Disciple:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Greetings.
Disciple:
Gurudev, it has been two and a half years since we started this channel. In terms of achievement, we reached 80,000 subscribers today.
Gurudev:
It started in December 2019. Calculate from then.
Disciple:
Yes, it has been almost two and a half years—perhaps a bit more. How do you view this entire journey? You have been the constant companion through it all, even as many others have changed.
Gurudev:
I have released many episodes—over 700. Excluding the Hiranyagarva series, my Gupta Shashak Shamakapur series alone has over 700 episodes. Based on that, people are watching, but they are not all subscribing. We have 12.4 million total views, yet only 80,000 subscribers. This means many people are watching but choosing not to subscribe.
Disciple:
According to the statistics, about 53% of viewers watch without subscribing.
Gurudev:
Think about that—over 50% are not subscribing. If that 50% had subscribed, the channel would be in a completely different place; it would have millions of followers. But they do not. Still, my videos are watched for long durations, and people watch them repeatedly. Our reach is global—beyond India, we have viewers in Bangladesh, the United States, Oman, Canada, France, and Germany. People from all over say, "Gurudev, we watch your episodes."
Disciple:
Gurudev, another thing is that the subscriber growth slowed down during the three or four months you were unwell.
Gurudev:
Yes, I could not provide new videos then.
Disciple:
We see comments from viewers every day, and they have one consistent request: they want to see you in the videos again.
Gurudev:
They often say, "Please appear in the videos; we find so much peace in hearing your voice." They listen to the videos at night before sleeping. They ask me not to miss any days and to keep providing content. However, it has not been possible because we are short-staffed, and my health has not been great. People tell me to stop for now and rest, but I still try to do whatever little I can.
Disciple:
Gurudev, what changes have you observed in the channel over these two and a half years? You are the central figure here; you are everything to this channel.
Gurudev:
I do not see it that way, nor do I think about it much. People love me and the episodes. Everyone says, "Gurudev, do not stop; give us at least one episode because we listen to you before we go to sleep." Many people have called to say they fall asleep listening to the episodes.
Disciple:
That is actually true. When we check the statistics for when the videos are most watched, it's usually after 9:30 PM. And Gurudev, you mentioned this before, but we now have proof in the statistics: the younger generation is showing a huge interest in spirituality. Almost 45% to 46% of our viewers are between 18 and 34 years old.
Gurudev:
Yes, I have seen that. The stats show that the majority are in that age bracket and are mostly men. About 73% are male and 27% are female. It surprises me that this age group watches my videos the most. It makes me happy that they are watching.
Disciple:
There is a cliché that spirituality is only for a certain age, but these statistics prove that wrong. The pull toward spiritual thinking does not have an age. While there are viewers across all ages, that specific bracket is very prominent.
Gurudev:
I think it's because I explain things very clearly. I make it so people can understand my words. People tell me they watch the same video four or five times. If it's a deep topic, they might not get it the first time, but after several viewings, they understand what I'm trying to convey.
Disciple:
Our generation wants to understand spirituality, but the way it's presented in books can be very difficult. You act as a guide, explaining things in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
Gurudev:
I also search for new things to share—things that will interest people. I keep looking and researching. Our country is a land of spirituality, so I focus on that. Except for a few videos on figures like Subhash Chandra Bose, we have never deviated from spiritual topics.
Disciple:
The uniqueness of this channel is that it caters to everyone, like teaching a child the alphabet before they can form sentences. You act as that guide. Because you explain things so simply, people's interest in spirituality is growing.
Gurudev:
I want people to watch, learn, and understand. That's my only goal. If everyone subscribed, we would have been much further along. But it does not matter; even if they do not subscribe, they are still watching. We have reached 80,000, and we will probably hit 100,000 in another three or four months.
Disciple:
One barrier for us is language. So far, all our videos are only in Bengali. If we could translate your words or even just provide subtitles, the viewership would likely increase several times over.
Gurudev:
I never tell people to subscribe. I have only mentioned it a couple of times because the Shantikunj ashram asked me to. Whatever the Mother (Goddess) wishes will happen.
Disciple:
Even so, through this two-and-a-half-year journey, even though I have only been here a year...
Gurudev:
Our reach is international. People from all over the world are watching. That is my greatest reward.
Disciple:
Even with the language barrier, the fact that your message has spread across the country and to other nations is a huge achievement.
Gurudev:
Since my health declined, I only sit for a few people a day, yet the crowds are so large. We give out 10 tickets, but 100 people show up. I feel bad for the people who travel from far away and have to turn back. I feel like I should not see anyone until I am fully recovered.
Disciple:
Before you got sick, there used to be 100 to 150 people. Now that people know you are sitting again, the numbers have surged.
Gurudev:
People ask how they can know when I will be available. I tell them I will announce it on YouTube. But that announcement brought even more people. Every day, 100 people come. Even now, in the evening, there are 50 people waiting who came from Kharagpur, Asansol, and Midnapore. They wait from the morning just to get a ticket and see me. They say they will not leave without seeing me. It's astonishing.
Disciple:
We who are close to you see you every day, but for those who come from afar, this is a golden opportunity.
Gurudev:
They just want to do a Pranam (bow), talk for a moment, or touch my feet for peace. But Shantikunj has limited it to 10 people. It's against my wishes, but I have to follow the rules for my health.
Disciple:
If you increase the number, it becomes a management problem for the ashram, especially during the time of the Mother's Bhog (offering).
Disciple:
To conclude, for the 80,000 subscribers, even if you do not want a "celebration," for us presenters, it is a matter of great pride. Our hard work has borne fruit.
Gurudev:
You should be proud. You and Dutto have done the most work. Others helped in the past, but you two are managing it now. How do you feel?
Disciple:
We feel proud. Personally, I used to be afraid to speak, but now I can speak fluently. That is a huge gain for me. We want to thank everyone on behalf of Shantikunj and Gurudev for helping us reach this milestone.
Gurudev:
Sanket is also very happy about the 80,000 followers.
Disciple:
Everyone who maintains the channel—Sanket edits, sometimes I do, sometimes Dutto does—we are all very proud. A Bengali channel reaching people across the world is a great thing.
Gurudev:
It's not "my" channel. I just say a few things, people love it, and I try my best to speak to them. That is my reward. It does not matter if the audience is large or small; what matters is that people listen to my words.
Disciple:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Blessings.