Together in Faith: The 10th International Interfaith Conference 2025 at CMS Culminated with a Call for Unity, Equality, and Climate Action
The 10th International Interfaith Conference, hosted from 11th to 13th August, 2025, by City Montessori School, Rajajipuram Campus II, unfolded as a resplendent affirmation of India’s ancient wisdom, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). Inaugurated by Shri Brajesh Pathak (Deputy Chief Minister & Cabinet Minister of Medical Education, Medical and Health, and Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh) at the CMS Kanpur Road auditorium, the three-day conclave brought together eminent scholars and spiritual luminaries from Egypt, the USA, Lebanon, Brazil, and across India, alongside prominent religious leaders of Lucknow.
The conference theme, “Together in Faith to Shape a Better World,” reverberated throughout the sessions and cultural showcases. Panel discussions dwelt upon faith as a unifying force in a fragmented world. The event, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Unity (UN SDG 16), Gender Equality (UN SDG 5), and Climate Action (UN SDG 13), served as a global platform to explore how faith can be harnessed as a force for social harmony, equitable progress, and environmental stewardship. The conference stressed the transformative potential of women leaders within communities and the expanding responsibilities of religious institutions in education, humanitarian aid, and governance.
Youth empowerment was a recurrent emphasis, with speakers highlighting how young people can transcend prejudice and advocate for peace through interfaith dialogue. The 3-day-long conference positioned religion not as a divider, but as a force for collaboration, justice, and shared responsibility.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, CMS Manager, Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, highlighted in her address that religion, at its noblest, teaches us to live by moral values and aspire toward spiritual progress. She stated that respect for all religions has always been ingrained in the ethos of CMS. Convenor Ms Khyati Lamba, Headmistress of CMS Rajajipuram Campus II, expressed her belief that this congregation would leave an enduring imprint of harmony and mutual respect for various religions among students.
10th International Interfaith Conference 2025 – Event Highlights
The event commenced with a press conference at the World Unity Convention Centre (WUCC), where scholars and faith leaders addressed journalists on the objectives of this international gathering. Their reflections converged on a shared conviction that religious harmony forms the foundation of social development. Religion, they observed, connects human beings, and the endeavour must be to highlight commonalities among faiths to promote peace and brotherhood.
Eminent figures graced the conference, including:
1) Hon’ble Justice Dr Dr (h.c.) Adel Omar Sherif, First Deputy Chief Justice, Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, and Founding Patron of the International Interfaith Harmony Conference
2) Dr Sally Hammoud, Consultant, Communication & Digital Media Specialist, Lebanon
3) Bhrigu Peethadhishvar Poojya Gurudev Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj, National Convenor of Bhartiya Sarva Dharma Sansad (BSDS), New Delhi
4) Maulana A.R. Shaheen Qasmi, General Secretary of the World Peace Organisation, New Delhi
5) Acharya Vivek Muni Ji Maharaj, Founder President of Acharya Sushil Muni Mission, New Delhi
6) Rev. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, former Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Senior Advisor at Bharat Tibet Sayog Manch
7) Swami Veer Singh Hitkari Ji Maharaj, National Press Secretary, Akhil Bhartiya Ravidassia Dharam Sangathan, Bharat;
8) Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, Imam Eidgah & Qazi Shahr, Lucknow, and Chairman of the Islamic Centre of India (Sunni Tradition)
9) Shri Bhikkhu Gyanlok, Bhikkhu-in-Charge, Buddha Vihara, Mahabodhi Society of India, Lucknow
10) Maulana Dr Kalbe Sibtain (Noorie) Sahab, Islamic Scholar (Shia Tradition) and Founder of Unity Mission School, Lucknow
11) Marazban Nariman Zaiwalla, Behdinpasban, Zoroastrian Parsi Community, New Delhi
12) Shri Shailendra Jain, proponent of Jain philosophy and values, Lucknow
13) Dr Anil Sarwal, Associate Professor of English (formerly), Chandigarh, representing the Bahá’í Faith
14) Ms Niti Deolia, Regional Coordinator for United Religions Initiative (URI) – Asia, North & West Zones
15) Mr Jwalant Shah, Co-Founder and Director of Technology & Projects at Swaaha
Their collective wisdom, profound insights, and dignified presence embodied the true pluralistic spirit of the conference.
As evening descended, the students of CMS Rajajipuram Campus II presented a cultural programme that enthralled the gathering. It demonstrated the creative expression, confidence, and conviction of young learners. Their performances, nurtured by the tireless efforts of teachers, became an aesthetic delight.
The highlight of the evening, “Dharmakshetra: The Eternal Battle Within,” drew lessons from the Mahabharata and the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. It beautifully weaved epic wisdom into contemporary dilemmas, inspiring profound introspection among the audience.
Other presentations reinforced the spirit of unity in diversity: the World Parliament – Voices of the World, The Dreamer of Peace: A Tribute to Dr Jagdish Gandhi, and the All-Religion Prayer – Many Paths, represented the enduring CMS ethos. Performances like ‘One Light’ by Classes 1 and 2, ‘Sankalp’ through Yoga and Drill, and the ‘World Unity Prayer’ by primary students deeply moved the audience with their heartfelt message.
Justice Dr. Adel Omar Sherif, Founding Patron of the International Interfaith Conference and First Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt addressed the audience. His keynote address was a luminous reminder that religions, when freed from dogma, are radiant beacons guiding humanity towards justice, equity, and peace. His words set the tone for the panel discussions that followed, which constituted the intellectual heart of the conference.
An Overview of Panel Discussions Involving Eminent Participants of the 10th International Interfaith Conference 2025
Shri Swatantra Dev Singh, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Uttar Pradesh, and Minister of State with Independent Charge for Transport & Protocol and Minister of State for Power in the Government of Uttar Pradesh, graced the session as the Hon’ble Chief Guest on the second day of the 10th International Interfaith Conference 2025.
The first panel discussion, ‘Together in Faith to Shape a Better World’, deliberated on how faith can counter conflict, inequality, and mistrust by upholding compassion and dignity. Mr Mujtaba Ali Khan (CMS alumnus from Chowk Campus) moderated the discussion. The session featured insightful contributions from Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, Hon’ble Justice Dr Dr (h.c.) Adel Omar Sherif, Dr Sally Hammoud, Ms Carmen Balhestero, Dr David E. Risley, and Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Naqvi Sahab, who collectively explored how leaders across faiths can collaborate to shape a more compassionate world.
The second panel, ‘Religion as a Force for Unity’, moderated by Mr Ribhav Misra (CMS alumnus from Cambridge Section, Gomti Nagar Extension Campus), emphasised the role of young people in employing faith-based values to overcome prejudice and weave fractured societies together. The panel included Maulana A.R. Shaheen Qasmi, Shri Paramjit Singh Chandhok, Rev. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Prof. Dr Abraham Karickam, Dr Anil Sarwal, and Syed Shajar Ali, whose reflections highlighted practical pathways for promoting societal cohesion.
The third discussion, ‘Religion as a Force for Gender Equality’, was moderated by Mr Aditya Tripathi (CMS alumnus from Aliganj Campus I). It invited participants to reconsider sacred texts as sources of inspiration for equity and honour for women in all spheres of life. Panellists included Dr Sally Hammoud, Bhrigu Peethadhishvar Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj, Swami Veer Singh Hitkari Ji Maharaj, Dr Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Mr Sandeep Kumar, Mr Asif Iqbal, and Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, who shared insights on fostering gender-neutral communities through faith-rooted principles.
The fourth panel, ‘Religion as a Force for Climate Action’, moderated by Ms Suhana Kapoor (CMS alumnus from Rajajipuram Campus I), implored the audience to regard the Earth as a sacred trust, urging faith-rooted environmental stewardship. Hon’ble Justice Dr Dr (h.c.) Adel Omar Sherif, Acharya Shri Vivek Muni Ji Maharaj, Marazban Nariman Zaiwalla, Ms Rupa Trivedi, Mr Jwalant Shah, Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, and Fr. Naresh Lobo contributed to the discussion. Their collective expertise underlined the moral imperative of ecological responsibility.
The Role of CMS as the Lighthouse of Society
The enthusiastic participation of students throughout the event reflected the core philosophy of CMS education, which empowers learners not only to acquire knowledge but also to engage in meaningful discourse that defines a harmonious, equitable, and just world. As the conference drew to a close, the message was clear: when faith unites, humanity ascends.
The International Interfaith Conference 2025 was a clarion call to action. It reinforced CMS’s conviction that education is a powerful instrument to heal fissures in society and usher in harmony. By convening religious leaders, academics, and the young custodians of the future, CMS aimed to act as the lighthouse of society, guiding communities towards concord, compassion, and collective progress.
This 10th International Interfaith Conference 2025 was not an end but a stepping stone towards a larger dream: the realisation of a world where faith serves not as a cause of division, but as a catalyst for unity, gender equality, and ecological responsibility.