Hyderabad – In a grand ceremony held at Bhavanam Venkatram Hall, the Hon’ble Governor of Telangana and Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, conferred the prestigious Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) degree upon internationally renowned speaker, author, and peace ambassador Prem Rawat during the university’s 26th Convocation on Tuesday. Staying true to its motto “Education for All,” the university reaffirmed its commitment to providing equal access to higher education for all sections of society while meeting evolving personal and social needs. The event was attended by Hon’ble Governor and Chancellor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Guest Prof. Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor of BRAOU, eminent Telugu poet Sri Gorati Venkanna, along with deans, professors, students, and their families. The university, in its citation, described Prem Rawat’s lifelong contribution toward peace as “extraordinary and unparalleled.” Through his books, digital content, training programs, and lectures at prestigious institutions like the United Nations, European Parliament, Harvard, Oxford, IIM Ahmedabad, and IIT Delhi, he has inspired millions worldwide to discover their inner strength and live a life of fulfillment. His Peace Education Program (PEP), based on his international addresses, is being conducted in over 1,500 educational institutions and 890 prisons across 80 countries, including facilities in Telangana, benefiting over 517,000 people and helping reduce recidivism. Recently, his foundation launched PEP EDU, a version designed for teachers and students, and signed an MoU with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to make it available on the SWAYAM Plus Portal, one of the nation’s largest online learning platforms. His New York Times bestselling book “Hear Yourself: How to Find Peace in a Noisy World” has been translated into 18 languages, with the Arabic edition launched in Dubai, attracting global media attention. In 2023 alone, his message reached over 775 million people through television, radio, and print media. Apart from humanitarian work, Prem Rawat is also a trained pilot with over 15,000 flight hours and a deep passion for music, art, and photography. In his address, Prem Rawat thanked the Governor, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and the university community, saying, “Institutions like this open doors for students, giving them tools and opportunities to move ahead in life. For underprivileged students, such opportunities are life-changing. I feel privileged to be a small part of this mission. I too try to open doors — not for business or outer exploration, but for inner discovery, peace, and strength. In many ways, our goals are the same.” For over five decades, Prem Rawat’s message of peace has inspired millions in more than 110 countries. Between 2023 and 2025, he achieved three Guinness World Records — for the world’s largest book reading (Hear Yourself with 1,14,704 participants), the largest live lecture audience (3,75,603 participants), and the largest multi-author book reading (1,33,234 participants). He has been honored with the “Key to the City” by more than 20 cities worldwide and received the Asia Pacific Brand Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, joining icons like Nelson Mandela and Steve Jobs. His humanitarian organization, The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF), works to fulfill fundamental human needs such as food, water, and peace. Its flagship program Food for People provides millions of nutritious meals annually in India, Nepal, Ghana, and South Africa and continues to make a difference across five continents through initiatives in nutrition, education, and community development.
