22 April, 2025
🌟
Dr Thea Gomelauri and the Oxford Interfaith Forum received one of the most prestigious biennial awards, the 2024 GURU NANAK INTERFAITH PRIZE, bestowed by Hofstra University, in collaboration with the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Charitable Foundation. More details are available here and here.
🌟
Hofstra University organised the 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize Presentation and Celebration ceremony, in collaboration with the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Charitable Foundation, in New York, USA. The event brought together the Awardees, the administration of Hofstra University, the Bindra Family, the Guest of Honour, the distinguished members of the Prize selection committee, the broader Hofstra community, and guests. After the Award ceremony, the attendees enjoyed dinner and a musical performance by Professor Francesca Cassio, a world-renowned musicologist, and accomplished singer of dhrupad and Gurbani kirtan.
Photo & Video Courtesy of Shira Hecht-Koller, and Hofstra University
Background
Hofstra University administers the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, endowed by the Bindra family in 2006. The Prize serves as a memorial to their matriarch and patriarch, Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra and Sardar Ishar Singh Bindra, and their dedication to the Spirit of Unity and Interfaith Harmony, espousing values of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is bestowed biennially to an individual or organisation chosen by a distinguished panel of judges.
The Endowers of Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize
Mr TJ Bindra with his parents’ portraits, and with his family
The 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, the ninth round of the biennial cycle, was bestowed upon Dr Thea Gomelauri, Founder of Oxford Interfaith Forum, and Rt Revd William Swing, Founder of United Religions Initiative.
Since its inception in 2008, the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize has been awarded to the following individuals, and organisations: The HH 14th Dalai Lama (2008), Rabbi Arthur Schneier, co-winner Religions for Peace (2010), Dr Eboo Patel (2012), The Revd Dr Katharine Rhodes Henderson, co-winner Bhai Sabib Mohinder Singh (2014), Harvard University’s Pluralism Project, co-winner Serve2Unite (2016), Tanenbaum Center for Interreligous Understanding (2018), Dr Karen Armstrong, co-winner the Interfaith Center of New York (2020), Amardeep Singh (2022), Dr Thea Gomelauri, co-winner The Rt Revd William Swing (2024).
The Oxford Interfaith Forum is the first non-American organisation recognised by Hofstra’s Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize in the Award’s history.
The Venue
The 2024 Award ceremony was held at Crest Hollow Country Club in Long Island, NY, USA.
Oxford Interfaith Forum was delighted to be represented by our Senior Fellow Professor Aaron Koller, who accepted the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize on our behalf. Professor Koller was accompanied by his wife Shira Hecht-Koller. Shira’s reflections about her interfaith experience are available on her Facebook post here.
The official ceremony began with the opening remarks of Dean of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, followed by Hofstra President’s welcome speech, the Bindra family’s congratulatory remarks, presentation of the Award, bestowal of the Sacred Scarf of Honour, and ended with the presentation of the Certificate of Recognition issued by the Guest of Honour, Comptroller of the State of New York.
📢
Hofstra’s Dean Eva Badowska introduces the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize Recipient
Programme of the Award Presentation and Celebration
Professor Eva Badowska, Dean of the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was the Master of Ceremonies. She welcomed the audience with opening remarks, acknowledged the Special Guest of Honour – the New York State Comptroller, and invited President Susan Poser to give her address.
Dean Badowska further commented: The Guru Nanak Prize embodies Hofstra University’s mission to foster global understanding while preparing students to thrive in the complexity of our interconnected world. At a time when peaceful collaboration, civil discourse, and cultural awareness are essential to addressing profound global challenges, this prize honors the principles of peace, interfaith dialogue, and selfless service that resonate deeply with the University’s values. It reminds us that education is not just about knowledge – it’s about inspiring action and shaping a better future for all.
Dean Badowska’s Opening Remarks and Acknowledgement of the Guest of Honour
President Susan Poser is the ninth and first female president of Hofstra University. She assumed the President’s office in 2021, following the retirement of President Stuart Rabinowitz. The 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize Presentation was the second ceremony in the Award’s history, presided over by President Poser. She expressed her gratitude to the Bindra family for endowing the prestigious Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, and also the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies, held by a preeminent scholar, Professor Balbinder Singh Bhogal.
President Poser shared: This unique award espouses interfaith understanding and cooperation. I’m so grateful that Hofstra University and the Bindra family have partnered to establish a renowned interfaith prize.
President Poser Welcomes the Endower of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize
Mr TJ Bindra, a prominent Sikh American entrepreneur and philanthropist, the endower of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize at Hofstra University in honour of his parents, took the stage to congratulate the honorees, and bestow upon them Sipora (Scarf of Honour) as a ceremonial recognition of the recipients’ high merit, and devotion to moral and philanthropic purposes. Such demonstration of respect can be traced back to Guru Angad (the second of the ten Gurus of the Sikh faith), who bestowed a scarf upon Guru Amar Das (the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism) every year. The latter treated these scarves as sacred gifts and carried them tied on his head, one above the other. The tradition of bestowal of scarves as a mark of honour, favour, and blessing can be found in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh Scripture). Guru Nanak Dev Ji sang, ‘I received by His grace the garment (scarf) signalling me to sing His praise’ (SGGS, 150), and Guru Arjan Dev Ji wrote, ‘O Lord, thou hast invested me with the scarf of love to save my honour’. (SGGS, 520).
Mr TJ Bindra commented: It was our parents’ desire to bring better understanding among people of various faiths and founded Interfaith Prize in collaboration with Hofstra University to promote interfaith dialogue and to recognize individuals or organizations that bring people together. It is named after Guru Nanak who preached and practiced equality of all human beings irrespective of their religion, caste, color, creed or sex. We are very pleased with the selection of two very well-deserving awardees for the 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize.
Mr Tj Bindra’s Welcome and Introduction of the Guest of Honour, the New York State Comptroller
Mr Raj Bindra, son of TJ Bindra, shared: Guru Nanak taught us about the idea of oneness and unity between all of us – which is a beautiful message to bring our massive world. In this day and age, it’s imperative to bring this idea that we are together the same people.
The Honourable Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, was the Special Guest of Honour. He congratulated the recipients of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, and presented the Certificate of Recognition by the State of New York Office of the State Comptroller.
He commented: This prize represents what we all should aspire to – religious tolerance, cooperation, peace and acceptance. As we celebrate Guru Nanak’s belief in the oneness of humanity, we are reminded to strengthen our commitment to bridge cultural and religious differences and embrace the rich diversity that makes us all stronger.
New York State Comptroller the Honourable Thomas P DiNapoli’s Remarks
Professor Aaron Koller, representing the Oxford Interfaith Forum in the absence of Dr Thea Gomelauri, accepted the Award on our behalf. He expressed our gratitude and appreciation to everyone involved in the selection process, especially Dean Bedowska, for making this important occasion a highlight of the interfaith calendar. TV channels and media representatives invited to the Award ceremony interviewed Professor Koller.
Excerpt from Professor Aaron Koller’s Interview
(Courtesy of JUS Punjabi TV)
Dr Thea Gomelauri’s Acceptance Speech
Delivered by Professor Aaron Koller
Dr Thea Gomelauri’s Acceptance Speech
Professor Koller shared his reflections after the ceremony: It was inspiring to see the devotion of the Sikh community, led by the Bindra family, to the cause of interfaith work. The partnerships forged with Hofstra University have created a remarkable culture to support and encourage the kind of work that the Oxford Interfaith Forum is doing, so it was particularly gratifying to be recognized with this award. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to hear how others appreciate all the work that Dr Gomelauri has done and will continue to do.
Musical Performance
Professor Francesca Cassio‘s performance on period instruments, with her students, was a beautiful conclusion to this uplifting celebration. Professor Cassio is the inaugural holder of the Sardarni Harbans Kaur Chair in Sikh Musicology at Hofstra University – the first academic position in the United States to study the Sikh musical heritage.
The 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize Celebration Poster
The 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize Celebration Booklet
Photo Gallery
Photo & Video Courtesy of Shira Hecht-Koller, and Hofstra University
Media Coverage
