Bhanumathi Narasimhan has played a keyrole in The Art of Living Foundation, since its inception. Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living Foundation is a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO. The organization operates globally in 151 countries. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, her brother and guide, has been a constant source of support and direction for her.
Bhanumathi has been instrumental in instituting the "Care-for-Children" program, which provides education for underprivileged rural children, free of cost. The first school to be supported by this program started in 1981 with 30 children in rural Bangalore. Now, 30 years later, there are 210 schools in 18 states of India educating over 24,000 children. She is especially focused on education for girls and empowerment of women.
In 1997, Bhanumathi Narasimhan was one of the founding members of VISTA India (Value Integrated Services To All), an initiative that aims to provide economic and social self-sufficiency for disadvantaged women. The project was launched under the aegis of the Art of Living Foundation, and it has provided vocational training, entrepreneurship, and self-development workshops to more than 8,000 women in India. As part of their training, women are also introduced to programs that promote hygiene and women's health in rural areas.
Sri Sri Women's Empowerment Program is another initiative on similar lines of VISTA and caters to underprivileged women in rural areas. There are two centers currently operating - one in rural Tamil Nadu and another in the outskirts of Bangalore.
Bhanu Didi started the HARA (HIV/AIDS Awareness in Rural Areas) project to create awareness on HIV/AIDS in rural areas. The youth volunteers trained under a qualified medical doctor receive training in this field and disseminate information in the rural areas. Since 2009, 40000 individuals across India have benefitted from this initiative.
In support of traditional art and culture, Bhanu Didi as initiated the Weaver-to-Wearer project. The project identifies skilled craftsmen in the traditional arts from rural areas and connects them with consumers around the world.
Bhanu Didi has convened and chaired four international women's leadership conferences since 2005. These conferences seek to provide a platform for women leaders to share their successes, and inspire one-another to succeed against formidable odds. She has been instrumental in bringing together people from different countries for various forums and guiding them on humanitarian projects.
Bhanu Didi teaches Sahaj Samadhi Meditation and has initiated thousands of individuals around the world. A gifted singer, Bhanu Didi as several albums to her credit comprising devotional bhajans and shlokas heard by people across the globe irrespective of their nationalities.
She holds a Masters Degree in Sanskrit Literature from Bangalore University. She is married with two sons, and lives in Bangalore, India.
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