World Conference on Unity of Man 8-10 December 2007, India

The 'World Conference on Unity of Man' was a conference on global Peace and universal brotherhood. It already started on 1 December 2007 with a supporting programme, including charitable actiivities, and was attended by people from more than 20 nations and five continents.

Leading personalities from the social sector, politics and science as well as religious leaders and representatives of inter-religious organisations addressed the audience in the open sessions on 9 an 10 December. In their speeches, they agreed that a change in the world must start from man’s heart: non-violence, forgiveness and service towards fellow men are the dire need of the time.

Such values originate from the sphere of religion, and actually religion could be an integrative force by uniting human beings on a universal basis, according to the ideal of the brotherhood of men under the fatherhood of God. But as long as the various creeds and denominations aim at unity in only their own ranks, the differences and distinctions are even reinforced. We must understand, that man in the first line counts as a human being and as such we must meet one another on the level of humans first, independent of creed, caste and colour. "Religion was made for man, not man for the religion".

Kirpal Sagar, the venue of the Conference

The venue of the World Conference was the Project Kirpal Sagar in the Punjab. Set up on behalf of Sant Kirpal Singh by Dr.Harbhajan Singh and his wife, Mrs. Biji Surinder Kaur, its special feature is to convey religious tolerance and also to provide help to the needy by various facilities, such as Schools, Hospital, Home for the Aged and further activities.

Symbols of Unity

The highlight of the Conference was the inauguration of the symbols of unity on the top of the central building of the Project: Models of a Gurdawara, a Hindu Temple, a Mosque and a Church side by side. Their respective shapes represent the four typical forms of sacred buildings found in all religious traditions and symbolically refer to the human body as the “true Temple of God”.

The building is located in the heart of the Project Kirpal Sagar in the middle of an oval-shaped water-basin. Four corner buildings around the basin accommodate Holy Scriptures of different religions and give room for the different communities to perform their services.

Unity of Man – an international Movement

The organiser of the Conference is Unity of Man, a cultural and spiritual organisation initiated in 1974 by Sant Kirpal Singh. The President of Unity of Man and of the Project Kirpal Sagar is Mrs Surinder Kaur. As the name implies, Unity of Man is a movement of an international level striving to awake the public opinion to the awareness of unity. With the words of Sant Kirpal Singh it appeals to"Be good – Do good – Be one".