NEW DELHI. INDIA, May 30, 2025 (ANI): Jonas Masetti, founder of Vishva Vidya Gurukulam in Brazil, expressed gratitude to the Indian government on being conferred the Padma Shri award Speaking to ANI, Jonas Masetti said: “I was not expecting this. It’s a great honor… Many people in Brazil are studying Vedanta, and this is an honor not just for me but for our family striving for this tradition. I used to work in the stock market. I’m a mechanical engineer. I used to work with the biggest companies in Brazil. But I felt empty and was looking for meaning in my life. Then I learned about the Vedic culture and ended up in Swami Dayananda’s ashram in Tamil Nadu.I understood that I had to go back to the place I came from and spread the knowledge and message of the Vedas. There are so many teachers in India that a Westerner doesn’t need to come here and teach their own culture. I see a lot of youngsters losing the opportunity to value their culture and being so enchanted by the Western way of thinking”, he said. Padma Awards–one of the country’s highest civilian Awards–are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/activities — art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and educa-tion, sports, civil service, etc.

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