Shivani Verma

Shivani Verma (born in Pune in 1972),[1] better known as Brahma Kumari Shivani or Sister Shivani,[2] is a Brahma Kumaris teacher at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.[3][4][5]

She conducts motivational courses through public seminars and television programs. Since 2007, she has become increasingly well known in India and among the Indian diaspora for her leading role in the pay-to-broadcast television series Awakening with Brahma Kumaris, which aired daily on Aastha channel.[2][6][7] Together with the actor Suresh Oberoi, she is a goodwill ambassador of the World Psychiatric Association.

Biography

Shivani Verma completed an electronics engineering degree at Pune University in 1994 (as a "gold medalist"), and then served for two years as a lecturer in Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Pune.[3][8] She has said that "Studying engineering has taught me to think logically. Education is always helpful."[3]

BK Shivani and Suresh Oberoi appearing on the television program Awakening with Brahma Kumaris in Bangkok

Verma's parents began following the Brahma Kumaris when she was a child and young adult, but she was not initially interested in it herself. In an interview, she said "For two years, I saw the impact on them. They asked me to come with them, but that doesn't work. The more they would ask me, the more I'd block."[2] After two years, she began attending sporadically – about once every two weeks when at the age of 23.[2]

She is married, and has a software business in Gurgaon with her husband,[2][3] Vishal Verma.

Initially she worked backstage at the production of Brahma Kumaris television presentations in Delhi, where senior teachers would record teachings. Then in 2007, due to unavailability of other teachers, she was asked to start answering viewers queries herself.[8] This led to a television program launched in 2007, titled Awakening with Brahma Kumaris, in which BK Shivani was interviewed by co-host Kanu Priya,[3] and later by the actor Suresh Oberoi.

Her TV series of conversations with Suresh Oberoi was adapted into a 2015 book Happiness Unlimited: Awakening With Brahma Kumaris.[9]

BK Shivani now travels in India and elsewhere, including the United States and Canada,[10][11] appearing at charitable events ranging from the promotion of organ donation[12] to parenting programs,[13] as well as Brahma Kumaris events.[11] On organ donation, in 2015 she said "We are taught that karma done today will benefit our family for a long time. So, it shouldn't take us long to decide to do 'daan' of our body's organs."[12]

Together with Suresh Oberoi, she is a goodwill ambassador of the World Psychiatric Association.[14]

Recognition

In 2014, she was awarded a Women of the Decade Achievers Award by the ASSOCHAM Ladies League "for Excellence in Empowering Spiritual Consciousness".[1][15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Women of the Decade – Year 2014 – India – B K Sister Shivani". ASSOCHAM Ladies League. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Being normal, being spiritual". Mid Day. December 12, 2010. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Ahuja, Aditi (June 7, 2010). "Studying engineering helped me think logically: Brahmakumari Shivani". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  4. ↑ "Instead of thinking to change the world,change oneself: Sister Shivani". Jharkhand State News. March 18, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Criticism, negative reactions disempower children: BK Shivani". Hindustan Times. February 22, 2014. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Profile : Sister BK Shivani". Life Positive. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  7. ↑ "BK Shivani Ji Profile". Aastha TV. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  8. 1 2 "'Ensure that your happiness doesn't depend on others'". The Times of India. March 9, 2010. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  9. ↑ Verma, Shivani; Oberoi, Suresh (May 1, 2015). Happiness Unlimited: Awakening With Brahma Kumaris. ISBN 978-8182748262.
  10. ↑ "From the community: US Brahma Kumaris Welcomes Sister Shivani to a Tour on 'Awakening'". Chicago Tribune. June 19, 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  11. 1 2 "Awakening with Sister Shivani in Vancouver". Brahma Kumaris of Canada official website. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  12. 1 2 "Greatest gift, say spiritual gurus as doctors allay fears". The Times of India. August 11, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  13. ↑ "Brahma Kumaris in association with New Delhi Times organizes spiritual program at India Islamic Cultural Centre". New Delhi Times. November 23, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  14. ↑ "Our Goodwill Ambassadors". World Psychiatric Association official website. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  15. ↑ "Women of the Decade". The Afternoon Despatch & Courier. January 3, 2014. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
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