“The world is one family.”
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the ancient Indian wisdom, came alive in the most beautiful way during the 10th International Interfaith Conference 2025, where faith leaders, students, teachers, and peace ambassadors from across the globe came together to celebrate unity in diversity.
The theme this year, “Together in Faith to Shape a Better World,” was not just a slogan, but a call; a reminder that when we come together across religions, cultures, and geographies, we can truly create something powerful and lasting that is peace.
Held with great dignity and spirit, the conference was an emotional and uplifting experience. Each prayer, each message, each performance reminded us that no matter what name we call the Divine, or which path we walk, our values of love, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness are shared.
As I sat in the hall, surrounded by young students with open minds and hearts, and elders with wisdom in their words, I was deeply moved. One could feel the presence of something bigger than all of us, a shared longing for a world that is gentler, more inclusive, and more united.
We were all, in some way, living the message that Dr Jagdish Gandhi, our beloved founder, stood for all his life. His belief in Jai Jagat (Victory to the World) and his dream of a World Parliament that includes children, educators, and world leaders alike, echoed throughout the sessions. Dr Gandhi often reminded us that education must be rooted in universal values, and this conference felt like a reflection of his lifelong mission.
One young participant’s words have stayed with me ever since:
“We don’t need to be the same to walk together, we just need to care enough to try.”
It was a simple truth. It summed up everything this conference stood for.
There were moments of silence, moments of song, and moments that brought tears to our eyes. Whether it was a Rabbi singing a prayer for peace, or a Buddhist monk sharing quiet reflections, or a group of school children performing an interfaith musical, the message was the same: “We are one”.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is not just a phrase in a textbook. It is something we must teach, model, and live every day. And what better place to start than in our classrooms, our assemblies, our homes, and our hearts?
At City Montessori School, we are blessed to be part of a community where Value Education is given as much importance as academic learning. Conferences like these remind us why that matters. They open our students’ eyes to the wider world and teach them empathy, respect, and the power of dialogue.
As an educator, I left the conference feeling hopeful and responsible. Hopeful because I saw the seeds of peace being planted in the next generation. Responsible, because it is up to us to nurture them.
To everyone who attended, contributed, prayed, and participated — Thank You! You were not just part of an event. You were part of a movement.
As the Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
And in the words of the Quran, “We made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.”
Let us carry these truths forward, not just in words, but in action.
Because together, in faith, we really can shape a better world!
