The Bhagavad Gita, a foundational text of Indian philosophy, has transcended cultural and
temporal boundaries to offer guidance on ethical action, spiritual growth, and harmonious
living. At its core lies the principle of Swadharma (one’s own duty), which emphasizes
performing rightful responsibilities with integrity, detachment, and a sense of universality. In
a rapidly globalizing world marked by stress, ethical dilemmas, and socio-political conflicts,
the Gita’s wisdom provides a timeless framework for nurturing duty-consciousness, inner
peace, and collective goodwill.
Thematic Relevance
Duty (कर्तव्यनिष्ठा – Commitment to Responsibility)
The Gita emphasizes Swadharma—performing one’s own duty with sincerity, even if it
appears limited or imperfect.
“श्रेयान्स्वधर्मोविगुणःपरधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मेनिधनंश्रेयःपरधर्मोभयावहः॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 3.35)
This principle aligns with modern discussions on professional ethics, civic responsibility,
and leadership integrity. In a globalized society where individuals often face the pressure of
imitation, competition, and role conflicts, Swadharma reminds us that authentic
responsibility, rooted in one’s nature and context, is superior to borrowed or imposed roles.
The message is highly relevant for debates on sustainable leadership, educational
responsibility, and role fidelity in multicultural workplaces.
Peace (शान्ति – Inner Calm through Detachment)
Inner peace emerges when duties are carried out without attachment to rewards.
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्तेमाफलेषुकदाचन।
माकर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मातेसङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
This teaching resonates with modern stress management, mindfulness, and positive
psychology frameworks. In an era of high professional burnout, academic competition, and
global mental health crises, the Gita’s principle of detachment provides a pathway to
resilience and balance. It encourages individuals to focus on effort and process rather than
outcomes, reducing anxiety and fostering psychological well-being — values deeply relevant
to health professionals, educators, and global organizations.
Self-Mastery (आत्मसंयम – Pathway to Mental Stability)
The Gita stresses control over desires and senses as a way to cultivate tranquility.
“यदासंहरतेचायंकूर्मोऽङ्गानीवसर्वशः।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्यप्रज्ञाप्रतिष्ठिता॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.58)
This aligns with contemporary discourses in neuroscience, behavioral studies, and
emotional intelligence. In a world dominated by consumerism, distractions, and
technological overload, Atmasamyam (self-control) becomes vital for sustained focus,
mental clarity, and ethical decision-making. It shows the Gita’s relevance beyond
philosophy — into psychology, cognitive sciences, and wellness practices.
Harmony (सद्भावना – Universal Goodwill and Social Unity)
Harmony arises from perceiving the same divine essence in all beings.
“समंसर्वेषुभूतेषुतिष्ठन्तंपरमेश्वरम्।
विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तंयःपश्यतिसपश्यति॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 13.27)
This universal vision resonates strongly with intercultural dialogue, human rights, and
peace studies. Recognizing equality of all beings forms the basis of sustainable peace, global
citizenship, and compassionate leadership. In a world fragmented by divisions of race, class,
religion, and ideology, the Gita’s teaching inspires a model of inclusive
coexistenceandcosmopolitan ethics, relevant to both policymakers and peace builders.
The conference is expected to enrich academic discourse by contributing to cross-
cultural ethics, spirituality, and comparative philosophy, situating the Gita’s teachings within
global scholarly debates and fostering dialogue between Eastern and Western traditions of
thought. It will also provide practical insights for leadership and education by emphasizing
the Gita’s focus on duty, detachment, and self-mastery, offering actionable guidance for
leadership development, ethical governance, and value-based education that can steer
organizations and institutions toward integrity, resilience, and responsibility. Further, the
application of the Gita’s philosophical wisdom offers robust frameworks for peace and well-
being, where teachings on detachment and self-control can be adapted into models for stress
management, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence, addressing contemporary crises such
as anxiety, burnout, and imbalance. The Gita’s universal vision of seeing divinity in all
beings promotes empathy, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, thereby strengthening intercultural understanding, informing peacebuilding initiatives, and inspiring global
citizenship rooted in compassion and respect.
By linking Swadharma to contemporary discourses in ethics, mental health, behavioral
sciences, leadership, and intercultural harmony, the Bhagavad Gita proves itself to be more
than a spiritual text - it becomes a transformative resource for the modern world. By
converging ancient wisdom with present-day challenges, the doctrine of Swadharma provides
a lens to reimagining duty, peace, and harmony in the 21st century. Its timeless message
offers pathways for both personal fulfilment and collective well-being, making it profoundly
relevant for global academic, professional, and social contexts.
Objectives
- To explore the concept of Swadharma as a universal principle of ethical responsibility.
- To examine how Gita’s teachings on detachment can contribute to mental health and inner peace in modern societies.
- To highlight the role of spiritual-philosophical wisdom in fostering intercultural harmony and global peace.
- To connect ancient wisdom with contemporary challenges of governance, education, and social coexistence.
- Demonstrate practical applications of the Gita’s teachings for leadership, governance, education and community welfare.
- Provide a forum for early-career researchers and doctoral students to present original work and receive feedback.
Conference Themes
(Delegates may submit abstracts aligned to one or more of these themes.)
- Understanding Swadharma: The Inner Compass of Righteous Action
स्वधर्म की समझ : धर्ममय कर्म का आंतरिक मार्गदर्शक
- Swadharma and Leadership Ethics: From Personal Integrity to Global Responsibility
स्वधर्म और नेतृत्व नैतिकता: व्यक्तिगत सत्यनिष्ठा से वैश्विक उत्तरदायित्व तक
- Gita and Sustainable Human Development: Duty towards Planet and People
गीता और सतत मानव विकास : पृथ्वी और मानवता के प्रति कर्तव्य
- Interpreting Swadharma in Cross-Cultural and Interfaith Contexts
विविध संस्कृतियों और धर्मों के संदर्भ में स्वधर्म की व्याख्या
- Swadharma, Nishkama Karma, and Psychological Well-being
स्वधर्म, निष्काम कर्म और मनोवैज्ञानिक कल्याण
- Swadharma and Decision-Making in Governance and Public Policy
शासन और सार्वजनिक नीति में निर्णय-निर्माण हेतु स्वधर्म का मार्गदर्शन
- Swadharma and Education for Character, Harmony, and Citizenship
चरित्र, समरसता और नागरिकता हेतु शिक्षा में स्वधर्म की भूमिका
- Reimagining Management through Swadharma in Bhagwad Gita
भगवद्गीता के स्वधर्म सिद्धांत से प्रबंधन की नई परिकल्पना
- Gender, Family, and Dharma in the Gita’s Vision of Balance
गीता की संतुलन दृष्टि में लिंग, परिवार और धर्म की भूमिका
- Swadharma and Peace building in a Polarized World
विभाजित विश्व में शांति स्थापना हेतु स्वधर्म का योगदान
- Environmental Dharma: Gita’s Message for Ecological Responsibility
पर्यावरण धर्म: पारिस्थितिक उत्तरदायित्व के लिए गीता का संदेश
- Swadharma and the Science of Yoga: Path to Inner Harmony
स्वधर्म और योग-विज्ञान : आंतरिक समरसता का मार्ग
- Ethics, AI, Technology, and Human Agency in the Light of the Gita
नैतिकता, कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता, प्रौद्योगिकी और मानव संकल्पशीलता — गीता के आलोक में
- Gita, Globalization, and the Search for Universal Values
गीता, वैश्वीकरण और सार्वभौमिक मूल्यों की खोज
- Relevance of Swadharma for Future Civilizations: From Conflict to Consciousness
भावी सभ्यताओं के लिए स्वधर्म की प्रासंगिकता: संघर्ष से चेतना की ओर