"Don't wait to witness a situation go bad, instead take the ownership and responsibility immediately to make a better India,” Sri Sri urged young leaders at the 1st Parliament of Student Council Leaders at the MIT School of Government, Pune.

Sri Sri was the keynote speaker for the ‘India versus Bharat: Urban rural divide and its spiritual contribution’ session. The former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was also present at the event.

Sri Sri asked the students to imbibe the best qualities from across the globe: teamwork from Japan; precision and perfection from Germany; etiquettes and decency from Britain; marketing skills from the US; and spirituality from India. “Don't give up on your smile. Do everything happily as anger causes destruction," he advised.

In Mumbai after three years, Sri Sri launched the ‘Muskurae Mumbai’ campaign aimed at destressing Mumbaikars.

While addressing the media at the Press Club on January 12, Sri Sri lauded the media for exposing corruption in the government. “We need to spread a sense of belonging through satsangs as Mahatma Gandhi did. What is needed is a Gross Domestic Happiness Index!”

He urged the media to highlight stories that show human values in society.

Sri Sri shared that his dream of a ‘Serene India’ lay in empowering the youth, wiping out corruption, increasing self-reliance of the rural masses and increasing the sense of belonging amongst people.

“We want vibrant youth to lead our country,” Sri Sri said at the HDIL Youth Concert, later that evening. “Vision and far-sightedness will come only when we meditate, go inward and become more intuitive.”

A day later, Sri Sri led thousands of people in a meditation for world peace and harmony. The gathering pledged to contribute towards a more peaceful society.

Thousand people attended a satsang at Thane’s Dadoji Kandeo Stadium where Sri Sri emphasized the role of sadhana (spiritual practices) in destressing the mind.