An academician par excellence, Prof. B.R. Sharma has had an impressive career trajectory of quality teaching and research in the field of Yoga for FOUR decades. Presently, he is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sri University since March 31, 2022. Prior to that, Prof. Sharma was serving as Professor & Head, the Department of Yogic Science & Dean, the Faculty of Health and Wellness (from October 22, 2018) and Executive Registrar (September 10, 2019, to January 18, 2022) at Sri Sri University.
A visionary and eminent scholar in Yoga, he is instrumental in promoting Ethico-Socio-Philosophico-Spiritual aspects of Yoga with a view to applying the ancient yogic knowledge in various fields such as Education, Therapy, Psychology, etc. A breakthrough leader, Prof. Sharma carries immense experience in institutional leadership at the national and international levels. He has served at esteemed organizations in multiple roles during his illustrious journey in academics, research, and administration.
Prof. Sharma started his career working as Lecturer at Shri Ranbir Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha Jammu, for the subject of Samkhya & Yoga. He has served Kaivalyadhama, Yoga Research Institute, Lonavla for more than 33 years in various significant capacities such as Research Officer, Head of Research in the Dept. of Philosophico – Literary Research in Yoga, and Principal of Yoga College & Cultural Synthesis.
Prof. Sharma has been honored for his exemplary contributions to the field of Yoga Research and Education at various National and International forums. To name a few, he was conferred ‘Yoga Amrit Ratna Samman‘ by Gurukula Kangri Central University, Haridwar; the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Association of Yoga, Life-time achievement Award during the National seminar on ‘History in Puranas’ inaugurated by the Governor of Odisha. As per the recommendation of the AYUSH Ministry, Government of India, Prof. Sharma single-handedly prepared the Zero draft on ‘Benchmarks for Training in Yoga’ for WHO. He was felicitated by the Director of WHO for this remarkable work.
For his profound thought leadership and vision, Prof. Sharma has been nominated as a member of the panel of various steering Committees of national eminence like the Scientific Advisory Committee of Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India; Scientific Advisory Committee, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India; General Body Member of MDNIY, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India; Member of Technical Committee of Yoga Certification Board (YCB), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Advisor (working group) Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Govt. of India. Prof. Sharma has contributed to various critical projects of global eminence with his extant knowledge in the subject of yoga such as Yoga Kosh, Yoga Concordance, etc, and Peer Reviewer Yoga Expert for “mYoga applications” development as a part of the global ‘Be Healthy’, ‘be Mobile’ (BHBM) initiatives of WHO. He was a part of the Govt. of India’s Delegation as a Yoga Expert to participate in the 11th Intergovernmental UNESCO meet Ethiopia wherein Yoga was accepted as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of India.
Prof. Sharma has 63 publications to his credit including 13 books and 50 Research papers published in Peer-reviewed Journals, Souvenirs, Proceedings, etc. Ten Ph.D. Scholars have been awarded Ph. D. under his supervision. He was also the Managing Editor of a renowned Yoga Journal called Yoga Mimamsa and chairman of various institutional committees. He has organized various National Seminars/Conferences as General Secretary and International Conferences as an organizing member and Chairman of the Programme Committee and various other events at the Institute level at Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla, Pune.
Prof. Sharma has intensively traveled to over 10 countries and addressed more than 200 conferences, seminars, workshops, and training programs, and delivered keynote speeches in various Universities/Institutions in India and countries across the globe including Spain, Italy, Korea, Japan, Geneva, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, and Ethiopia.
Prof. Sharma is a dynamic academician with a multifaceted body of work in teaching, administration, innovation, and research. He is a perfect blend of a Teacher, Mentor, Guide, Sadhak, and Karma Yogi.