New York: Report on the Event with the Ambassador of India at the UN and Sr. Jayanti at UN office

May 22, 2023, with the Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, and Sister Jayanti. The conversation was moderated by Ramu Damodaran, the First Chief of United Nations Academic Impact.

Being One World Family
(VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM)
Hosted by the Brahma Kumaris Office for the UN
May 22, 2023
A conversa+on focused on the elevated inten+on of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is one
Family) included two panelists: H.E. Mrs. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representa+ve of India to
the UN, and BK Jayan+ Kirpalani, Addi+onal Head of the Brahma Kumaris and Main
Representa+ve of the Brahma Kumaris at the UN in Geneva, and was moderated by Ramu
Damodaran, First Chief, United Na+ons Academic Impact. There were close to 60 others
gathered in the beau+ful space of the Baha’is Interna+onal Community.

Ambassador Kamboj spoke to India’s walking the talk in its commitment to one human family
through its many expressed values, such as respect, kindness, peace, dialogue, coopera+on,
progress, prosperity, etc. and with India’s large-heartedness through such ac+ons as sending
240 million COVID vaccine doses to many needy countries without any condi+ons. She also
men+oned that divinity comes from within and that she is a firm believer in what is right, that
goodness is a core value.
Sister Jayan+ focused on the spiritual perspec+ve of the theme, indica+ng that it is our spiritual
bond that allows us to rise above the physical and come together as one family.
The dialogue touched on a number of different aspects of humanity and spirit. There were also
deep ques+ons posed from the audience, who included representa+ves of other Permanent
Missions in Argen+na, Guyana and Mauri+us, as well as UN staff, other NGOs and members of
the NY community:

• How do we advance peace through the UN? Why do we not have an Ambassador of
Peace?
• How do we as human beings transcend and sacrifice for the sake of all?
• How do we reconcile the importance of universal values and the ac+ons that are
incoherent with such values?
• How can we create a sense of unity and create shared purpose among members states
and other representa+ves at the UN?
• How can we move beyond +tles to our shared humanity to support each other and
create flourishing?

Sister Jayan+’s responses were filled with spiritual clarity, compassion for the human condi+on
and inspired hope in those abending. They included:
• It is an individual responsibility to change one’s life.
• All problems we face can be eliminated when we understand and experience the inner
being of light.
• And there is hope for our future as we move towards a world of light.
• We are all created in the image of God… Do our ac+ons reflect that One?
• Connec+on with the Supreme is how to nurture our quali+es.
• Every one of us can be an ambassador of peace.
• Anyone who starts experiencing the light and love and joy within will want to share it
organically.

In response to Ambassador Kamboj drawing aben+on to the need to inspire youth and ignite
this inner light among our children, Sister Jayan+ spoke of one organiza+on helping to serve
young people around the world: Living Values Educa+on, an ini+a+ve the Brahma Kumaris was
deeply involved in during its early development along with support from Educa+onal Cluster of
UNICEF (New York) and other organiza+ons, and which is now known as Associa+on of Living
Values Educa+on Interna+onal (ALIVE). As a global, values-based educa+onal approach, it uses
values concepts and reflec+ve processes, infused with respect for each person and culture, to
beber prepare students for lifelong learning.

What emerged from this conversa+on was sense that we each are the light, and peace is within
us. It is the individual that needs to change and create a cri+cal mass for transforma+on in our
world. Ambassador Kamboj also welcomed the quality of this kind of conversa+on, as it was
not one that she is usually a part of.
***