India (Commonwealth Union)_ The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland KC, was bestowed with the inaugural Heartfulness Changemaker Award during her visit to India. This recognition by the Heartfulness Institute acknowledges her dedicated service to the education, development, and success of young people spanning across 56 Commonwealth nations. The award ceremony unfolded at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the global headquarters of the organization.
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An individual is honored with the Heartfulness Changemaker Award in recognition of their exemplary dedication to service demonstrated through compassionate action within their professional domains. Additionally, it is committed to fostering a more cohesive and empathetic international society. Accepting the inaugural award, coinciding with India’s National Youth Day and the birth anniversary of the Indian Hindu monk and philosopher Swami Vivekananda, the Secretary-General expressed her gratitude, stating, “To be with you all here on India’s National Youth Day, joined in person and online by so many thousands of young people, and to receive this Changemaker Award, is a moment I will always treasure.”
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Highlighting the collective efforts, she continued, “In our lives, we all try to create and send out our own positive ripples of change. But I am not only here because of the ripples I have made; I am here as a representative of the ripples that millions of people across our Commonwealth and our world have sent out.” She added, Our Commonwealth is special. You, the young people of India, are a special part of it. I am so grateful that Heartfulness has joined governments, institutions, and citizens at all levels in celebrating our Year of Youth.” Emphasizing the uniqueness of the Commonwealth and acknowledging the special role of India’s youth, she added, “Your efforts here contribute to a shift in our collective mindset: recognizing that young people are not just beneficiaries of our efforts; they are active agents of change, partners in development, and leaders of today.”
In a demonstration of solidarity for youth engagement initiatives, the Secretary-General collaborated with the Institute for the launch of the Heartfulness Essay Competition. The theme, “Compassionate Action: Creating a More Unified Humanity,” aligns with the shared vision of fostering global unity and compassion. Daaji, also known as Kamlesh D. Patel, the President of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the Guide of Heartfulness, expressed delight in partnering with Secretary-General Scotland, citing her exemplary global youth support.
Daaji stated, “We are delighted to have the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, visit us in Kanha Shanti Vanam. In her years of service, she has gone above and beyond to support youth globally, which is what we hope to achieve through our Heartfulness initiatives. I am happy to begin this partnership with Secretary-General Scotland and the Commonwealth through the Heartfulness Essay Event, which is focused on compassionate action. I am certain this is only the beginning of the many great things we will all achieve by working together.”
The essay competition, targeted at youths aged 14-25, marks the initiation of this collaboration. The virtual and in-person events facilitated the participation of over 150,000 young people in India. Heartfulness Learning Centre students engaged with the Secretary-General in discussions about service for a peaceful and unified humanity. Further enriching the visit, the launch of Youth Unite, an initiative aimed at connecting young individuals for networking, idea exchange, and promoting open-mindedness, took place.
Additionally, Daaji also initiated yoga wellness activities and meditation sessions. During her visit to Heartfulness Centers, known as HeartSpots, the Secretary-General met civic leaders, prominent environmental stakeholders, and members of the Commonwealth family in India. The delegation also visited Damarpalli Lake on Kanha Shanti Vanam’s campus, where officials showcased water conservation projects supporting climate mitigation initiatives.
