President Murmu calls for spiritual awakening to counter global unrest at Brahma Kumaris event
Synopsis
President Droupadi Murmu used the Brahma Kumaris' 90th anniversary platform in Vadodara to make a pointed case: economic metrics alone cannot measure national progress, and inner transformation — through meditation, compassion and self-mastery — is what a fractured, anxious world actually needs. It is a rare presidential pitch for spirituality as statecraft.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Brahma Kumaris event in Vadodara on 23 September 2026 , marking the organisation's 90-year spiritual journey.
She inaugurated the Brahma Kumaris Global Spiritual Palace Retreat Centre in Vadodara and virtually launched the 'Awakening Inner Strength for Nation Building' initiative from Nadiad .
Murmu called for human development alongside economic growth, saying education must build wisdom and discernment , not only intelligence.
She emphasised India's traditions of yoga, meditation, non-violence, compassion and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' as globally relevant tools for addressing contemporary crises.
The Brahma Kumaris' work at a Central Jail for nearly 30 years was cited as an example of applied spiritual transformation.
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, called for a deeper embrace of meditation, introspection, compassion and positive thinking, arguing that inner transformation is the foundation of global peace amid what she described as a world gripped by stress, violence, intolerance and deepening social divisions. Speaking in Vadodara at an event marking the Brahma Kumaris' 90-year spiritual journey, Murmu said that spirituality can play a central role in renewing the world.
Setting the Context: A World in Turmoil
The President painted a sobering picture of the current global moment, noting that unrest prevails across several regions and that anxiety, violence and intolerance have become widespread conditions. 'In the present global scenario, challenges such as stress, anxiety, violence, intolerance and social divisions are widespread. There is an atmosphere of unrest in many regions. In such circumstances, initiatives that promote meditation, introspection, compassion and positive thinking become important,' she said.
The remarks come as geopolitical tensions, social fragmentation and mental health concerns continue to dominate international discourse, lending urgency to calls for what Murmu framed as an 'inner revolution' preceding any outward change.
Key Inaugurations and Launches
At the event, President Murmu inaugurated the Brahma Kumaris Global Spiritual Palace Retreat Centre in Vadodara and virtually launched the national initiative 'Awakening Inner Strength for Nation Building' from Nadiad. She also participated in the formal launch of the organisation's 2026 national theme — 'Spiritual Awakening for World Renewal' — marking the culmination of the Brahma Kumaris' nine-decade institutional journey.
Human Development Over GDP Alone
Murmu pushed for a broader definition of progress, arguing that development cannot be measured solely through economic growth. 'Today, there is a need not only for economic development but also for human development,' she said, adding that education must nurture not only intelligence but also wisdom and discernment.
She called for a form of societal advancement that remains sensitive towards nature and emphasised self-mastery over the pursuit of external control. 'We need a power that enables us to control ourselves rather than control others,' she added — a remark that resonated with the Brahma Kumaris' core philosophy that self-transformation precedes world transformation.
India's Spiritual Heritage on the World Stage
The President invoked India's classical traditions — yoga, meditation, non-violence, compassion and the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The World is One Family) — as globally relevant frameworks for addressing contemporary crises. She also highlighted the Brahma Kumaris' outreach work at a Central Jail, noting that the organisation had reportedly been working there for nearly 30 years to impart spiritual knowledge and a positive outlook to inmates.
Murmu said she envisions an India that is 'economically prosperous, scientifically powerful, socially inclusive and spiritually awakened.' The event was attended by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Minister of State for Protocol Praful Pansheriya, among others. The Brahma Kumaris' reach across multiple countries, she noted, underscores the cross-border relevance of meditation and spiritual knowledge in an increasingly fractured world.
Point of View
Or remains confined to the podium, is the real question. India's invocations of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' abroad have intensified in recent years, but the gap between that philosophical export and domestic social cohesion remains wide and largely unaddressed.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did President Murmu say at the Brahma Kumaris event in Vadodara?
President Droupadi Murmu called for greater emphasis on meditation, introspection, compassion and positive thinking to address global challenges including stress, violence, intolerance and social divisions. She argued that inner transformation is essential for creating world peace and that spirituality can aid world renewal.
What did President Murmu inaugurate at the Vadodara event?
She inaugurated the Brahma Kumaris Global Spiritual Palace Retreat Centre in Vadodara and virtually launched the national initiative 'Awakening Inner Strength for Nation Building' from Nadiad. Both inaugurations took place on 23 September 2026.
What is the Brahma Kumaris' 2026 national theme?
The Brahma Kumaris launched 'Spiritual Awakening for World Renewal' as their 2026 national theme, coinciding with the organisation's 90-year spiritual journey milestone.
Why did President Murmu emphasise human development over economic growth?
Murmu argued that development viewed solely through the prism of economic growth is incomplete. She said education must cultivate not only intelligence but also wisdom and discernment, and that society needs progress that stays sensitive toward nature and promotes self-mastery over seeking control of others.
Which Indian traditions did President Murmu highlight as globally relevant?
She cited yoga, meditation, non-violence, compassion and the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' — meaning 'The World is One Family' — as India's contributions to the world that hold particular relevance in the current era of global unrest and social division.
