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From Prayagraj to Oxford: Rakesh K Shukla Champions “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” at Global Forum

  • Oxford University, UK

In a landmark moment for Indian heritage and global cultural diplomacy, Rakesh K Shukla of Prayagraj delivered a compelling address at the prestigious Oxford Union Hall, a venue renowned for hosting world leaders like Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Anupam Kher, and Javed Akhtar. Shukla’s address, titled “Mahakumbh: A Timeless Tradition, A Modern Innovation”, celebrated the spiritual grandeur and contemporary transformation of the Maha Kumbh, calling it the “living embodiment of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” a concept of universal brotherhood that transcends boundaries of race, religion, nation, or language.

“When the world is torn by war, power struggles, and territorial ambitions, Mahakumbh stands as a luminous symbol of unity, peace, and humanity,” Shukla declared, earning enthusiastic applause from an international audience of scholars, parliamentarians, and cultural leaders. The ceremony, hosted by the Indian Global Foundation, highlighted Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025 as a ground-breaking example of blending ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology. Shukla outlined innovative elements such as AI-powered Kumbh Assistants, the Netra Kumbh eye-care initiative, and advanced crowd management systems that transformed this year’s Kumbh into a global model for event planning.

“Kumbh is not just a religious congregation,” he said. “It is the world’s largest spiritual gathering, where millions unite in the sacred waters of the Triveni, dissolving all barriers of caste, class, or creed.” In a thought-provoking segment, Shukla cautioned against the modern world’s increasing reliance on artificial intelligence and its drift toward conflict and materialism. He advocated for Sanatan Dharma India’s eternal wisdom tradition as the spiritual compass capable of guiding humanity toward peace and balance.

He quoted: The core principle of Indian Vedic culture is to guide human life towards immortality with peace. Shukla also acknowledged the visionary leadership behind Kumbh 2025, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for organizing a Kumbh that has drawn international research interest for its unmatched planning and crowd management.

In a poetic close, he declared:
“Kumbh is beginningless, Kumbh is infinite. It is faith, it is spirituality. It is the world’s greatest celebration of purity, prayer, and giving.” The address was attended by notable dignitaries including Suresh Mishra, Robert Davis, Baroness Sandip Verma, MP Mahua Manjhi, MP Virendra Sharma, Diplomat Dr. Keshav Singhal, among others. The program was smoothly coordinated by Soumyaata. As the spiritual essence of Mahakumbh reverberated through Oxford’s University 200-year-old Union Hall, it carried with it the timeless message of India unity in diversity, peace in practice, and the eternal light of Sanatan Dharma on the global stage.

One attendee summed it up best:
“This wasn’t just a speech. It was a message to humanity spoken from the heart, recorded in history.”

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