Paintings for World Peace and Harmony, UN Geneva, 06-16 June 2017

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Several hundred of Sri Chinmoy’s Paintings for World Peace and Harmony were on exhibit from 6 to 16 June 2017 at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office at Geneva. The exhibit was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva, with support from the Cultural Diplomacy and Outreach Section of the UN Office at Geneva, in collaboration with the Jharna-Kala Foundation.

At the opening event on 6 June, H.E. Mr. Shameem Ahsan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva, welcomed guests from the UN community and said that

“In today’s conflict-ridden world, Bangladesh remains committed to and vocal for global peace and harmony”, and thus “deeply values the teachings of Sri Chinmoy, a son of the soil.” Noting that Sri Chinmoy taught that “by sharing goodwill and inspiration with others, and by spreading love and care, the world can be transformed and peace can be achieved,” Ambassador Ahsan said that Sri Chinmoy’s “paintings and music reflect his spiritual journey for the peace and well-being of humanity.”

H.E. Mr. Shameem Ahsan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva, welcomes guests from the UN community on 6 June 2017.

Sri Chinmoy was born in 1931 near Chittagong in what is now Bangladesh, spent his young adulthood in Pondicherry, South India, and, following an inner message, emigrated to New York in 1964 to share his philosophy of peace.

Ranjana K. Ghose, Director of the Jharna-Kala Foundation, noted that Sri Chinmoy’s Paintings for World Peace and Harmony began their journey at an exhibit at UN Headquarters in New York ten years ago. She said,

“To have the art now exhibited here at the United Nations Office in Geneva is surely profoundly significant and fulfilling.”

At the invitation of then UN Secretary-General U Thant, Sri Chinmoy led twice-weekly peace meditations at the United Nations from 1970 until his passing in 2007, as well as holding many cultural programmes there in support of peace, which continue to this day.

Ranjana K. Ghose, Director of the Jharna-Kala Foundation and Curator of the exhibit, speaks about the distinct genres of Sri Chinmoy’s Paintings for World Peace and Harmony.

The exhibit in Geneva was comprised of several distinct genres of paintings, including the many Peace-Bird drawings of Sri Chinmoy that were originally exhibited at the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, in 2006, and a series of 9”x12” acrylic paintings with a message for humanity that were first shown at an exhibition at St. Petersburg State University, Russia by the Diaghilev Center of Art at the Smolny Institute, in 2004. She noted that through the Paintings for World Peace and Harmony, Sri Chinmoy had offered his art in as many different public spaces as possible so that its messages might be shared with people all over the world, from all walks of life.

Tegla Loroupe, UN Ambassador of Sport and promoter of the first Refugee Olympic Team in 2016, recalls how Sri Chinmoy inspired her to work for peace.

Tegla Loroupe, UN Ambassador for Sport and Peace, and promoter of the first Refugee Olympic Team in 2016, speaks at the opening of an exhibit of Sri Chinmoy’s Paintings for World Peace and Harmony, at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office at Geneva on 6 June 2017. On display from 6 to 16 June 2017, the exhibit was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva, with support from the Cultural Diplomacy and Outreach Section of the UN Office at Geneva, in collaboration with the Jharna-Kala Art Foundation.

Kenyan long-distance running champion and peace advocate Tegla Loroupe also spoke at the opening of the exhibit in Geneva, recalling how Sri Chinmoy had inspired her to work for peace. The event was moderated by M. Francesco Pisano, Chief of the Cultural Diplomacy and Outreach Section in Geneva. As Head of the UN Library there, he accepted a gift of a newly published book, Songs of Peace, collecting a number of songs that Sri Chinmoy had composed in dedication to the United Nations, as well as selections from his writings about the world body. Several of his compositions of music for peace were performed at the Geneva event, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.

Nilima Silver, Programme Coordinator for Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations, gives an historical perspective of the Peace Meditation Group.

Pragati Pascale, whose DPI credentials include Spokesperson for the President of the 60th session of the General Assembly, and Spokesperson for the Rio Plus 20 Earth Summit in 2012, introduces the Songs of Peace.

Francesco Pisano, Chief of the Cultural Diplomacy and Outreach Section in Geneva and Head of the UN Library there, accepts a gift of a newly published book, Songs of Peace, collecting a number of songs that Sri Chinmoy had composed in dedication to the United Nations, as well as selections from his writings about the world body.

Holding the Peace Torch from the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run (from left to right): Tegla Loroupe, UN Ambassador of Sport; Bangladesh Ambassador Shameem Ahsan; Ranjana Ghose, curator of the exhibit and Director of the Jharna-Kala Art Foundation; and Francesco Pisano, Chief of the Cultural Diplomacy and Outreach Section and Head of the UN Library.

Several of Sri Chinmoy’s compositions of music for peace were performed at the Geneva event, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.

At the time of the 2007 exhibit of Paintings for World Peace and Harmony at the UN in New York, a number of world leaders and diplomats expressed their support. Nelson Mandela commented,

“Within each of us lies the power to build a world where we respect each other’s beliefs, understand each other’s culture and support each other’s values — a world where hatred, pain and suffering have no place. This is the great cause of world peace to which my dear friend Sri Chinmoy devoted his life and to which his Paintings for World Harmony at the United Nations are dedicated.”

Mikhail Gorbachev commented that

“Sri Chinmoy was a zealous supporter of the United Nations. He tried to inspire people who work in this worldwide organization. Therefore, it is remarkable that this gallery is taking place especially at the UN.”