New Delhi: Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) marked its 10th anniversary with a World Peace Summit on Saturday, celebrating a decade of global peace initiatives across 170 countries. The event, themed “Building World Peace Community Through Unity in India,” focused on reflecting on the achievements of agreements signed ten years ago, which aim to implement legal instruments for peace and foster religious harmony.
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, HWPL is an international NGO affiliated with UN-ECOSOC, boasting a membership of 500,000 and collaborations with 1,014 organizations in 105 countries. Previously held in South Korea, this year’s summit was notable for its global outreach, with regional events taking place in key cities worldwide, including New Delhi.
The summit featured prominent leaders from various states in India, engaging in discussions on peace projects. Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj, national convenor of Bhartiya Sarva Dharma Sansad, praised HWPL’s chairman, Lee Man Hee, for his dedication to promoting global peace and announced plans for an Interfaith Parliament of all Religions in January next.
Interfaith leader Margaret Rebello from Bengaluru expressed her gratitude for HWPL’s mission, celebrating not only the anniversary but the unity of the human family. She highlighted Lee Man Hee’s spiritual journey and his call for people of all backgrounds to promote peace.
Pravin H. Parekh, head of the Confederation of Indian Bar, emphasized the importance of peace culture on a global scale, sharing how his partnership with HWPL has deepened his understanding of peace and contributed to establishing legal frameworks for shared goals.
Youth engagement was underscored by Harsh Vardhan Umre, who called young people the “torchbearers of peace,” stressing the need to empower them in building a future free from conflict.
A significant milestone was announced with the upcoming launch of an HWPL-MERI joint curriculum, “Economics of Peace,” which will be offered as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). This university-level course aims to educate students about the economic implications of war and peace.
The event concluded with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with five organizations, including All Media Press Association (AMPA) in Jammu and Kashmir and the Global Indian International School in Noida, marking a commitment to implement legal instruments for peacebuilding.
Chairman Lee Man Hee stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue, stating that religious divisions have caused significant harm. “We must work together to create a world of peace and leave it as a legacy for future generations,” he asserted.
Diksha Ranjan, General Director of HWPL in India, welcomed attendees by emphasizing that peace is not merely an abstract concept but a fundamental right that must be actively pursued. She called for continued engagement in the movement until peace becomes a reality.
