On March 13-15, the 20th Universal Peace Conference was held in Shirdi, Mahshastra. People from all parts of India and from many different countries joined together to take part in this conference. A large group had come by train all the way from West Bengal to participate. The countries represented were India, France, Poland, Sweden, and Nepal. Experts in various areas shared their view of how we can go forward to create a more peaceful society. One important topic discussed was how we can make the youth more aware. Some teachers gave us good insight in how the youth can be helped. And a few younger adults came up on stage to share their own experience how they had been helped by practicing meditation.
Another discussed topic was also about health, particularly about the recent Corona pandemic, and what we can do to stay healthy, and how serious we should take the threat of the current pandemic. Doctor Viswanathan Sethuraman, PhD, from Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu gave his thought on the value of allopathic (science-based) medicine and alternative medicine. Each day finished with a cultural program giving great joy to the audience.
On the last day of the conference the very much respected D.R. Kaarthikeyan came and delivered a beautiful speech how we can achieve peace in the world by taking into account many different aspects of our lives from healthy food and meditation to political influence and global governance. On the last day of the conference, a four corner debate on Science, Technology, Spirituality and Religion was arranged. We could hear four different viewpoints how to achieve peace but all come to the conclusion that in reality there is no difference between each one and all aspects are needed.
Viswanathan Sethuraman