On September 26, 2023, the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) marked founder Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s 60th birthday at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre. The two‑day event drew thousands of devotees from 24 countries, including high‑profile speakers such as Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, Swami Swaroopanandaji of Chinmaya Mission and Brahma Kumari Sister Shivani. Gurudevshri delivered a discourse titled “Choosing Consciously,” urging participants to live intentional lives.
In the morning, eleven young professionals—four architects, a retina surgeon, a paediatric dentist, a software developer, a visual artist and an IBM consultant—made a solemn Atmarpit Diksha vow of lifelong celibacy, sadhana and sevaservice before Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj and other senior monks. “We’re not giving anything up today; we’re surrendering to a living, loving Master,” said architect Nimit Batavia, representing the group.
That same day, SRMD unveiled a slate of 60 new projects, split evenly between seva initiatives and spiritual growth programs. The mission announced a target to reach 60 million lives through medical camps, anaemia mitigation and vision care projects, aiming to extend its social outreach to a broader demographic.
During the closing evening, a musical dramatizing Gurudevshri’s life performed by roughly 600 devotees set the convention hall ablaze with LED projections. Chairman of Tata Sons N Chandrasekaran and Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor released the visual biography “Beyond,” while Morari Bapu and Anandmurti Gurumaa offered blessings.
Gurudevshri capped the two‑day celebration with a discourse on “Serving Compassionately,” calling on attendees to move beyond longevity toward depth and circulation of service. The event concludes with the mission’s plans to roll out the 60 projects over the next year, as the founder outlined a roadmap for implementation.