60 Projects for 60 Million Lives: Devotees Honour Gurudevshri Rakeshji
Devotees launch 60 global projects to touch 60 million lives to celebrate Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji's 60th birth anniversary.
In a grand departure from traditional birthday celebrations, the followers of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji have announced a massive humanitarian undertaking to mark his 60th birth anniversary. At a spectacular event held at the Jio World Convention Centre, devotees unveiled 60 global initiatives designed to impact 60 million lives across the world.
Reflecting the spiritual master's core teaching of balancing inner peace with outer action, these projects are strategically divided into two equal pillars: 30 initiatives dedicated to spiritual growth and 30 projects focused on selfless service to humanity.
A Legacy of Spiritual and Academic Excellence
Born in Mumbai on September 26, 1966, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji has led a life defined by deep contemplation and service. His journey into meditation began at the tender age of four, eventually leading him to academic distinction. A gold medalist with a Master's degree in Philosophy, he later earned a doctorate from the University of Mumbai for his profound research on the Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra, the spiritual masterpiece by Shrimad Rajchandraji.
Since founding the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur in 1994 and establishing its international headquarters in South Gujarat in 2001, his vision has expanded into a global movement spanning six continents.
Massive Healthcare Expansion: Touching 60 Million Lives
The scale of the humanitarian mission announced is historic. The Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital Network has expanded to 2,000 beds, highlighted by the announcement of the Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal Cancer Hospital. This facility aims to provide world-class care to over 11 lakh tribal individuals, facilitating 10,000 chemotherapies and 1,000 surgeries annually.
To reach the ambitious target of 60 million lives, volunteers are operating 60 medical camps every single day in partnership with over 100 organizations. The healthcare strategy includes:
- Multi-Speciality Mega Medical Camps: Operating across six major regions including Dharampur (Gujarat), Vaamanjoor (Karnataka), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Purulia (West Bengal), Leh (Ladakh), and Darbhanga (Bihar). These camps have screened over 500,000 patients each, providing 24,500 treatments and over 7,500 surgeries per camp.
- Shrimad Rajchandra Anaemia Mitigation Project: This initiative has conducted over 10 million screenings across 19 Indian states. By distributing 3 million iron supplements, it has achieved a remarkable 84% increase in haemoglobin levels among participants.
- Shrimad Rajchandra Vision Care Project: Having screened over 10.4 million patients in 25 states, this project has provided 1.2 million spectacles and treated 350,000 cataract patients.
Empowering Communities and Protecting Nature
Beyond healthcare, the 60 initiatives encompass social, ecological, and community welfare projects:
Social Welfare and Women's Empowerment
The Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care Centres serve as a vital rural support network. Additionally, the Vyasan Mukti Abhiyan provides a personalized de-addiction curriculum that reaches 900,000 students across 2,000 schools. For women, the Centre of Excellence for Women empowers rural individuals toward self-reliance, with products now reaching 26 different countries.
Animal Welfare and Ecological Care
The mission also extends to the animal kingdom through Shrimad Rajchandra Jivamaitridham, a 44-acre campus that cares for over 5,000 animals simultaneously. Notably, the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Hospital (SRAH) stands as the first private sector blood bank dedicated to animals. Furthermore, 10 dedicated Animal Care Centres currently serve over 200,000 animals every year.
The Aho Gurudev event itself was a testament to this global reach, drawing attendees ranging from one-year-old toddlers to 99-year-old elders, representing 24 different countries.