IIT plans global gathering on lines of Parliament of Religions in Chicago
Times of India | 17 January 2026
Kolkata: Drawing inspiration from the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, a milestone in interfaith unity, IIT Kharagpur will host a global gathering — the Parliament of Enlightened Thoughts Toward Collaborative Prosperity — in the backdrop of the institute's Platinum Jubilee celebrations at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park in Kolkata on Feb 24.
The initiative, in collaboration with The Boston Pledge, which is marking its Silver Jubilee, will launch Renaissance 2.0 to reimagine civilization itself and what prosperity means in the 21st century.
The gathering will bring together visionary leaders and thinkers from across the world — spanning science, economics, spirituality, education, arts, and governance to engage in four transformative streams of inquiry through various sessions.
Director Suman Chakraborty said, "This Parliament is our collective response to the urgent crises of our age: the deepening chasm of economic inequality, the degradation of our natural environment, the fragmentation of societies, and the erosion of spiritual connectedness."
Chairman of the Boston Pledge Partha Ghosh said, "Through catalytic dialogues, transformative performances, and cross-sector panels, the Parliament aims to ignite coalitions that transcend geographies, ideologies, and disciplines."