The Impressive TimesBengaluru, March 28, 2026 At a ceremony organised by sarkaritel.com at the Vishalakshi Mantap within the The Art of Living International Center, 36 “Water Warriors” were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to water conservation.
On this occasion, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar honored all the Water Warriors by presenting them with trophies, shawls, and certificates. In his address, he stated that devotion to water constitutes true service, and that fostering awareness regarding water conservation within society is the greatest necessity of the present times. Expressing concern over environmental challenges, he noted that today, water, air, and the earth itself are all under the grip of pollution, thereby posing a grave crisis to humanity.
He emphasized the need for collective efforts toward promoting chemical-free farming, ensuring the balanced utilization of natural resources, and protecting the environment. Furthermore, underscoring the importance of personal health and mental equilibrium, he appealed to everyone to incorporate Yoga, Meditation, and the Sudarshan Kriya into their daily lives. He remarked that the integration of meditation and spirituality into every household can bring about positive societal transformation and aid in curbing rising violence.
During the event, experts honored with the Padma Shri award also shared their experiences in the fields of water management and agriculture, shedding light on the path forward. These included Padma Shri Umashankar Pandey, Padma Shri Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Padma Shri Popatrao Bhauji Pawar, Padma Shri Seth Pal Singh, Padma Shri Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, and Padma Shri-designate Mohan Nagar.
Commencing the program, Ameya Sathaye, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of *Sarkaritel.com* and *DiplomacyIndia.com*—stated in his address that water is not merely a resource but the very foundation of life; given the current water crisis and the challenges posed by climate change, it is imperative to advance water conservation on a massive scale through public participation.
The program was anchored by Dr. Ankita Menon—an expert in water governance and the winner of the Mrs. World International 2025 title.
Prior to the main event, two significant panel discussions on the subjects of water and agriculture were conducted. In the first session, Prasanna Prabhu, Chairman of the Sri Sri Rural Development Program Trust and the Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Trust—provided guidance as the keynote speaker.
During this session, Mr. Nitin Khade, Joint Secretary (Watershed Management) at the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India; Dr. Nitin Waghmode, Commissioner of Income Tax; Dr. Hemant Sharad Pandey, Director (Human Resources) at Western Coalfields Limited; and Vijay Khajuria, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, also shared their insights.
In the second session, Mr. Giriraj Goyal, former Director at the Ministry of Jal Shakti; Dr. Ashish Pandey, Professor at IIT Roorkee; Ms. Sujata Narasimhan, India CEO of Wheels Global Foundation; Dr. A.K. Gupta, Senior Homeopathic Specialist; and Dr. Praveen Dabli, a senior journalist visiting from Nagpur, expressed their views on various dimensions of water conservation.
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