The Monk Who Made Education a Movement is the inspiring life story of Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji, a saint who transformed spirituality into social action and faith into a movement of education and service.
Born in a humble village in Karnataka, he rose to become the 71st Pontiff of the ancient Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math. But his vision extended far beyond temple walls. At a time when education was often inaccessible to the rural poor, he declared that classrooms must become the new sanctuaries of transformation. Under his leadership, more than 500 institutions, schools, colleges, medical institutions, and global campuses were established, impacting lakhs of students and patients across India and abroad.
This book traces his extraordinary journey from village boy to visionary monk, from spiritual disciple to nation-builder. It explores his philosophy of Dharma, Seva, and Jnana, and reveals how he harmonized ancient wisdom with modern education, science, and global engagement.
More than a chronicle of achievements, this book is a reflection on leadership rooted in humility, power guided by compassion, and spirituality expressed through service.
In an era searching for moral clarity and meaningful progress, his life offers a powerful message:
Build humans before temples.
Educate before you elevate.
Serve before you seek.
This is not merely the story of a monk. It is the story of a movement that continues to illuminate generations.
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Ashish Gupta
Ashish Gupta is an education strategist, institutional leader, and author dedicated to strengthening India’s higher education ecosystem through value-driven systems and purposeful leadership.
With over 15 years of experience in admissions, outreach, and university growth strategy, he has worked closely with leading educational institutions in India, helping them build structured admission systems, brand positioning frameworks, and student engagement models. His professional journey has been rooted in one conviction: that education is not merely a sector, but a nation-building mission.
Ashish has served in senior leadership roles in higher education, including as Director of Admissions & Outreach, where he has led large-scale enrollment strategies, outreach networks, and institutional expansion initiatives. Through his consulting, writing, and training programs, he works to professionalize admissions and outreach practices across Indian universities.
He is also committed to building skilled, ethical, and industry-ready admissions and outreach professionals. He is also actively engaged in educational leadership development, certification programs, and strategic advisory services for universities.
As an author, Ashish focuses on biographies, leadership studies, and education-centered narratives that bridge Indian wisdom with modern institutional thinking. His work explores how values, structure, and vision can coexist to build sustainable systems.
The Monk Who Made Education a Movement reflects his deep interest in documenting leaders who transformed spirituality into social architecture, and who demonstrated that education, when guided by Dharma, becomes a powerful force for national progress.
Through his writing and professional work, Ashish continues to advocate for education that is structured, ethical, and transformational.
