Mauritius, June 2026 – Bhai Sahib Prof Mohinder Singh OBE KSG, Spiritual Leader of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha and Chairman of the Nishkam Civic Association joined more than 100 religious leaders from around the world at the Religions for Peace 2026 International Council Meeting in Mauritius, convened under the theme “Forging Pathways for Shared Sacred Flourishing.”
The International Council Meeting brought together faith leaders to share experiences, address major global challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration in advancing peace, human dignity, ethical leadership, and sustainable development.
Opening the Council Meeting, His Excellency Dharambeer Gokhool, President of Mauritius, highlighted the importance of faith-based engagement in addressing contemporary challenges.
“I have no doubt that this conference will engage in frank and fruitful exchanges, on the role of sacred values and virtues, in promoting ethical conduct, and elevating human dignity … for Shared Sacred Flourishing — and come up with valuable, practical recommendations for further enhancing interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding, and promote collective action towards unity, peace, and harmony among our people and humanity at large.”
Reflecting on the significance of religious cooperation, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel, Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon and Co-Moderator of Religions for Peace, stated:
“Whether Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, men, or women, of every tradition, (one) is able to recognise the one next to him as a brother or a sister. It is not a matter concerning naive syncretism. The pluralism of religious expressions is natural; it is legitimate, and exactly within this pluralism we are all called to seek with sincerity, not with diplomatic politeness, those common points, which lead peoples into true communion.”
The meeting also featured thematic dialogues on global priorities including ethical frameworks for artificial intelligence, climate change, conflict, debt, multilateralism, youth leadership, and the role of women of faith.
During the closing prayers on the opening day, Bhai Sahib Prof Mohinder Singh OBE KSG offered the following prayer:
“God, our loving divine Creator, please listen to our collective prayer. As we gather here in Mauritius to discuss Shared Sacred Flourishing, guide us to have inner change, proceeding outer change, seeking your timeless wisdom, to nurture our minds and hearts, to become bearers of hope, compassion, and wisdom, in a world seeking peace and harmony.
“Empower us to uphold what is good, right, and just; to honour both human rights and human responsibilities; to forgive, reconcile, and serve those most in need.
“Shared Sacred Flourishing, acknowledging that the true human flourishing is rooted in the spiritual dimension of life, help us to cultivate the same to the benefit of whole people and future generations. Guide us to confront and overcome the forces that diminish human dignity and honour, i.e. ignorance, ego, greed, fear, hatred, and the desire for domination.”
The participation of Bhai Sahib Prof Mohinder Singh reflects his continuing commitment to fostering interfaith understanding, shared values, and collaborative action in service of peace, justice, and human flourishing.
ENDS
Notes for editors
- Bhai Sahib Professor Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG MGH is the Chairman and third spiritual leader of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ), a UK-based Sikh charitable organisation headquartered in Birmingham.
- He co-organised the Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation, a global initiative developed with over 100 religious leaders and humanitarians.
- Bhai Sahib Ji has played a significant role in the restoration and preservation of Sikh heritage sites in India, supporting the conservation of historic gurdwaras and cultural landmarks.
His honours include: - An OBE (Order of the British Empire)
- The Papal Knighthood of St Gregory the Great (2012), making him the first Sikh in history to receive this distinction.
- The 2025 World Public Recognition Award “For Service to Humanity.”
- Since 1995, under his leadership, the Nishkam Group of Organisations has delivered multi-million-pound regeneration efforts in Handsworth, Birmingham, including five centres of excellence offering education, healthcare, housing, and community services.
- GNNSJ promotes selfless service (Nishkam sewa), with global initiatives in education, healthcare, civic engagement, heritage conservation, and interfaith dialogue.
- Additional information is available here.
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