On February 14, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the fourth edition of SAMVAD (the Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative for Conflict Avoidance and Environmental Consciousness). He attended the event from the United States, where he was on an official visit from February 12 to 13 (February 14 in India).
The SAMVAD conference will be held from February 14 to 17 in Bangkok and Ayutthaya, Thailand. Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has strong cultural ties with India, as its name is derived from Ayodhya. It was established in 1350 CE by King Uthong, who eventually took the title Ramathibodi I in honour of Lord Rama. The city has been an important centre for both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and here is where the Thai version of the Ramayana, Ramakien, was written.
SAMVAD, founded in 2015 by Prime Minister Modi and the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, promotes interaction between Hindu and Buddhist civilisations. Its goal is to replace conflict resolution with conflict avoidance, and environmental control with environmental awareness.
The topic for this year’s event is “Asian Century of Dharma—Dhamma,” which emphasises the shared spiritual history and teachings of Lord Buddha.
