Vishal Mangalwadi graduated from the University of Allahabad in 1969 and earned an MA in philosophy from the University of Indore in 1973. In 1974, Mangalwadi co-founded The Theological Research and Communication Institute (TRACI) and began to develop his master's thesis into his first book, The World of Gurus, published by Vikas Publishing House in 1977 and serialized in the weekly magazine, Sunday.