If we want peace, we must start caring for everybody from the heart, because once we start caring, being kind and empathetic towards all, peace will follow. This was the broad message conveyed by Buddhist monk from the United Kingdom Karma Yeshe Rabgye while participating in a panel discussion at the first Rotary Peace Summit organised by six Peacebuilding Clubs of Rotary District 3080 in association with Amity Unity Punjab, in the auditorium of the university campus in Mohali on Wednesday.
The peace summit with the theme ‘Peace Is Possible’ was organised under the aegis of the India chapter of Rotary Action Group for Peace with its motto Peace Through Service. The participating clubs were Rotary Chandigarh Uptown, Rotary Chandigarh, Rotary Chandigarh Midtown, Rotary Chandigarh Central, Rotary Chandigarh Shivalik and Rotary Classic Chandigarh.
Noted Cellist and a Rotary Peace Fellow from Brazil, Diego Carneiro enchanted the large audience, comprising Rotarians and students and faculty of the university, with the rendition of a few of his musical compositions on the cello, which personified the rhythm and harmony in society.
It was a trailer to the Rotary Peace Concert ‘Symphony for Harmony’ scheduled to be held at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Thursday evening. The concert is an Indo-Brazilian collaboration which will feature the musical styling of Diego Carneiro, who is also an orchestral conductor, and Artistic Director at Amazonart Foundation, in ‘jugalbandi’ with Hindustani instrumental band ‘Aarohi’.
In the panel discussion, Karma Yeshe Rabgye advocated the introduction of spirituality, in the curricula at school and college level as a way of promoting world peace. Peace has to begin within, and if we as individuals can undertake a personal journey within ourselves, we will be at peace with ourselves and with the world and there will be no cause for conflict, he added.
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On the request of the organisers, he held an impromptu brief meditation session for the audience with simple practice of concentrating on one’s breath while keeping the eyes closed.
Another panellist, Dr Upneet Lalli, Deputy Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, which trains police and jail personnel in correctional handling of offenders and jail inmates, talked about the relatively new concept of restorative justice, which emphasises on delivering justice not in terms of punishment for offenders but by respecting the dignity of all concerned, thus helping restore harmony in society.
Dr Nitya Parkash, Global CEO of Quality New Zealand Education, an organisation promoted by cricket greats from New Zealand Sir Richard Hadlee and Geoff Allott, in association with trio of ambassadors Stephen Fleming, Brendan McCullum, and Daniel Vettori, emphasised the need for promoting equitable and inclusive education as a means for promoting peace and harmony in the world.
He informed that with a view to make quality education affordable and accessible, his organisation is working with educational institutions in 13 countries worldwide which commit to reducing their tuition fee by 10% annually instead of hiking it.
Rotary district 3080 Governor designate for 2026-27 Dr Rita Kalra, who is the head coordinator of Civil Hospital Panchkula, enjoined the students and other young leaders to form or join Rotaract Clubs, Rotary’s associate clubs which represent the global movement of young leaders developing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
She said among the Rotary programs available for Rotaract members are leadership development opportunities, community service projects, international service initiatives, professional development workshops, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), worldwide Rotary Youth Exchange programs, all designed to foster leadership skills, global understanding, and community impact.
Earlier in his keynote address, the Regional Head – North Region India at UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Vikas Verma emphasised that successful implementation of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations (UN) member states in 2015, is probably the last chance for ushering peace and prosperity in the world.
But, for the SDGs to succeed, we as individuals will have to set out own sustainable self-development goals because when we change, the world changes.
In his address, Guest of Honour Rotary District 3080 Governor Rtn Rajpal Singh, while emphasising that Rotary International is one of the biggest NGOs in the world which apart from doing charity is also undertaking several activities to promote world peace, enumerated various achievements of his district, most notably creating a world record by distributing 6 lakh+ sanitary pads free of cost to the needy girls within 24 hours.
Chief Guest Prof RK Kohli, Vice Chancellor of Amity University Punjab, appreciated the spirit behind organising the Rotary Peace Summit saying that it is a wonderful way of inviting attention of the people towards fostering peace. He said peace is not something which can be promoted top-down, it has to come from the hearts of the people at the grassroots level.
