Speech by Ambassador at Bhagavad Gita Mahotsav 

(Almaty, 12 November 2025)

Dr Vidya, revered saints and devotees of ISKCON Almaty, esteemed representatives from the Embassy of India, distinguished guests, brothers and sisters. Namaskar, Salemetsiz be and good morning.

It is a profound honor and a joy to stand before you today at this magnificent Bhagavad Gita Mahotsav—a celebration not just of a sacred text, but of the timeless wisdom it holds for humanity.

We are gathered here in the beautiful city of Almaty, a crossroads of cultures and faiths, which makes today event all the more significant. The Bhagavad Gita, spoken on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, begins not with war, but with the Arjuna’s profound crisis of conscience, when he saw his own relatives, his teachers, and friends in the opposing army of the Kauravas. It is a dialogue aimed at dispelling confusion and restoring peace to a troubled heart.

Like any holy book’s text of the Bhagavad Gita's are message of universal love as well as seeing the divine in all beings, transcending attachment and ego, and love through selfless service. It teaches that true love is unconditional, without expectation, and that all beings are fundamentally connected at a spiritual level. This understanding allows one to act with kindness and maintain love even amidst conflict, viewing every individual as a soul. At its very core, beyond the profound philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita is also a song of love. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that the ultimate goal of life is to re-establish our loving relationship with the Divine, with the Supreme Soul. Let me quote one verse from the Bhagavad Gita "Set thy heart upon Me, devote yourself to Me, worship Me, and bow down to Me. Thus, uniting your soul with Me, and making Me your supreme goal, you shall certainly come to Me." (Bhagavad Gita 9.34). This is a commandment to build relationship based on love and devotion.

This message of universal love and peace is not confined to the Gita alone. It is a divine echo that reverberates through the halls of all the world's great scriptures. In the Holy Bible, we are taught: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31) And also, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9). 1 Corinthian 1-3 : If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2, If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3, If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. The phrase specifically, which states that speaking in tongues, having prophetic powers, or even having faith that moves mountains is meaningless without love. The core idea is that love is the most important virtue, and all other actions and abilities are worthless without it as the motivating force.

If we look at the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) teaching in hadith “ None of you have faith until he loves his brother what he loves for himself” brother here is often interpreted by scholars to mean all of humanity promoting a universal standard of goodwill. In the words of the Buddha: "Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule." (Dhammapada)

These are not conflicting ideas or teaching; they are just like different rivers flowing to the same ocean of truth. They all call us to transcend above ourselves, our narrow boundaries our ego, our prejudices, our limited identities and to embrace a consciousness of love, compassion, kindness, and togetherness.

Therefore, when we truly internalize the message of love we built our relationship on the foundation of true love and understanding the very foundation of hatred, prejudice, and conflict within us will ultimately crumbles. We will start asking ourselves how can we harm another, when we see the same sacred spark within them? This is the bedrock of universal brotherhood recognizing our essential, spiritual unity amidst our beautiful, external diversity. Different skin colour, custom etc. Love is all conqueror.

Today, in a world that often feels divided, this wisdom is not a mere spiritual lexicon but it is an absolutely necessity. The Gita and these universal teachings provide the antidote to the poison of discord.

Let this Mahotsav be more than a celebration and help commit ourselves and work towards becoming a true peace maker in our homes, society and community by spreading the message of love. Let us dedicate ourselves to become the living embodiments of the Bhagavad Gita's message. Let us strive to see the divine in the face of every stranger, to hear the sacred in every prayer, whether in a temple, a mosque, a church, or a synagogue. Let our actions, our words, and our thoughts become a force for healing and harmony, right here in Almaty and beyond.

Let us become the peace we wish to see in the world.

Khop Rahmeit Dhannyabad and Thank you.

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