The Yogic Guru of Shivyog and Adjunct Faculty at IIT integrate Indian Knowledge System into modern education, research and student well being.
Ropar, Punjab- IIT Ropar Advances Science-Backed Indian Knowledge Systems with Three Landmark
Initiatives Led by Dr. Ishan Shivanand
The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar today hosted a series of landmark academic and
institutional initiatives with Dr. Ishan Shivanand—global mental health researcher, Founder of
Yoga of Immortals (YOI), and Adjunct Faculty at the Centre of Excellence for Holistic Wellbeing,
IIT Ropar—aimed at formally integrating evidence-based Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into
modern higher education, research, and student wellbeing.
RISE Program: Building Mental Resilience in Students
The current phase of the RISE (Resilience in Students Everyday) Program, an advanced mental
resilience training program designed and led by Dr. Ishan Shivanand, concluded with a faculty
leadership meet to review outcomes and impact. The program has reached over 25,000
students across institutions, including IIT Ropar, addressing anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Students participated in structured weekly sessions using evidence-based breathing,
awareness, and visualization techniques designed to make meditation a practical, measurable
life skill. The initiative marks a foundational step toward cultivating emotionally intelligent,
resilient, and self-aware students in high-pressure academic environments.
Inauguration of the Dr. Ishan Avdhoot Shivanand Hall of Yogic Sciences and Holistic
Development
Professor Rajeev Ahuja, Hon’ble Director of IIT Ropar, presided over the groundbreaking and
Bhumi Poojan ceremony for the Dr. Ishan Avdhoot Shivanand Hall of Yogic Sciences and
Holistic Development. The facility will serve as a dedicated research and innovation hub
focused on mental health and holistic wellbeing. Its core mandate is to scientifically validate
ancient Indian yogic and contemplative sciences and align them with modern research
methodologies, with an emphasis on developing low-cost, scalable, and evidence-based mental
health solutions for the wider public.
Launch of the Dr. Ishan Avdhoot Shivanand Scholarship
Reinforcing its long-term commitment to research and inclusion, IIT Ropar also launched a
perpetual merit-based scholarship program valued at ₹30 lakhs. Each year, 10 outstanding
undergraduate students—primarily from vulnerable communities—will be supported for research
and innovation in mental health, yogic sciences, cognitive sciences, and holistic wellbeing. The
scholarship is designed to nurture future scholars capable of bridging India’s civilizational
knowledge with contemporary scientific inquiry.
About Dr. Ishan Shivanand
Dr. Ishan Shivanand is a globally celebrated mental health researcher, professor, and yogic
scholar, best known as the founder of Yoga of Immortals (YOI), an evidence-based,
non-pharmaceutical mental resilience and meditation protocol. His work bridges ancient
contemplative traditions with modern psychology and neuroscience, and has been researched
at Rutgers University and presented at leading Ivy League institutions, including Harvard and
Stanford. Rooted in rigorous scholarship and lived yogic lineage, Shivanand’s approach
integrates breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness into scalable frameworks for mental health,
resilience, and performance across healthcare, education, and professional settings. His
international bestselling book, The Practice of Immortality, is a global success – published by
leading publications Hachette Book Group and Penguin Random House, and sold across 15+
countries in 4 languages.
As a professor deeply committed to youth well-being, Shivanand has directly impacted 25,000+
students across IIT Ropar, Bharati Vidyapeeth, and Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular
Sciences, addressing the rising challenges of anxiety, burnout, and emotional fatigue among
young people. He serves as Adjunct Faculty with the Center of Excellence for Holistic
Wellbeing at IIT Ropar, wherein he imparts an advanced resilience training curriculum
titled RISE (Resilience in Students Everyday) Program. His Yoga of Immortals (YOI)
protocols are supported by peer-reviewed clinical research published in international medical
journals, demonstrating 72–82% reductions in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia
within weeks of consistent practice. Through academic partnerships, institutional collaborations,
and ongoing research initiatives, Shivanand continues to advance integrative, science-backed
solutions for mental well-being at scale.
