Today, 21 September, is the International Day of Peace.
At a time when the world is witnessing geopolitical tensions, conflicts, polarisation and increasing fragmentation, I find myself asking: What does peace really mean?
Does peace simply mean a world without war?
Or does it mean a world where every individual, irrespective of nationality, religion, culture or language, feels respected, accepted and secure?
I believe peace is much more than the absence of war. Peace is the presence of understanding.
Peace must begin in our classrooms
If we want a more peaceful world tomorrow, we must educate for peace today.
Our students are the leaders, professionals, administrators and decision-makers of tomorrow. The values they develop today will influence the decisions they make in the future.
Peace Studies can teach students about conflict resolution, diplomacy, human rights and international relations. But peace education must go beyond a curriculum.
It must teach us how to live with differences.
A student from another country should not be seen as a stranger. Someone who speaks another language or follows another culture should be seen as an opportunity to learn.
This is why diversity on university campuses is so important.
When students from different countries and cultures share classrooms, meals, festivals and friendships, they discover that beneath our differences, our aspirations are remarkably similar.
When we know one another, it becomes much harder to hate one another.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family
This philosophy is at the heart of Symbiosis.
Our motto, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family, has guided Symbiosis since its inception.
Bringing students from more than 85 countries and from across India together is not merely about internationalisation. It is about creating an environment where young people learn to understand, respect and accept one another.
An international student should not feel like a student from another country. They should feel like a friend, a classmate and a member of our larger family.
This, in itself, is peace education.
The Rotary Peace Centre at Symbiosis
It is particularly meaningful that Rotary International selected Symbiosis International (Deemed University) to establish a Rotary Peace Centre at our Lavale campus in Pune.
Inaugurated in January 2026, it is the first Rotary Peace Centre in South Asia and the eighth in the world. The Centre brings together Rotary’s global commitment to peace and Symbiosis’ philosophy of international understanding.
The Centre will prepare peace and development professionals in areas including peace studies, conflict transformation and sustainable development.
For me, its significance goes beyond an academic programme.
It reflects a shared belief that peace must be learnt, practised and lived.
From one day to every day
We often think of peace as something negotiated by governments and diplomats. But peace begins much closer to us.
It begins with how we speak to one another, how we listen, how we accept differences and how we resolve disagreements.
Tomorrow’s decision-makers are sitting in our classrooms today.
If they grow up understanding diversity, respecting cultures and seeing humanity as one family, perhaps they will carry those values into the decisions they make tomorrow.
Peace between nations begins with understanding between people. And understanding begins with education.
So, perhaps we should not ask only:
“How will we celebrate International Day of Peace?”
Instead, let us ask:
“How will we make every day a day of peace?”
Let our classrooms become spaces for dialogue.
Let our campuses become spaces where diversity flourishes.
Let our students become friends across borders.
And let our universities become laboratories of peace.
Because peace is not merely the absence of war.
Peace is understanding.
Peace is respect.
Peace is inclusion.
Peace is empathy.
Peace is friendship across borders.
This International Day of Peace, let us celebrate peace—but let us not stop there.
Let us teach peace.
Let us practise peace.
Let us live peace.
And let every day be a day of peace.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
The world is one family