under a qualified medical doctor receive training in this field and disseminate information in the rural areas. Since 2009, 40000 individuals across India have benefitted from this initiative.

In support of traditional art and culture, Bhanu has initiated the Weaver-to-Wearer project. The project identifies skilled craftsmen in the traditional arts from rural areas and connects them with consumers around the world.
Bhanu has convened and chaired four international women’s leadership conferences since 2005. These conferences seek to provide a platform for women leaders to share their successes, and inspire one-another to succeed against formidable odds. Bhanu has been instrumental in bringing together people from different countries for various forums and guiding them on humanitarian projects.

Bhanu teaches Sahaj Samadhi Meditation and has initiated thousands of individuals around the world. A gifted singer, Bhanu has several albums to her credit comprising devotional bhajans and shlokas heard by people across the globe irrespective of their nationalities. She holds a Masters Degree in Sanskrit Literature from Bangalore University. She is married with two sons, and lives in Bangalore, India.