‘The World is one family’: Students from around the world extend peace message at international culture festival


Date posted: May 10, 2016

A fusion of cultures was seen at the fourteenth edition of the International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC) that was held in India for the very first time.

India, which is known for its varied languages, witnessed dance performances by warrior dancers from Georgia, who danced on the steps of mekhla-clad Bihu performers from Assam on the rhythms of the dhol.

This year, the theme of the International Festival of Languages and Colours (IFLC), which aims to spread the message of global peace and cultural harmony is “The World is one family” or “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.

Details of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”:

  • As many as 400 students from 17 nations participated
  • The event started up with the songs on the theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’
  • At the end of the event, participants sang, danced and acted to build universal harmony and brotherhood
  • The event was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal , Venkaiah Naidu (Minister of Parliamentary Affairs), Sushma Swaraj  (Minister of External Affairs), Mahesh Sharma (Minister of Tourism and Culture), Najma Heptullah (Minister of Minority Affairs) and others.
  • The mega programme was organised by a non-profit and nongovernmental organisation, the Educational Endowment Trust (EET) along with the Ministry of Culture and the UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan
  • Also, students represented their culture through various music and folk dances from countries like Belarus, India and Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Germany, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Hungary and USA
  • While inaugurating the event, Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah said, “I am amassed to see the spirit of these young studentsâ?¦ in fact, they are the real emissaries of peace, who represents not a country or state, but the entire universe.”

Meanwhile, Abdul Malik from Tanzania said, “This is for the first time I have come to India and I wish to come here again.”

Previous year events:

  • In 2003, IFLC started with students participating from 17 countries
  • Last year, 145 countries participated with around 2000 candidates
  • In 2016, IFLC will be organised in 30 countries, in over 60 venues

At the event, Educational Endowment Trust president Ersin Karaoglan said, “IFLC plants a field of harmony and understanding between the people, no matter from which culture, language, and religion you are, but we have so many commonalities to share.”

Further, he added, “We believe that these ideas will be harvested in the future as friendship.”

Source: India Today , May 9, 2016

Tags: | | | | |


Related News

‘Erdoğan signed MGK decisions to curb Gülen movement that Ecevit resisted’

Democratic Left Party (DSP) Chairman Masum Türker has said that controversial decisions made by the National Security Council (MGK) to curb the activities of the Gülen movement were ignored by former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit in 2000 but signed by then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 25, 2004.

From ‘parallel state’ to ‘terrorist organization’: Dissecting Erdoğan’s labeling of Gülen

Yet more than three years since the public feud between Erdoğan and Gülen began, the allegations against the Gülen movement of infiltrating the state, plotting coups, and proselytizing students through its schools still rest on speculation.

Liberia: Turkish School to Remain Open

The Government of Liberian says the Turkish Light International School System remains a private institution of learning in Liberia and enjoys all the privileges provided all educational institutions operating in the country until it concludes an investigation into allegations that operators of the school here were linked to a failed coup in Turkey.

Why does the West love the Gülen movement so much?

One of the ways with which the Gülen movement is firmly pegged to the wider western world is its ability to connect with the western norms of liberal global governance. The movement has always been keen to adapt the western-liberal cooperative problem-solving mechanisms such as the EU norms.

Minister: Turkish gov’t racks up $5 bln in confiscation of Gülen-linked properties

The value of immovable properties including dormitories, real estates and schools that the government has confiscated as part of its clampdown against Gülen movement so far, totals around TL 15 billion or $4.9 billion, according to Environment and Urban Planning Minister Mehmet Özhaseki.

Erdoğan’s Baku visit will not close Hizmet schools

Heydar Aliyev, an experienced and far-sighted politician, always supported these schools and we cannot say that the decisions to open the doors of the country to these schools was of no benefit. The schools have for years maintained the trust of the government because they are integrated with Azerbaijani society and its values. To think that the schools opened with blessings of Heydar Aliyev will be shut down by his son İlham Aliyev would be naïve.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Extradition of Turkish Citizens: Moldova to pay 125,000 euros in damages for rights violations

Afghan Students, families baulk at Turkey taking over schools

Fethullah Gulen: “If the allegations are proved, I agree to return to Turkey”

Arrested journalist Hidayet Karaca’s letter published in Le Monde

AFSV Statement on Media and Business Crackdown

World renowned NGO-rating Global Geneva stands by Kimse Yok Mu

Syrian Refugees Relief Campaign

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News