by Mahadev Desai
Thousands attended the First Emory Summit on Religion, Conflict and Peace building at the spacious Woodruff Physical Education Center, Emory Campus, on Sunday, October 21. The inter-faith religion program was graced by the presence of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory, His Holiness Dalai Lama. 

The panel moderated by Prof. Laurie Patton, Co-founder of the Initiative in Religion, Conflict and Peace building at Emory University, included eminent spiritual scholars from Hindu, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi; Sister Joan Chittister; Rabbi David Rosen and Prof. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im; respectively. Thunderous standing ovation greeted Dalai Lama and the Summit participants as they took their seats on the stage. Emory University President James Wagner welcomed all and said that the panel members were promoting dialogue between Eastern and Western ways of knowledge. “Spiritual and intellectual understanding sought by them is very much what the University should be all about in the 21st century,” he said.

Prof. Patton, who introduced all the panelists, said the panel would strive to address the challenge facing the world today, namely,  “Can the religions of the world work together to reduce violent conflict and build peaceful pluralistic societies? Religious difference is not something to be overcome or ignored or dissolved. Rather, religious difference is something to be featured.”

“The Day really belonged to Mahatma Gandhi, when Dalai Lama himself took first 5 minutes of his address talking about his encounter with Mahatma Gandhi in his dream”, said Subash Razdan, leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Gandhi Foundation of USA to welcome Dalai Lama at the Summit. “The theme for the Summit was Religion, Conflict and Peace Building. It was a glorious moment for the people of the world, especially people of India origin, when Mahatma Gandhi’s message took center stage in this Summit,” commented Razdan.

Giriraj Rao, Dalai Lama, Antony Thaliath, Viren Mayani - Photo by Rifka Mayani

The officers of Atlanta based Gandhi Foundation Subash Razdan, Giriraj Rao, Antony Thaliath and Viren Mayani came on stage for this historical welcome and greetings to the visiting 14th Dalai Lama. 

The Gandhi Foundation of USA was founded in 1997 and has since been active in disseminating the message of Non-Violence, social justice and Peace as espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Founders of the Gandhi Foundation pioneered the installation and dedication of the life size bronze Statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site on January 24, 1998 under the leadership of the National Federation of Indian American Associations, NFIA and with the support of many organizations and leaders such as the late Coretta Scott King and former Mayors Andrew Young and Maynard Jackson. The historic Statue, donated by the Government of India, is the first one to be installed on federally administered Martin Luther King, Jr. National Park site which is visited by a million tourists annually at the Sweet Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Electrons radiated every which way!  Razdan orchestrated the importance of this event, requesting the Exe. Director of the Foundation, Giriraj Rao to present the delicate Pashmina (Kashmiri) Shawl to the Tenzin Gyatso on behalf of the Gandhi Foundation as the congregation of over 3000 cheered thunderously.  Then the moment of history making in Atlanta arrived, as Razdan requested Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi (Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi) to step forward and present the prestigious ‘Peace Pilgrim Award’ of the Gandhi Foundation to the world’s most revered apostle of peace, the Dalai Lama. His Holiness and members of the Gandhi Foundation joined hands on stage for the presentation. The Award recognizes the Dalai Lama ‘for endowing his life to dispel the misery of the world by inspiring and promoting the spirit of non-violence, social justice and mutual respect for enduring peace and happiness for humanity’.  Rajmohan Gandhi flanked by the Gandhi Foundation officers presented the Award (Plaque) to Dalai Lama. His Holiness expressed his appreciation and love, reciprocating by presenting ‘Khatas’, Tibetan ceremonial scarves, to the greeting delegation of the Foundation amidst deafening ovation.  Displaying his sense of humor, which Dalai Lama has in plenty, His Holiness humorously and playfully lifted the pony tail hairdo of Razdan (who has fashioned such a long hairdo now for over a decade) while draping the Khatas on Razdan and simultaneously  blessing his forehead. The hilarious gesture by His Holiness brought the congregation on its toes. Razdan thanked Emory University and Dr. Patton for including the Gandhi Foundation of USA in the Summit to honor the Dalai Lama with the Peace Pilgrim Award and congratulated the organizers for the success of the event.

“Actually the playful and warm gesture of His Holiness during the presentation program by Gandhi Foundation of USA was the spark for the Summit. Gandhi Foundation hopes that the friendship that is built between Emory and the Foundation itself will continue to foster and preserve a relationship that will endure for generations to come”, remarked Giriraj Rao, Executive Director of the Gandhi Foundation.

The charismatic, tolerant apostle of peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, began by lauding Mahatma Gandhi, “I have always considered myself a follower of Gandhiji.” He said, “When I was young, one night I even met Gandhiji in my dream (laughter). Gandhi was highly educated but he lived a simple life and won freedom for his people with non-violence.” he said.  He delighted the audience with his humor laden speech, stressing the need for tolerance, understanding and respect for other religions, to be able to live together in a world which is getting smaller. “Mere education, wealth or status is not enough for happiness. However, affection and compassionate heart can help attain happiness. We learn affection from our mother’s care. Even animals respond to affection. Dogs wag their tails or lick the affectionate person and cats purr when they get a little affection. (laughter),” he mimicked playfully.

Sister Joan Chittister began with a George Eliot quote, “Beginning of compunction is the beginning of new life. Religion has the obligation to feel compunction for its own position in the world.  Instead of ‘Is there life after death’, the greatest spiritual question ought to be ‘Is there life before death’ (applause).” She continued, “We must try and understand one another instead of trying to convert one another. Become instruments of love rather than instruments of peace. It is sad that society has been following the idea that those who are not with us are against us.  Such ideas are seeds of war and divisions,” she added.

Prof. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, Professor of law at Emory Law School, also lauded Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest prophet and reminded the audience of one of his famous quote, ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’ He explained, “If individuals take personal responsibility and change, then families, nations and the world will change. Religion per se is not to blame.  It is the believers and the wrong interpreters who need to be blamed.”

Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi (Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), who has been a very close friend of Dalai Lama over many years made a passionate appeal to the audience to help Dalai Lama return to his beloved land and home in Tibet. “Dalai Lama has not been able to go home for 48 years. (Applause). This man without a home is loved in millions of homes. This man without a country is honored in country after country. This is no ordinary man yet for this universal pinnacle of happiness, returning home has been denied to him. Prof.Gandhi then spoke about Mahatma Gandhi and Hindu religion. In India, Hinduism comes to you from the atmosphere. In America it has to be articulated. In India, you assume you are a Hindu. In America, you ask yourself why you are a Hindu and share the reasons with others (laughter). Among Hindus, there are some who resort to hatred and violence but majority of Hindus accepts deeper meaning of holy war. So it is better to ignore the images and see past the images of violence and hate and focus on core teachings of peace, compassion and tolerance in other faiths and learn to co-exist with other faiths.” He continued, “ Gandhi preferred ‘Truth is God’ rather than  the phrase  ‘God is truth’, because though many have been killed in the name of God and religion,  not so many have been killed in the name of truth.(applause). Mahatma Gandhi never believed that religion caused hate, fear or greed. These are human weaknesses perpetrated by those who are power hungry. My grandfather fought for Hindu-Muslim unity, rights of minority Hindus in Pakistan and rights of minority Muslims in India. If he was alive today, he would perhaps ask three things: First to throw searchlight on ones own deeds before judging others; secondly,  not to fall into the temptation that ones faith is uniquely flawed or dangerous, and finally to check the gauge of hate, fear and greed around you before judging any religion.”

In his stirring and insightful speech, Rabbi David Rosen, the President of the International Jewish Committee also echoed the comments of the previous speakers and stressed the need for dialogue and understanding of other cultures, traditions and faiths. The Rabbi stressed, “There is the problem of extending love when groups oppose each other. Every group feels that it is vulnerable and being victimized and waits for the opposite group to make a move. So we have to learn to be able to move beyond our own pain.”

Such is the charisma and magnetism of Dalai Lama that at the end of the Summit, people wanted to touch the hands of the members of the Gandhi Foundation of USA to imbibe the blessings received from Dalai Lama (as the Lama had touched the Foundation members at the dais), even if remotely, as they were getting into their cars on the parking decks. “Aura of Dalai Lama is palpable,” wrote Leslie Gordon of Georgia State University.

“There is a significant human-work linkage between Mahatma Gandhi and the 14th Dalai Lama as they continue to inspire people from all over the World towards causes that truly liberate humans in mind-body-spirit”, reiterated Viren Mayani of the Gandhi Foundation. 

“Our recent experience at the Emory was wonderful. The Dalai
Lama literally radiates spiritualism,” beamed Antony Thaliath of the Foundation. 

“What a glorious and an historic event in Georgia”, articulated Mohsin Bharmal of Gandhi Foundation. “The entire Summit was an intellectual feast. It was a treat to listen to the wise and jovial Dalai Lama and other learned spiritual scholars in the panel,” exclaimed Dr. K.V. Thrivikraman, Secretary of the Gandhi Foundation and an Emory University faculty.