Pujya Sadhviji Delivers Keynote Address at the “Dare To Overcome: Unity in Diversity” conference in New Delhi
Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and President of the Divine Shakti Foundation at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, delivered the Keynote Address at the Dare To Overcome: Unity in Diversity conference in New Delhi and shared her experiences of bridging the East and West. The conference is founded upon bringing more diversity and inclusion into the workplace and into our communities.
Dare to Overcome is a premier global event for business leaders to share and celebrate best practices, virtues and values as allies of differing communities. In partnership with Teamwork Arts it hosted its 2023 global gathering in Delhi and presented the King Hussein Global Business and Intercultural Peace Awards and the Business & Peace Symposium, showcasing the respect and admiration for the growing influence of India on the world stage.
In her keynote address Sadhviji emphasized the fundamental inclusivity and unity in diversity of Indian culture – She emphasized the tenet of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji as the theme of this year’s G20. She said, “India is the land of inclusivity! From the 22 official languages with nearly 20,000 recognized dialects, to the 700 different tribes each with their own language and culture. Cultures, languages, colors, races, religions and ethnicities of the different people weave together as sacred threads into the tapestry of one united India!”
Beginning with musical performances and a welcome address by Dr. Brian Grim, Global Chairman of Dare to Overcome, and Sanjoy Roy, MD of Teamwork Arts, the conference featured Plenary sessions addressing issues faced by business leaders worldwide, including How to Overcome Difficult Conversations about Diversity at Work, the growth of Women and Leadership in the global workforce and ways to Build Bridges of Support Between US & Indian Workplaces. Sadhviji’s Keynote address emphasized the core values that business and civic leaders must espouse in order to create an inclusive, diverse and peaceful work environment.
She said: “There are two ways of looking at the world – as a bazaar or a Parivar, as a marketplace or as a family. If we look at the world as a marketplace there is competition and aggression. But if we see the world as a family, as Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, then there is cooperation and sharing! We must dare to overcome the ignorance that makes us think we are separate from each other. We must dare to overcome the borders and boundaries that pit us against each other, and realize our true oneness.”
Also participating in this important event were Nadir Godrej, Chairman of Godrej Agrovet; Sangita Jindal, chairperson of the JSW Foundation; Naina Lal Kidwai, former Country Head of HSBC India; Sonia Singh, Editorial Director of NDTV; Karun Gupta, Finance Director of Salesforce India; Vice President for Data at PayPal, V Chandramouliswaran (Mouli); Executive Director of Population Foundation of India, Poonam Muttreja; Boeing Company Chief of Staff for India & South Asia, Praveena Yagnambhat; and, many other global and intercultural leaders from around the world.
Announced at today’s auspicious gathering – and confirming the importance of India in the 21st Century – is the selection of India to permanently host DTO’s annual global event, with satellite gatherings worldwide.
