Organized by the International Religious Freedom Secretariat, the two-day forum brought together individuals and institutions working to promote religious freedom and mutual understanding across communities and cultures. The award recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions at the intersection of business, education, and interfaith peacebuilding.

This prestigious global honour places Dr. Karad in the distinguished company of past awardees, including the CEO of Intel, Chair of Tyson Foods, CCO of American Airlines, Chairman of Godrej Industries, and other global business leaders. The award has previously been held in Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Washington D.C, and was instituted in 2016 in partnership with the UN Global Compact and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Business for Peace initiative.

Dr. Karad was recognised for his work at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), particularly his efforts to advance peace education through initiatives that combine values, dialogue, and practical skill-building.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Karad said: “This is my motherland — the sacred land of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Buddha. I thank you for recognizing me, but it is my father who is the true champion of world peace. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s timeless vision — that the unification of science and spirituality alone can bring peace to mankind — he devoted his life to this cause. His monumental creation, the World Peace Dome, stands as a global symbol of unity, housing statues of 54 spiritual and philosophical leaders from all faiths.

At MIT World Peace University, we have embedded this ethos into our academic framework through a six-credit Peace Studies program. Over 85,000 students are engaging with the teachings of all religions, fostering interfaith harmony from a young age. I invite you to visit the World Peace Dome and join us in this ongoing journey.”

Since 2016, the Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards have recognized leaders from across the world, including from companies like Intel, Tyson Foods, Godrej Industries, and American Airlines. The awards originated in collaboration with the UN Global Compact and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Business for Peace initiative, and have been hosted in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, and Washington, D.C.

For Dr. Karad and MIT-WPU, this recognition is an opportunity to further conversations around peace, ethics, and education, both in India and beyond.

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The summit’s agenda covered a wide spectrum of crucial topics, ranging from matters of religion, ethics, and technology, to the pressing challenges encapsulated in the “4 Cs” – COVID, Climate, Conflict, and Children. Additionally, it delved into themes of women’s empowerment, the Indian New Education Policy, healthcare, and the pursuit of global harmony, amongst others. All of these discussions converged under the overarching theme of the summit: “Shaping World Peace and Sustainable Development through Interfaith Harmony.”

The summit bore witness to the fervent exchange of ideas, with a series of compelling breakout sessions led by illustrious dignitaries and revered spiritual leaders hailing from across the globe. The summit concluded with a moving tribute to the esteemed educator, Dr. Vishwanath Karad, marked by the unveiling of a magnificent bronze statue in his honor. The baton has now been passed from India to Brazil, which will host the 2024 Summit.

Hon’ble Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar Ji, Advisor to CM and Ex Divisional Commissioner Pune voiced a profound concern about gene manipulation in healthcare. He underscored the gravity of our current cloning and recombinant techniques, cautioning that “in our pursuit of manipulating genes, we tread the fine line between scientific advancement and the perils of playing God with the very building blocks of life–a risk we must tread with utmost care.“

Citing startling statistics from the World Health Organization, Dr. Michael Kay Young, 25th President of Texas A&M University, emphasized the intricate linkages among the ‘4 Cs’, with a specific focus on children. The data underscore the gravity of the situation: 60 million children lack access to primary school, 24 million have never experienced any form of education, 50 million have been uprooted due to climate-related events, and nearly 45 million children have been forcibly displaced due to conflict. These figures stress the urgent call for worldwide efforts to safeguard the future of our children.

Dr. Vishwanath Karad, Visionary Educationist, UNESCO chairholder, and Founder President of MIT World Peace University, expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries, participants, and the dedicated team who collectively contributed to the success of this Summit. Passing the baton from India to Brazil, Hon’ble W. Cole Durham Jr., Founding Director, of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, commented, “This is a remarkable moment, and we are delighted to have our friends from Brazil who accepted the handover with the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, a global proponent of peace.”

The G20 Interfaith Forum was launched in 2014, under the auspices of Australia’s Presidency of the G20. It has progressed from a largely academic gathering timed to coincide with the G20 Summit to a sustained alliance of diverse religious leaders, practitioners from humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development organizations, and scholars. The purpose is to contribute to and help shape global agendas through practical and ethical experience and wisdom of the world’s diverse religious communities, which are often absent from global forums.

The WORLD PEACE DOME is a remarkable monument dedicated to the Centre of Wisdom, Knowledge Dissemination, and Social Transformation. Its conception, design, planning, and creation were carried out under the guidance and supervision of Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad, an esteemed Educationist and Advocate of Peace. This visionary project embodies the profound ideals of peace and spirituality.

The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities was established to empower faith leaders to work for the safety and security of our communities, tackling issues such as child sexual abuse, extremism, radicalization, and human trafficking. The IAFSC aims to facilitate the building of bridges between key stakeholders including faith communities, NGOs, and experts in various domains.

The G20 Interfaith Summit 2023 concluded with renewed hope and a unified vision for a better world. The summit witnessed the participation of esteemed dignitaries and spiritual leaders, who exchanged ideas on crucial topics ranging from religion, ethics, and technology to the pressing challenges of COVID, Climate, Conflict, and Children. The summit’s overarching theme of “Shaping World Peace and Sustainable Development through Interfaith Harmony” resonated with the participants, who left with a renewed commitment to work towards a peaceful and harmonious global society.

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