Chandigarh, October 26 — In a ceremony that underscored the power of dialogue across faiths, Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, Executive Director of Religions for Peace USA, was awarded a lifetime achievement honour by Minhaj University, Lahore, for his outstanding contribution to interfaith understanding and Sikh heritage preservation.
The award was presented by Dr. Hussain Qadri, Chairman of Minhaj University, and Vice-Chancellor Dr. S.M. Shahzad during the university’s 8th International Conference on World Religions. The two-day global gathering, themed “Building Resilient Societies: Preventing Extremism at its Roots,” featured prominent religious scholars and community leaders discussing ways to counter intolerance and promote inclusive societies.
Bishop Samuel Robert Azariah, Director of the Christian Study Center in Rawalpindi, also received a national lifetime award at the event, which celebrated faith leaders’ efforts in peacebuilding and social resilience.
Accepting the honour, Dr. Butalia said the recognition “belongs to everyone striving to promote interfaith dialogue and harmony.” He noted that such forums are vital for “bridging divides and nurturing respect among diverse traditions.”
Organisers noted that Dr. Butalia’s decades of work have made him a symbol of cross-cultural understanding and a tireless advocate for peace. The ceremony concluded with a reaffirmation of global cooperation against extremism, with participants describing Dr. Butalia’s legacy as “a guiding example for future generations of faith leaders.”
