Bleeding Throat, Unyielding Spirit: Acharya Prashant’s Fight for the Voiceless
PrashantAdvait Foundation
On the evening of November 15, just hours before a scheduled Gita session, a message arrived from Gauri Maulekhi, a prominent animal rights activist.
She requested Acharya Prashant to join her in Patna the following morning to meet the Chief Secretary of Bihar and address the press about the Gadhimai festival in Nepal. This was no ordinary request. It was a plea to save thousands of animals and to raise a voice against a centuries-old practice of cruelty disguised as tradition.
“Would Acharya Ji be able to catch the 8 AM flight on the 16th?” she asked.
At first, the idea seemed impossible. The Gita session that evening was expected to continue until 2 AM. For an 8 AM flight, Acharya Ji would need to leave by 4 AM, leaving no time to rest.
Moreover, the following day included a scheduled Gita students’ exam, and the Foundation was also preparing for the world’s largest open Gita exam on the 17th, followed by another late-night Gita session. It seemed unrealistic to fit in this additional journey and effort.
When the matter was brought to Acharya Ji, he agreed without hesitation.
“Shall we reschedule the sessions or exams?” someone asked.
Continuing his work, Acharya Ji calmly replied, “Why?”
We couldn’t hold back our surprise, “In this weather, with your health, you’re planning to conduct a Gita session, prepare and oversee exams, travel from Greater Noida to Delhi, then to Patna, meet the Chief Secretary, address the press, and return to conduct yet another session and exam—all within two days?”
“Doctors have advised you to take a 10-day rest to heal your throat, and yet you are scheduling at least 8 hours of speaking over the next two days?” someone added.
For the past five months, Acharya Ji has endured severe throat pain, often waking to find his pillow stained with blood or spitting blood after prolonged speaking sessions.
Despite this, he answered simply, “It’s not just about me—thousands of animals’ lives can be saved. I have to go.”
That night, Acharya Ji conducted the Gita session as planned, which stretched until 2 AM. While most attendees retired to rest, he continued working. He prepared questions for the exam and listened to student reflections. By 4 AM, without a moment of rest, he left for the airport. Exhaustion was evident on his face, yet he greeted security personnel and fellow passengers with warmth.
On arriving in Patna, his first meeting was with the Chief Secretary of Bihar. They discussed the alarming scale of animal sacrifices at the Gadhimai festival and the illegal trafficking of animals across the India-Nepal border. In 2022 alone, over 200,000 goats had been slaughtered in Bihar’s Banka district during Dussehra.
Acharya Ji presented a letter addressed to Bihar’s Chief Minister, highlighting these concerns and calling for stricter implementation of anti-trafficking laws. Citing Supreme Court directives, he emphasized the need to align practices with India’s cultural foundation of Ahimsa.
From the meeting, Acharya Ji proceeded directly to a press conference at the hotel. Despite being awake for over 36 hours, he spoke in detail about the atrocities of the Gadhimai festival.
In 2009, over 500,000 animals were sacrificed at this event. Due to collective efforts, this number has now reduced by 60-70%, but the fight is far from over. “True religiosity does not demand violence,” he said. “Religiosity and compassion go hand in hand—never religiosity and cruelty.”
Although drained from continuous work and travel, Acharya Ji found time to meet students from the Geeta Samagam program who had come to see him. For over 1.5 hours, he spoke with them, laughed with them, and inspired them. His exhaustion was visible, yet his face radiated kindness and energy.
That evening, as he prepared to return to Delhi, his flight was delayed. At the airport, he continued to meet and engage with people who recognized him. During the flight, he discussed with Gauri Ji ways to further help animals and address the systemic issues behind such cruelty.
Back in Delhi, Acharya Ji resumed work without rest. He began preparing for the world’s largest Gita Open Exam, involving thousands of participants worldwide. This was not just an exam; it was an effort to connect people with the profound truths of the Gita.
By the time the exam concluded, it was already 10 PM, and another Gita session began. In that session, Acharya Ji said, “Desires rely on tomorrow, but faith only knows the present. If the present is complete, thoughts of the future vanish.”
His words opened new dimensions for the listeners. Such dedication might seem impractical to an outsider, but those who have seen Acharya Ji live his teachings know their depth.
