WCF Speakers
Day 1: March 11, 2016
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living
We are all a One World Family. The Art of Living is more of a principle, a philosophy of living life to its fullest. It is a movement and not really much of an organisation. Its core values are to find peace within oneself and to unite people in our society – of different cultures, traditions, religions, and nationalities, thus reminding us all that we have one goal. To uplift human life everywhere.
Today, we are giving out a very strong message of oneness to the whole world when it is so badly needed, when there is so much gap between communities, nations, between ideologies, and so on. We are giving this message today that we can all co-exist with our differences, we can love each other with our differences. Diversity is the nature of this planet, so let us love this diversity.”
Hon. Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India
“I congratulate Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji today owing to the fact that in a short duration of just 35 years, he has taken the Art of Living to more than 150 countries around the world. This mission today has successfully spread across so many countries, and it is on the basis of this mission’s strength that so many countries around the world today have been united and have come together.
I personally commend and congratulate the many beneficial social welfare projects and activities that are happening everywhere through the inspiration and guidance of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.
To all the artistes, spiritual seekers, and the members and organisers of The Art of Living gathered here today, I heartily congratulate you all for presenting the most unique and vibrant image of India before the whole world.”
Hon. Dominique de Villepin is the former Prime Minister of France who has also served as a foreign minister and Interior Minister in the French Government.
“We stand here in our awareness of a world filled with unfairness, hate, and fear – with wounded memories, but we stand ready for action, committed to freedom, tolerance, and justice. Together, here with you, I feel the power of hope – yes, we can heal our broken world, we can give more colours to a world of beauty and mysteries. India, with its culture of diversity and dialogue and with its legacy of non violence, is a good place to unite in such a belief.
We have to make each and every one of us a peace builder, setting an example by our own life. It is our shared task and our sacred duty to put education and culture at the center of our lives if we want to cultivate the seeds of peace rather than the seeds of war.”
H.E. Michael A.S. Adhin is the youngest ever Vice President of Suriname and a former education minister.
“The Upanishads suggest that we adopt society, although plural and diverse in many ways (be it cultures and traditions or languages and ideals), and evolve as one nation, on a co operative basis with mutual understanding, and follow the principle of interdependence. This global event, the World Culture Festival, with blessings from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji is an exemplary one. My hope is that this may serve as a stepping stone towards helping us to rise above our lower nature and above our individual consciousness, as individuals and as nations, which will make one indeed proclaim the Sanskrit verse, udara charitanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbhakam – “He has become so broad that this world has become his family.”
Hon. Ryszard Czarnecki is the Vice President of the European Parliament responsible for Eastern Policy and the Eastern Partnership. He has held multiple ministerial portfolios and has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004.
“I would like to thank His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for organising such an important Festival, where we are celebrating harmony and cultural diversity. I stand wholly by the mission of the World Culture Festival to celebrate peaceful co-existence and unity in diversity. My great compatriot, Pope John Paul II, almost 14 years ago, said, 'Nations express themselves by their culture'. In my country, I was the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture. I know that culture connects people and nations.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate you and leave you with the firm hope that culture will connect nations and people once again.”
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Al Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
“This huge artistic and spiritual gathering is not strange to India, a land rich in culture and creative diversity. It is wonderful and inspiring to witness such an enormous number of people gathered to meditate and appreciate music, singing and folk arts.
All religions preach tolerance; to meditate through prayers, yoga, or fasting; to care for nature and animals; and to stay away from all elements of negative energy. Any act of isolation and exclusion of others is not acceptable to us, both in the UAE and in the Arab countries. The culture of love, positive energy, and equality is what we are trying to focus on and pass on to the next generation.”
Hon.Dace Melbārde, Minister of Culture, Latvia
“I believe that there are no borders for culture unless we build them ourselves. Culture has its unique role to widen the horizons for personal joy, to celebrate life. Culture opens the doors to personal creativity for everyone. I believe there is a dialogue among cultures.
Culture unites the world and, thanks to culture, we find different viewpoints for many of the challenges of the world. I duly remember the life story of Mahatma Gandhi and his principle of non violence, which I strongly stand for. My country, Latvia, along with other bordering countries, also gained its independence through the non violence movement – with the power of culture, with the power of music.”
Hon. Kamal Thapa is the former Home Minister of Nepal and the current president of Nepal's royalist party, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
“It is a great honor and privilege for me to have an opportunity to be a part of this massive World Culture Festival. I cannot express in words my feelings about what I am witnessing at the banks of the Yamuna, in the beautiful city of New Delhi. It is not only massive, it is amazing.
This gathering, once again from the land of the ancient civilization of India, has sent a message to the world that the world is one family –Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Thirty-five-years ago, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar established the foundation and through it, he has taught people all over the world the art of living. He has spread the message of love and harmony. So, this massive gathering, the manifestation of unity in diversity, is a fitting tribute to his contribution to world peace.”
Hon. Evgeny Kuyvashev is the Governor of Sverdlovsk Region, Russia. He has been in public service since 1977.
“I am convinced that the language of culture does not need translation, since it appeals to the very soul of a person. It is understandable to everyone, because real art is based on kindness and love. This is a solid ground for peace and mutual understanding. That is why I view the World Culture Festival as a global dialogue between people, between countries, and between nationalities.”
Hon. Hakubun Shimomura is a member of Parliament of Japan. He has served as a Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the Japanese Administration.
“It is a great honour to participate in the World Culture Festival organised by The Art of Living. Three and a half million people have travelled all the way to New Delhi from around the world to be here, including the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, paying the highest respect to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This is astonishing and impressive.
Our Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has asked me to give a message. Prime Minister Abe says, “I sincerely hope we can spread world peace through The Art of Living and through His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The most essential ideology driving our Japanese culture is a spirit of harmony and co existence. Japan, along with all our friends here today, contributes to world peace.”
Hon. Šarūnas Birutis is the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. A former advisor to small and middle businesses in the Ministry of Economy in Lithunia, Hon. Šarūnas Birutis is also a former member of the European Parliament.
“Culture is not like a shining ornament, culture binds societies and helps people overcome divisions. It is a country’s life blood, no less important than a nation's health or wealth. I therefore urge world leaders to establish individual rights over culture as a fundamental right. I also urge world leaders to establish diversity as the main principle of harmonious existence. The World Culture Festival is the greatest example of how culture and diversity can serve the needs of mankind. A One World family has become the real spirit of this congregation.”
HRH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan is the Cabinet Minister and Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, United Arab Emirates.
“The one-world family will be truly complete when everyone, everywhere finally understands the moral necessity of a culture of knowledge, understanding, kindness, and respect. That is the culture inherent in the vision of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his conviction that love and wisdom can prevail over hatred and violence. That is the culture enabled and supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
We all know today that a culture of peace does not flourish easily. We all know that we may never wholly overcome every opponent of this important goal in our lifetime. But we have not gathered today at the World Culture Festival to surrender. Rather, we have come to celebrate our commitment to The Art of Living and an ever growing One World family.”
Hon. Ramesh Chandra Lahoti is the former Chief Justice of India and the former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
“The World Culture Festival is a confluence of world cultures and is needed the most at this juncture of human history. Today, the world is surrounded by turbulence and hounded by threats to peace.
This Festival intends to create awareness about the environment, ecology and the river Yamuna. For many years, the Art of Living foundation and its countless volunteers have been actively involved in cleaning the River Yamuna and reviving its past glory. It is truly a miracle that Lord Indra has blessed this auspicious occasion with rain to uplift and revive the River Yamuna once again.”
Hon. Juan Manuel Santos is the current president of Colombia and the recipient of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in negotiating a peace treaty with the guerillas in the country.
“Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and The Art of Living foundation are heralds of peace in a planet tormented by conflicts and violence. He teaches us that happiness and peace dwell inside us and that we only need to connect with them in order to live our true essence.
Sri Sri met in Havana and Cuba with the negotiators of the FARC (terrorist outfit) leaders to encourage them to follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence, and to cultivate the art of meditation and breathing. His efforts were successful and FARC has laid down their arms and are making efforts to join the mainstream."
Hon. P.J. Kurien serves as the Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament of India. He is a former Union Minister.
"India has always been a cultural beacon. The basic instinct and the culture of India has been to let free and noble thoughts come from all parts of the world. We have always kept the window of our mind open to accept ideas and thoughts from everywhere. We have always received ideas from the world and given ideas to the world.
A mega event like this is a celebration of the great legacy and culture of India. The world is one family. This grand festival is a great effort in achieving this noble principle, and in fact an exposition of our great culture.
I salute Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for giving India’s boundless culture this exposure and for improving the quality of life for millions worldwide.”
Hon. Karu Jayasuriya is the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He spoke on behalf of the President of Sri Lanka, Shri Maithripala Sirisena.
“True to its motto—One World Family—The Art of living has changed the attitudes and lives of thousands of people. Guruji, please accept my wishes for this great festival, which has showcased the rich cultural tradition of dance, music, and art from around the world to an expected audience of around 3.5 million people. With that, may I also add the greeting and best wishes of honorable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the delegates that came on my behalf.”
Vaidya Devendra Triguna is the Chairman of the Akhila Bharatiya Maha Sammelan, He is the recipient of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Shree and the Padma Bhushan.
“It gives me tremendous happiness to witness a gathering like the Maha Kumbh and a small glimpse of the vast world gathered here today. I have personally known Gurudev for more than 40 years now. The way he has worked towards promoting an environment of peace, love, and brotherhood in the country and the world at large is really unparalleled and exemplary.
People from all over the world are attending the event and I firmly believe that India, which was once regarded as a Vishvaguru, can once again regain that high pedestal by spreading the values and message of love and peace through The Art of Living. Whether in Iraq or Pakistan, or any country that we can name, he has personally travelled to so many crisis affected areas where many others would fear to visit, and there he has ventured to spread his message of peace and harmony.”
Cmde. Sarvotham Rao, Chairman of The Art of Living, India
“Sri Sri has always said that he is not here to build organisations and ashrams. Rather, he is here to build people. His focus has been on building character and developing stronger individuals who can serve society. True to this ideal, Sri Sri has created a beautiful structure for the organisation.
Volunteers play a central role in the Art of Living's social service outreach. The basis of all these activities is inner transformation as well as a strong commitment to service, integrity, equality, and good communication skills. Sri Sri often says that knowledge and organising power go together.”