Violence ends where love begins' is one of Sri Sri's favourite sayings.
His Art of Living Foundation works in 140 countries all over the world. Its work in international conflict resolution is now about three years old. Interestingly, this endeavour began with reaching out to extremists in Bihar.
It was primarily the initiative of one volunteer, Sanjay Bihari, who ventured into the Naxalite-prone areas of Bihar four years ago. "People would not venture out of their homes after 6pm," he recalls.
Sanjay established contact with warring groups like the Ranvir Sena and the People's War group, and even persuaded them to attend a programme conducted by Ravi Shankar in Rishikesh.
"I didn't tell them, at first, that their enemy groups would be there too," he says now. "It was a bad moment for me when they saw each other at the railway station! I managed to somehow take them all to the meeting place in Rishikesh.
"But what a change after the meeting, where my guru taught them breathing and meditation techniques! They voluntarily gave up their arms and promised to channel their efforts toward community service."
Photograph: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images
Also See: A Prayer for India