Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (UK) were invited to participate in a range of interfaith events organised and hosted by the Oxford Interfaith Forum, spanning across the rich and historic spaces of the University of Oxford, including the One World Family Festival at the Ashmolean Museum.
The occasion marked the second Annual Johaness Lähnemann Interfaith Peacebuilding Lecture within the framework of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW). Commencing at the illustrious Ashmolean Museum, attendees enjoyed a mesmerizing journey through time and language during the ‘Singing Together, Across Languages and Time‘ event.
Enchanting performances of medieval Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and German religious manuscripts, curated from the venerable Bodleian Library, set the stage for a celebration of shared humanity. Additionally, Sikhs were invited to present ‘Raag Kirtan’, traditional Sikh devotional hymns, amidst the breathtaking halls of the Ashmolean. This fusion of musical expressions fostered an extraordinary interfaith dialogue within an immersive and culturally enriching environment.
For most visitors, it was once in a lifetime opportunity to see and hear rare musical instruments – a shell horn and seaweed horn – alongside Shofar and French horn. Professor Henrike Lähnemann, Secretary of the Oxford Interfaith Forum, presented and played all those instruments together with her father Professor Johaness Lähnemann who arrived from Germany specifically for this occasion.
The WIHW celebrations continued with the Annual Johaness Lähnemann Interfaith Peacebuilding Lecture at the Taylor Institution Library, with the opening address by Professor Julian Stern, Director of the World Religions and Education Research Unit at Bishop Grosseteste University, and General Secretary of the International Seminar on Religious Education and Values (ISREV). Professor Azza Karam, the immediate past General Secretary at Religions for Peace International (NY), delivered a thought-provoking keynote lecture on Building Effective Resilience in Troubled Times: Interfaith Women Peacebuilders, followed by a closing address from the esteemed Professor Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh OBE KSG, Chair of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha and Nishkam Group of Organisations, Trustee of Religions for Peace International (NY), and President of Religions for Peace (UK).
The lecture concluded with a presentation of the book ‘Interreligious Learning and Peace Education: A History of Religions for Peace’ written by Professor Johannes Lähnemann. All attendees were gifted with a pre-print copy of the book. After the lecture, interfaith engagement continued in St Edmund Hall, where all participants were invited to afternoon tea at the Principals’ lodgings (the hospitality of Professor Henrike Lähnemann), with profound discussions amidst the backdrop of Oxford’s storied past.
After tea, our host invited us to the enlightening tour of St Edmund Hall which offered fascinating glimpses into the rich history and heritage of Teddy Hall, including its Old Library, historic well, and Chapel built by Stephen Penton in the late 17th century. This highly enjoyable interfaith educational opportunity was made possible thanks to the Oxford Interfaith Forum and its inaugural director Dr Thea Gomelauri, an associated member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford.
Speaking about the event, Dr Thea Gomelauri said: “The Oxford Interfaith Forum was awarded the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Award in 2023.
“As the recipients of this prestigious award, we wanted to organise large-scale celebrations focused on Peace and Interfaith Education because, in our times, Peace is the most needed commodity. Harmonious coexistence requires the cultivation of eternal values – respect for others and humility. Interfaith education plays a crucial role in teaching and exercising these values.
“We were honoured to have collaborated with the Ashmolean Museum’s One World Festival and Taylorian Institute Library to bring all the activities together. It was a special privilege to share the space and time with our esteemed Sikh colleagues.
“I would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who participated in our event. I have a distinct honour to mention our generous contributors.
“As a sign of our appreciation for your support, we created a Wall of Honour featuring our contributors. We invite every reader of this news to join us next year and to add their names to the Oxford Interfaith Forum’s Wall of Honour.”
