Moderating a Symposium on Harmony, Peace & Humanity

The concepts we discussed —harmony, peace, humanity—are not nouns. They are verbs. They require action. They require the judge to temper law with empathy, the educator to balance science with soul, and the diplomat to navigate national interest with a global conscience

Today, the Multi Media Room at Post Graduate Government College for Girls Sector 11, Chandigarh, became a space where time seemed to fold. As the moderator for the panel on "The Evolution of Indian Philosophical Concepts: Harmony, Peace and Humanity," I found myself at the intersection of deep-rooted heritage and the complex realities of 2026.

Organized by the Departments of Philosophy and Political Science in association with the Gyan Setu Think Tank, the symposium wasn't just an academic exercise. It was a necessary inquiry into how concepts like Dharma and Nyaya serve as the DNA of our modern society.

Dr. Anita Kaushal, Dr. P. K. Khosla, Justice Shabihul Hasnain, Amb.Ashok Kumar and Roopinder Singh

Justice Shabihul Hasnain, Ambassador Ashok Kumar and, Roopinder Singh

Dr. P. K. Khosla, Justice Shabihul Hasnain (Retd.), Ambassador Ashok Kumar and Roopinder Singh

A view of the audience

Justice Shabihul Hasnain (Retd.) addresses the students.

With Principal Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal. Roopinder Singh is receiving an eco-friendly potted plant.

Dr. Anita Kaushal, Dr. P. K. Khosla, Justice Shabihul Hasnain, Amb. Ashok Kumar and Vivek Atray

A Confluence of Perspectives

My panel brought together three distinct "worlds" to examine these evolutions:

The Legal Lens: Justice Shabihul Hasnain (Retd.) navigated the bridge between ancient ethics and modern jurisprudence, reminding us that justice is the cornerstone of harmony.

The Educational Vision: Prof. (Dr.) P. K. Khosla, Chancellor of Shoolini University, spoke passionately about nurturing "Humanity" in an age increasingly dominated by technology.

The Global Outlook: Ambassador Ashok Kumar (Retd.) provided a masterclass on how Indian philosophy serves as a unique brand of "soft power" in international diplomacy.

Voices of the Day

The inaugural session set a high bar, with Vivek Atray a former IAS officer who is a motivational speaker and an author, gave an engaging talk and stressed on inner transformation and Prof. Lallan Singh Baghel of the Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh, gave an bilingual overview of the relevant Indian philosophical concepts.

A special mention must go to Col. D. S. Cheema, whose vision and tireless effort through Gyan Setu made this gathering of minds possible.

The Takeaway

I often see "tradition" treated as something static—a relic to be preserved. But today’s discussions proved that Indian philosophy is a living river. It evolves. It adapts. And as we face a fractured global landscape, it offers the very tools—harmony and peace—that we need to reclaim our collective humanity. During conversations that took place there, someone referenced my UniVerse column on Morality in times of war, and we spoke about it and how fragile peace has become in today's world.

My thanks to Principal Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal and Dr. Ambuj Sharma for the warm hospitality and for fostering such critical discourse, with such bright students in attendance.