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HarperCollins presents verse from Shrimad Rajchandraji’s: Atmasiddhi Shastra: Six Spiritual Truths of the Soul

Here are some highly beneficial words that will advance aspirants on the highway of spirituality
NEW DELHI, Oct. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — World-renowned spiritual leader and founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji has authored a lucid commentary in English, simplifying the essence embedded within every verse of Atmasiddhi Shastra for seekers around the world. The book is a step-by-step guide to self-realisation written with great compassion and vision. A universal and indisputable path is presented through an open-hearted, logical dialogue between an experienced Master and an earnest seeker.

Published by HarperCollins India, this book will be launched on 21 October 2021.
Verse: Subject and purpose
Aligning with the ancient traditions of the great composers, Shrimadji paid obeisance to the supremely benevolent Shri Sadguru Bhagwān and established the r elation in the first verse.  In this second verse, He introduces the remaining two aspects of the text: the subject and the purpose.
Meaning of the Verse
In this present era, the path of liberation has almost become extinct. It has been clearly revealed here without concealing, for the contemplation of true seekers.
Explanation
According to Jain scriptures, there are several different regions in the universe. The region in which we currently reside is called Bharat kshetra. The current era is called dusham kāl, which is the declining time period, when the path of liberation has almost vanished. In the first half o f t his verse, through the words ‘ bahu lop’, Shrimadji indicates that in the current period of time, the pure path of liberation is almost lost. However, it is not completely obscured and although difficult, it is not yet impossible to obtain. Possessing an incorrect understanding of dharma, one gets impeded by his own insistences regarding opinions, sects, etc., about the path. Trapped in a maze of external practices, he runs around in circles, losing his way despite walking for miles. Hence, due to this unfortunate reality, Shrimadji proclaims that He will unravel the true path of liberation for the benefit of spiritual seekers.
Thus, Shrimadji indicates that the subject matter of this text is to illuminate the path of liberation, which is almost lost at present. Moreover, He indicates the spiritual purpose of this text with the words, ‘vichārvā ātmārthine’ – for aspirants to reflect upon. The immediate objective of the aspirant is to contemplate upon the path of liberation and the ultimate goal is to attain liberation.
Although the path of liberation has already been described in numerous ancient scriptures, they were composed to suit the needs of those times. Shrimadji has composed this scripture keeping present conditions in mind. With utmost divinity, He has unfolded the spiritual essence using such simple language that seekers everywhere can reflect upon it and benefit from the knowledge.
Through the word ‘agopya’, Shrimadji states that the path explained here is the same one illuminated by infinite omniscient ones. He expounds the path as it is, without additions or subtractions and without concealing facts or reservations. He has absolutely no selfish motives or prejudices in this highest endeavour. Hence, this proves to be a testament to the authenticity of the scripture.
Shrimadji’s pledge to re-establish the true path kindles hope in this era of darkness. Shri Ātmasiddhi Shāstra serves as a beacon to lead one out from the depths of darkness. All that is required now, is the willingness to be led.
Verse: Two types of deluded people
Prior to revealing the true path of liberation, Shrimadji points out the prevalent wrong beliefs and conduct regarding it. In this verse, He portrays a tragic picture of why this path seems to have disappeared in the present times. Shrimadji says –
Meaning of the Verse 
While some have become mechanical ritualists, others have become dry intellectualists. Compassion arises for them as they believe themselves to be on the path of liberation.
Explanation
While every religion propounds both theoretical and practical aspects, some people emphasise only metaphysics and others, only rituals. Some believe that liberation can be achieved by merely observing rites, and others through mere theoretical knowledge. In this verse, Shrimadji highlights the two kinds of people who follow the path of liberation with an incorrect understanding: those who are bogged down by rituals and those who pursue superficial scriptural knowledge. He identifies them as ‘kriyājad’, the mechanical ritualist and ‘shushkjnāni’, the dry intellectualist.
Kriyājad – This word is composed of two words, kriyā and jad. Kriyā means ritual and the word jad means lifeless. Those who find fulfilment in routine practices without understanding the purpose and significance are called kriyājad. A knife that cuts a mango or a bitter gourd does not experience the sweetness or bitterness. Similarly, rituals carried out mechanically, without right understanding or awareness, do not result in an experience of the blissful self. The kriyājad are ignorant of the nature of the self and feel content in external activities. As they consider rituals alone to be the path of liberation, they are said to be pitiable. Shushkjnāni – This word is composed of two words, shushk and jnāni. Here jnāni does not mean a self-realised one; it refers to the one who only understands the scriptures intellectually. The word shushk means dry words without inner transformation. Guided by delusion, they act contrary to what they speak. Their knowledge can be compared to dry sugarcane that has no juice. In other words, their knowledge does not possess the nectar of self-experience. Since the shushkjnāni have not attained self-realisation and negate pure conduct, they become bereft of the means and drown in the ocean of transmigration. Instead of striving for the welfare of the self, they cause extreme harm to themselves by insisting on their beliefs as being correct. As they consider studying scriptures alone to be the path of liberation, they too are said to be pitiable. Mirroring the two above-mentioned behaviours, some believe that only ‘doing’ leads to liberation, neglecting the study of the true essence, which proves to be a mistake. Similarly, others believe that only ‘knowing’ leads to liberation and they read religious books, neglecting religious practice, which also proves to be a mistake. Their actions descend to mere mechanical ritualism and their knowledge becomes sheer rote learning. Through actions performed without correct understanding or knowledge sans virtue, they are nowhere near self-realisation. They are both trapped in a maze and yet under the delusion that they are on the path of liberation.
Shrimadji views their pitiable condition and is overwhelmed with compassion. He does not condemn them, instead feels sympathetic to their plight. With patient wisdom, He first focuses on the flaw in their method and then proceeds to set them on the right path. Thus, clearly stating that neither mere rituals nor mere knowledge prove to be beneficial, Shrimadji has compassionately guided all seekers of the path across all times.
About The Author
Enlightened Master, spiritual visionary, modern day mystic and humanitarian leader, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji is the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur—a spiritual organisation for inner transformation with 108 centres across five continents, 250 value education children’s centres, and over 90 youth groups. 
Born on 26 September, 1966 in Mumbai, India, Pujya Gurudevshri showed signs of divinity at a very young age. An ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandraji, blending theory with experience and the head with the heart, Pujya Gurudevshri provides powerful and practical tools to joyfully tread the journey inward. His mastery of the spiritual principles, illuminating wisdom, pure love, rationality, oratory flair and sparkling wit, captivates people of any age or background. Pujya Gurudevshri reveals the deepest truths embedded in a vast array of scriptures. He has authored inspiring books on spirituality, translated in multiple languages.
His unending flow of compassion has blossomed into Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care, offering selfless service and bringing joy to the underprivileged. This international initiative enjoys special consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Transforming millions globally, inspiring humanity to seek self-realisation, Pujya Gurudevshri is a 21st century spiritual force, while remaining unmoved Himself—the unmoved mover.
For reviews, interviews, excerpts and more information, please contact Srishti Katiyar at Srishti.katiyar@harpercollins.co.in
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IIT Delhi Spinout DeepLase Raises ₹6 Crore Seed Round co-led by Kavachh and Yali Capital

NEW DELHI, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DeepLase Technologies, an IIT Delhi–incubated deep-tech photonics startup developing advanced optical fiber platforms, high-performance fiber lasers, and integrated photonics systems, has raised ₹6 crore in seed funding in a round co-led by Mounttech Growth Fund – Kavachh and Yali Capital.

The company will use the capital to expand its engineering and manufacturing capabilities, accelerate product commercialization, and scale deployments across high-impact sectors including precision industrial automation, optical communications, advanced sensing, quantum technologies, and healthcare instrumentation.DeepLase was founded by Dr. Deepak Jain, a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, whose research focuses on advanced optical fiber technologies and laser systems. The company is focused on designing next-generation specialty optical fibers and fiber-laser platforms engineered for applications requiring exceptional stability, energy efficiency, spectral precision, and long-term operational reliability.As global data consumption accelerates and artificial intelligence infrastructure expands, optical technologies have become the backbone of modern digital systems. Data centers, telecommunications networks, and emerging AI hardware platforms increasingly depend on advanced photonic components capable of delivering higher bandwidth, lower latency, and improved energy efficiency. DeepLase is developing specialty optical fiber platforms designed to address these rapidly evolving performance requirements.Lasers today are foundational tools across precision manufacturing, sensing, optical communications, semiconductor fabrication, medical diagnostics, and emerging quantum systems. However, many existing laser platforms remain complex to integrate and are optimized primarily for laboratory environments. DeepLase aims to bridge the gap between scientific-grade optical performance and scalable, deployable industrial systems by developing robust laser architectures engineered for real-world applications. “Our goal is to build laser platforms that combine advanced optical fiber design, novel materials engineering, and robust system-level reliability,” said Dr. Jain, Founder and Director of DeepLase. “As industries and research domains become increasingly dependent on controlled light sources, the demand for stable, scalable, and application-ready laser systems is growing rapidly. We are developing technologies that deliver high performance while remaining practical for deployment in demanding industrial environments.”Investors believe DeepLase reflects a broader shift toward deep-technology innovation emerging from India’s academic research ecosystem, particularly in critical areas such as photonics and advanced manufacturing. “Photonics technologies are becoming foundational infrastructure for modern industry, powering everything from advanced manufacturing and telecommunications to sensing and next-generation computing systems,” said Raj Sethia, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Mounttech Growth Fund – Kavachh. “DeepLase is building core intellectual property in a strategic technology domain where global demand continues to grow rapidly. We are excited to support Dr. Deepak Jain and his team as they work to build globally competitive photonics technologies from India.””Photonic technologies hold enormous potential, and many of their most transformative applications are still emerging,” said Ganapathy Subramaniam, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Yali Capital. “DeepLase approaches photonics design from first principles, combining deep scientific expertise with a clear pathway toward commercialization. The team brings together strong research capability with an understanding of real-world deployment challenges, positioning them well to translate advanced photonics into scalable industrial platforms. We believe Dr. Deepak Jain and his team have the potential to deliver photonics technologies at a global scale.”Prior to this round, DeepLase received support through multiple government innovation and deep-tech commercialization programs, reinforcing its mission to develop indigenous, high-value photonics technologies with global relevance. The company’s long-term vision is to build globally competitive photonics infrastructure from India, enabling next-generation optical systems that power advanced computing, communications, industrial manufacturing, and scientific discovery.About DeepLaseDeepLase Technologies is a photonics startup incubated at the FITT, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi focused on developing next-generation specialty optical fibers and high-performance fiber-laser systems. Its technologies target applications in industrial manufacturing, optical communications, sensing, healthcare instrumentation, and emerging quantum technologies. DeepLase aims to translate cutting-edge photonics research into scalable industrial platforms that can power the next generation of optical systems worldwide.Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2937859/DeepLase_Founders.jpg 

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Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia’s book ‘The Power of Doing Good’ coming out this Vaisakhi, from HarperCollins India

The book talks about seva, rooted in Sikhism and relevant for all, which can lead everyone to a life of happiness and purpose.GURUGRAM, India, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Right ahead of Vaisakhi this year, HarperCollins India is delighted to announce the upcoming publication of Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia’s debut book, The Power of Doing Good: How Seva Can Change Your Life. Taking the reader through the inspiring journey of Hemkunt Foundation and foregrounding seva as a universal life philosophy — rooted in Sikh tradition but relevant to every reader seeking purpose — this book is one for these times where amidst all the chaos, people need something like this to anchor themselves in meaning and connect to shared humanity.

Talking about the book, Harteerath says, “Writing The Power of Doing Good has been a deeply transformative journey — one shaped not just by events, but by years of observing, participating in, and reflecting upon what it truly means to serve. Through the story of Hemkunt Foundation, I have attempted to capture something more enduring than action alone: the quiet discipline of seva, rooted in Sikh principles and guided by the timeless wisdom of our Gurus — ‘Sarbat da Bhala’, well-being for all, and ‘Chardi Kala’, to remain in a state of rising spirit. This book is not merely a record of what has been done; it is an offering, an archive of goodwill shaped with intention and care. It invites the reader to look inward, and to reconsider the nature of purpose — not as something to be found in grand gestures, but in consistent, conscious acts of compassion. I have come to believe, through lived experience, that doing good is a way of being that quietly reshapes both the giver, and simultaneously the world around them. This book serves as a reminder that even the smallest act, when done with sincerity, carries within it the power to transform lives — often beginning with our own.”Trisha Bora, Executive Editor – HarperCollins India, says, “There are very few people/organizations who are as inspiring as Harteerath Singh and Hemkunt Foundation. This is a story about how impactful selfless community service can be, especially in our troubled times. Anyone who reads this book will find their lives changed for the better.”About the book –In April 2020, as a sudden nationwide lockdown left thousands of migrant workers stranded and desperate, the Singhs, a Sikh family in Gurgaon, rose to the crisis. They began preparing rotis at home and distributing them along highways to those making the arduous journey back to their villages. Their compassion sparked a movement, and through the Hemkunt Foundation, thousands across Delhi-NCR and Haryana joined in.In The Power of Doing Good, Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia shares the inspiring story of why Sikhs are born to serve — through the legacy of their eleven Gurus, and the remarkable journey of Hemkunt Foundation. This book is a timely reminder of how practicing seva can lead all to a life of deeper happiness and purpose.About the author –Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia is one of India’s most influential young humanitarians and the driving force behind Hemkunt Foundation’s modern seva movement. Recognized across the country for his fearless on-ground work — from COVID relief to the Punjab floods as well as in farmer support, animal welfare, women’s dignity initiatives and nationwide emergency responses — he embodies the rare blend of leadership, service and storytelling.A founding team member of Hemkunt Foundation, Harteerath helped scale the organization into one of India’s fastest-growing grassroots NGOs. His work includes designing high-impact relief missions, building long-term rehabilitation models, crafting donor-ready MIS systems and mobilizing lakhs of people online and offline to participate in seva. Over the years, he has led some of the largest relief efforts in India: oxygen cylinder drives during COVID, twenty-one Mobile Medical Vans serving multiple states, large-scale flood rehabilitation in Punjab, and Gurukul-based education and livelihood programs in Khandwa.Beyond humanitarian operations, Harteerath is a widely followed content creator with over 500,000 supporters across platforms. Known for his raw honesty, clarity and emotional depth, he uses his voice to champion Sikh values, inspire youth to serve, and highlight real stories from the ground.His work and impact have earned him a place in the Forbes 30 Under 30, HT City 30 Under 30, World Economic Forum’s Top 50 Social Entrepreneurs of India, Femina’s Men We Love, and MensXP’s High Impact Men lists as well as recognition as Grazia’s Social Activist of the Year.About Harpercollins Publishers IndiaHarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian Subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2,000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live! Award, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins India has won the Publisher of the Year Award four times at Tata Literature Live! in 2022, 2021, 2018 and 2016, and at Publishing Next in 2021 & 2015. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers.For more information, please write to – shabnam.srivastava@harpercollins.co.in Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2937802/The_Power_of_Doing_Good_HarperCollins.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/5820633/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg 

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Casio India launches music education CSR initiative in partnership with Manzil Mystics to empower young musicians and students from underserved communities

PATNA, India, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Japan, has announced the launch of a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative focused on music education and livelihood creation. In partnership with Delhi-based non-profit organisation Manzil Mystics, the initiative aims to promote skill-based musical training and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for children and musicians from underserved communities.

As a company deeply rooted in the music industry through its Electronic Musical Instruments portfolio, Casio India has consistently championed the role of music in education and creativity. Building on this legacy, the newly launched initiative seeks to integrate structured music learning into community spaces and schools while enabling aspiring musicians to develop professional skills in the performing arts and media ecosystem.Under this collaboration, the program will focus on providing structured musical training through Casio electronic keyboards, alongside curriculum-based modules designed to develop practical skills that can translate into future music education. The initiative will particularly target underprivileged students studying in government schools and young musicians from low-income communities, enabling them to access high-quality music education and professional development opportunities.Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Takuto Kimura, Managing Director, Casio India, said, “At Casio, we believe that music has the power to inspire creativity, build confidence, and transform lives. Through this CSR initiative, we aim to make music education more accessible to children and young artists from underserved communities. By partnering with Manzil Mystics, we hope to nurture musical talent while creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to build sustainable careers in the creative industry.”The event commenced with a welcome address for the Casio India leadership team and representatives from Manzil Mystics, followed by a felicitation ceremony recognising key contributors and educators associated with the initiative. The program highlighted the role of music as a powerful tool for learning and creative development among young students. As part of the event, Casio India also facilitated the students with instruments from its range of electronic musical keyboards, enabling them to begin their training and supporting the broader objective of promoting skill-based music education among children from underserved communities.Through this initiative, Casio India aims to equip young learners with vocational skills in music, encourage creative expression, and support aspiring artists in pursuing sustainable careers as educators, performers, and creative professionals. The program also seeks to foster an inclusive ecosystem that celebrates India’s diverse musical traditions while preparing artists for opportunities in the country’s rapidly expanding media and entertainment industry.About Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd:Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd. (CIC) is the Indian subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Casio India has established a dynamic presence in the Indian market since 1996, emerging as a leading and cherished consumer goods manufacturer. Casio India’s range of products include sales and marketing of Timepieces, Electronic Musical Instruments, Desktop Calculators and Scientific Calculators.Setting the benchmark for excellence, Casio India is dedicated to embodying the spirit of innovation and quality that defines the Casio legacy. With a strong commitment to its corporate creed of ‘creativity and contribution,’ Casio has consistently translated this ethos into the creation of innovative products making a positive impact on society.For more information, visit https://www.casio.com/in/Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2937791/CSR_Event_Casio_India.jpg 

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