Humanity can attain true world peace only by embracing a balanced lifestyle that lives in harmony with nature and the environment, said Dr. Satish Kumar, world-renowned environmental and peace activist, Gandhian thinker, and cofounder of Schumacher College, London.

He was delivering the keynote address at the three-day international conference on “Sustainable Future” organized at Mahatma Gandhi University.
Dr. Kumar emphasized that instead of worrying about what others or governments are doing, each person should think about what they can do individually to promote a peaceful world order. Around the world, efforts are being made to create homogeneity and uniformity among people. He added that a truly peaceful world must be one that recognizes diversity and accepts everyone’s identity and contributions — a vision upheld by Gandhiji and other great thinkers.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. C.T. Aravindakumar inaugurated the three day conference. The session was presided over by Prof. P.P. Noushad, Director of the School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies. Syndicate Member Adv. Reji Zachariah, Registrar Prof. Dr. Bismi Gopalakrishnan, and Dr. Cherian Eapen addressed the gathering. Fr. Dr. K.M. George, Chairman of Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Chair, welcomed the participants, and Dr. Mahesh Mohan, Director of the School of Environmental Sciences, proposed the vote of thanks.

The conference is being held as part of the celebrations marking the 42nd anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi University, the centenary of Gandhi’s visit to Kerala, and the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is jointly organized by Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Chair, School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, School of Environmental Studies, and Roy International Children’s Foundation.

Presentations were made by Dr. Paolo Morley Fletcher (Italy), Prof. Dr. C.T. Aravindakumar, Dr. Pankaj Sekhsaria, Dr. P.C. Abhilash, Dr. James P. Graham, and Mona Nasseri. Research scholars from various universities also presented their papers.

Tomorrow, the second day of the conference, sessions at Casa Maria Conference Hall, Kottayam will feature speakers including Dr. Madayo Kahle (Switzerland), Dr. Pankaj Sekhsaria, Mona Nasseri, Prof. K.M. Seethi, Prof. Sabu Thomas, Dr. Constantin Pavlidis, and Lidia Jarasimova.