Meet Tanuja Vashistha —in with the new: Helping to expand Prem Rawat’s global message

PremRawat.com writer, Marcia Newman, speaks with Tanuja, a successful businesswoman and volunteer Regional Manager for the Indo region (India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal). Based in New Delhi, India, Tanuja grew up in a multi-generational family rooted in a village, with ties dating back to Shri Hans Maharaji, the father of Prem Rawat. A true pioneer, Tanuja has navigated the challenges of pursuing higher education and building business expertise in a male-dominated corporate environment. She has remained steadfast in her lifelong commitment to sharing Prem Rawat’s message of practical peace.

A Zoom conversation took place on December 31, 2024 – IST.

Tanuja: Thank you, Marcia. I’m grateful for our exchanges over these past several full months and now leading up to this Zoom conversation.

PremRawat.com: You’ve hit the ground running as the Regional Manager for India, Shri Lanka and Nepal. You’re currently preparing for Prem Rawat’s February and March 2025 tour, spanning 3 cities and touching the lives of thousands in India and worldwide.

Last November, at Prem Rawat’s request, you provided a presentation to an audience of 70,000+, just prior to him speaking at the final evening session of a four-session 124^th Hans Jayanti Celebration.

How was that for you?

Tanuja: Days before the Hans Jayanti 2024 events, I met with Prem and shared a brief presentation about the steps we are taking within the Indo Region. I spoke about the new teams that were forming and how those who had previously stepped away are now joining back to lend their support in various initiatives.

Two days after meeting with Prem, I received a message that he wanted me to be introduced as the Indo Regional Manager and for me to expand my presentation to the 70,000+ people attending Hans Jayanti.

Here’s the funny part. In my professional work I speak English. I’ve conducted more than 1000 workshops for multinational corporations. So, I asked the Event Director, “Will I be speaking in Hindi?” she responded, “Of course, you’ll be speaking in Hindi and then it will be translated into other languages.”

The thought of this was overwhelming. Delivering a professional presentation in my native Hindi was uncharted territory for me, especially with 70,000 people in the audience and Prem Rawat attending.

My 16-minute presentation as the Indo Regional Manager went better than I expected. I spoke from the heart, and while my Hindi wasn’t as polished as I’d like, I’m committed to continuing to improve.

When I was much younger, I was very shy and an introvert. During my youth, I attended a school to learn English. Prem’s mother heard that I was learning English and asked me to translate something to some visiting foreigners. I made my attempt but I wasn’t very confident and she questioned me. She stated, “What school do you go to that you’re not able to communicate this simple message in English to them?”

It was a life changing moment for me. I realized that I really needed to take my English-speaking studies more seriously.

Our local village educational system was not that great, especially for girls. There were no classes beyond grade eight.

I had to strongly advocate for my advanced education within my family and culture. And I did and have done so without looking back.

PremRawat.com: You’ve shown a lot of courage and determination. What were some of the highlights of your presentation?

Tanuja: I highlighted the importance of aligning new resources across all Indo regions, considering the existing organizational structures. I emphasized that our approach should not only be based on our own perspectives, but also on being flexible and ready to offer support wherever it’s necessary to assist Prem Rawat on a global scale.

I had the opportunity to highlight how global and local organizations collaborated on significant events in India, including the two Guinness World Records India events and the Hear Yourself book launch in 2022 and 2023. These initiatives reached over 600 million people, sparking a ripple effect that resonated across new countries, communities, and audiences.

– Tanuja Vashistha with Prem Rawat at the Guinness World Records event on April 2, 2023,
in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

We have active partnerships with the Ministry of Education, the Department of School Education in India, premier institutions, universities, and colleges in India, Sri Lanka & Nepal. This has produced a wealth of data and resources to demonstrate the effective impact of the Peace Education Program.

This enables us to offer the Peace Education Program to millions of people in the region through newly established platforms. As with South Africa, effective group classes are being offered throughout India for the Peace Education Program and now we are planning sessions for PEAK (Peace Education and Knowledge).

By learning from best practices globally, we can maximize the impact of our resources and time, ultimately advancing Prem’s message of personal peace across the world.

PremRawat.com: What’s been the biggest challenge for you in your role so far?

Tanuja: Facing some long-standing, entrenched systems, fulfilling this role has been challenging, particularly in terms of navigating it as a knowledgeable businesswoman.

Prem’s recent input has been quite helpful. It’s like when you need to travel from point A to point B, but mountains stand in your way. Instead of climbing every peak, think of yourself as being like a river—find a way to flow around the obstacles and keep moving forward.

Fortunately, there’s been noticeable progress in how others are responding, and we’re beginning to find a clearer, more effective way of working together.

PremRawat.com: You’ve been a businesswoman for several decades. Can you share more about your professional background?

Tanuja: Yes, I have been working for over 30 years in the fields of education, business consulting, and investment advisory. I enjoy creating spaces for effective dialogues with entrepreneurs, management professionals and business leaders. My strategic consulting framework includes project management suites (software tools & applications), leadership coaching, and organizational development workshops and conferences in a variety of settings and sectors.

My expertise has revolved around start-up projects, identifying new business opportunities within existing ecosystems of an organization, setting-up and expanding a new market presence with several key organizations in Asia, Australia, United States and Europe in the fields of ICT (information and communication technology), emerging technologies, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), ITS (intelligent transportation systems), e-learning, telecom, enterprise education, BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) and healthcare.

– Tanuja in Geneva Switzerland, July 2018 at the International Telecommunication Union, leading the World Geospatial Industry Council.

I have conducted in-depth market research, employing a 360-degree approach to gather and analyze data from diverse sources for a well-rounded understanding of the market. Additionally, I’ve worked on branding, public relations, and the creation of media and event intellectual property solutions for MSMEs (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises), seeking to expand their presence in India and worldwide.

PremRawat.com: Very ambitious! How did you get introduced to Prem Rawat? 

Tanuja: I was fortunate to be raised by my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and a whole village that were connected to Prem’s work. The village name was Mitraon (a part of Delhi) and consisted of about 200 families. Even the village shopkeepers, teachers and so many others were familiar with or were directly involved with Prem’s message.

My grandparents were devoted followers of Prem Rawat’s father, Shri Maharaji, and my parents embraced this path by receiving knowledge in 1967, before I was born in 1969. I was introduced to Prem at a very young age.

– December 1982 – Tanuja at the age of 13 with Grandfather: Sh. Ram Saran Das
and Grandmother: Smt. Premwati.

As I grew up, our home was always full of activity, with visitors from our village and lively conversations centered around Prem’s message of peace. Each Thursday we would host a gathering and sing bhajans (devotional songs). My father has a deep love for singing. While his melody wasn’t always on point, his heart was always fully in it. As a small child, I’d pick up an instrument and start singing along. As the oldest child, I often preferred staying to listen to people speaking about peace and singing, rather than joining my siblings and their friends playing outside.

Before there were video players, CD’s, DVD’s or smartphones, I listened to Prem’s message through published talks or through a tape recorder that my father had bought during one of his visits to the United States to attend an event with Prem. Due to limited access to materials at that time, we would listen to the same audio message and read the same magazines, over and over again.

I’d immersed myself in the pages of a periodical that published transcripts of Shri Maharaji and Prem’s talks. I was very inquisitive to know more.  I’d get into discussions with my grandfather and parents in my quest to deepen my understanding and connection to personal peace.

– Tanuja’s Family – June 1993. L to R: Mother: Mrs. Tilotma Sharma, Father: Mr. NC Sharma, Younger Brother: Jatin Sharma, Tanuja, and Younger Sister: Asha Sharma

As an introverted child, I did not talk to others much. My father was often away due to his work and played an active role in acquiring the land where events are held, which is now known as Raj Vidya Kender.

In 1981, at the age of 12, I first saw Prem Rawat in person. I still vividly recall the profound impact of that day. As he spoke, he emphasized the significance of each breath, the blessing of being born as a human being and being able to experience the divine dwelling in our heart.

As I listened to Prem speak at the live event, I found myself grappling with questions that seemed to evaporate the moment he addressed them. I began to experience a sense of balance. It became clear that I wanted to continue feeling this way and receive Prem’s gift of Knowledge.

Back then, you would go and ask for Knowledge from those who were specifically designated to show the techniques as taught by Prem Rawat. Repeatedly, they would say “You’re too young. You’ll have to wait until your 18.”

In 1982, Prem came back to India and held some events. In one of them he said “You’re born today and there is no guarantee that you will even live the next day.” I headed back to an individual who was designated to show the techniques of Knowledge. I stated “What if I go from this life without receiving Knowledge? Can you guarantee in writing that I will survive until age 18?”

He replied “Now, you got me.” So, at the thirsty age of 13, in May of that year, I received Prem’s gift of Knowledge. At around age 14, I was so touched to able to sing a solo bhajan at a live event with Prem.

As I got older, I decided to prioritize my career, but continued to dedicate my time, skills, and resources to supporting Prem’s message of peace.

PremRawat.com: Plus, you got married and had children?

Tanuja: Yes, I have a husband and we have a daughter, age 31 and a son, age 29. My youngest sister is married to my husband’s brother. My immediate family and many of my extended family members live within the same residential complex. We help each other along the way.

I had married into a family that was not familiar with Prem Rawat’s message. However, a few years later, both my husband and my mother-in-law received Prem’s gift of Knowledge.

When I started my own business, my daughter was 3 years old and my son was only 1. After they grew up, I shared with them my lifelong aspiration to help Prem and his message. I sat down with them and asked if they would be comfortable with seeing me less often. They were supportive.

Around 2012, I was already traveling for work in Europe and began helping with some of Prem’s media interviews in India. Since 2017, I’ve been traveling extensively around the world to support both my business and my volunteer efforts.

– Tanuja Vashistha at the United Nation’s Headquarter’s in New York – July 2018. During her tenure as Executive Director of the World Geospatial Industry Council, Netherlands. To her right, is Jack Dangermond, founder and current president of ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute), which is one of the leading companies in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

PremRawat.com: In 2020, you were invited to attend a global conference with Prem Rawat in Barcelona. Apparently, you had already been appointed as the new Regional Manager for India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. But you did not know this, going in?

Tanuja: That’s correct (chuckling). I just thought I was attending the Barcelona conference along with a pool of other potential candidates. Early on into the conference, it was made clear that I had already been selected as the new Indo Regional Manager. In response to the news, I exclaimed, “I didn’t know that!” which was met with hearty laughs and warm welcomes from the other attendees.

Also, when I went to the Barcelona conference, I didn’t know that I would get to spend so much close-up time with Prem, listening and learning. It was something that I had waited for all these years since my childhood.

PremRawat.com: You’ve shared that you are part of a global team of nine Regional Managers in eight regions; Europe, North America, South America, North Pacific, South Pacific, South Africa, West Africa and your Indo region. What exactly is the role of a Regional Manager?

Tanuja: Regional Manager responsibilities encompass a wide range of activities such as overseeing growth initiatives, special events and working with other regions and global organizations and teams with the goal of more synchronized efforts. Instead of sharing this message in a series of isolated events in one region, we are committed to creating a more impactful and cohesive approach in this ever-evolving global landscape.

As a Regional Manager I stay curious and open to learning from best practices, successful strategies and initiatives from other global regions. In the Indo region, I work with several teams consisting of senior individuals with immense experience and bringing on more youth who are full of new ideas and enthusiasm.

In collaboration with various organizations supporting Prem’s work, including TimelessToday, Intelligent Existence, TPRF, WOPG and the global productions team, we  prepare for upcoming events, book launches, and expanding media initiatives.

PremRawat.com: Tanuja, what else do you enjoy? Any hobbies?

Tanuja: I love cooking whenever I take the time to do it. I enjoy reading and traveling to new places. I practice semi-classical music, something I’ve been very passionate about since childhood.

– Tanuja reflecting on her journey over Zoom – December 31, 2024.

PremRawat.com: Last year (2024), you attended the 5-day global conference with Prem in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia. Briefly, what did you take away from your time there?

Tanuja: There were four main themes; 1) To share Prem’s message, we must think and act with a global perspective, not just a local one. 2) Improve alignment and standardization across both current and future teams 3) Support upcoming team trainings through the Intelligent Existence learning platform and 4) Engage and involve younger people who are excited to actively support and make a difference.

In addition, I’m excited to find opportunities to introduce Prem Rawat’s message to global corporate audiences. There is opportunity to align, develop, and deliver corporate workshops where he can engage directly with a cross-cultural corporate audience in a more in-depth manner.

PremRawat.com: In the third session of the 124^th Hans Jayanti Anniversary event in Delhi, Prem Rawat left the audience with a thought-provoking question: “You are in charge of your life. What will you do with this time?”

Any related final thoughts you’d like to share about that?

Tanuja: When I was presented with this Regional Manager opportunity, I knew it was my moment to express my gratitude and contribute to the legacy of Prem Rawat’s relentless efforts over the past 58 years, touching the lives of millions. The best part is that this opportunity also nurtures my own ongoing journey as a lifelong learner, continuously seeking personal peace with Prem’s guidance.

Over the years, the teachings and practices of knowledge have become a core part of my life, providing me with strength and stability amidst the various challenges I’ve faced. In today’s world, defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), Prem Rawat’s message has proven to be even more impactful. It encourages us to tap into our innate strengths and skills, acting as a steady guide through life’s storms.

If you are interested in helping out or require coordination support in the Indo Region (India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal) contact Tanuja at [email protected].

The lead photo of Tanuja was taken during her presentation at the fourth celebration event of Hans Jayanti – November 2024.

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