Rotary opens eighth Peace Centre in India

PICTURED:ABOVE: Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo, Trustee Chair Holger Knaack and Symbiosis International University Founder and Chancellor Professor SB Mujumdar at the launch of the newest Rotary Peace Centre at Symbiosis International University in Pune, India.

Rotary’s eighth Peace Centre, inaugurated at Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, strengthens the organisation’s global commitment to training skilled peacebuilders equipped to replace fear with understanding and turn conflict into cooperation.

Words: Rasheeda Bhagat.

On a crisp winter morning in Pune, Rotary formally inaugurated its eighth Peace Centre at the sprawling 400-acre campus of Symbiosis International University (SIU). The milestone event was attended by Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo, Trustee Chair Holger Knaack, TRF Trustee from India Bharat Pandya and SIU Founder and Chancellor Professor SB Mujumdar.

In his address, Francesco reflected on the root causes of global conflict. Many of today’s crises, he said, stem from fear and a failure to understand the “other side”. Too often, peace is described merely as the absence of war.

“Peace is much more than that,” he said. “Peace is the presence of trust, understanding and justice. It is the daily work of building bridges and helping people live free from poverty, hate and prejudice.”

Francesco observed that although modern societies enjoy unprecedented freedoms, these freedoms can sometimes fuel isolation rather than connection. When people feel “lonely in a crowd”, fear grows – fear of an uncertain future, fear of losing identity and fear of those portrayed as different or dangerous. Both sides of a conflict often tell the same story of insecurity, he noted, allowing fear to become a weapon.

Knowledge, he emphasised, is the first step towards peace. That is the purpose of a Rotary Peace Centre: to replace fear with understanding and turn confusion into clarity. While good intentions matter, they are not enough. Peacebuilding requires skill, practice and trained professionals capable of working in complex environments with calm minds and steady hearts.

Francesco also underscored the importance of networks. Fellows trained at the Pune Peace Centre will join a global community of practitioners committed to cooperation and non-violent conflict resolution.

“Peace is fragile when it is carried by one person,” he said, “but peace is stronger when it is carried together.”

The new centre reflects Rotary’s theme for this Rotary year – Unite for Good. According to Francesco, unity does not mean erasing differences, but refusing to treat differences as enemies. Universities, he added, are not only places of learning but also spaces for listening, debate and truth – all essential ingredients for sustainable peace.

Trustee Chair Holger Knaack described Rotary Peace Centres as one of Rotary’s proudest investments in the future – one built on justice, understanding and problem solving. Supported by generous donors, The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to transform compassion into action at scale, with strong stewardship and enduring impact.

Peace is a cornerstone of Rotary’s mission. Since the program’s inception, Rotary’s peace centres have trained more than 1,800 fellows who now serve as catalysts for change in governments, educational institutions and international organisations, including UN agencies.

“A new peace centre means a new source of knowledge, a new network of trained leaders and a new place where Rotary’s values can take root,” Holger said.
He thanked Symbiosis International University for its commitment to education, service and intercultural understanding – values closely aligned with Rotary’s ethos of friendship and service. He also acknowledged Trustee Bharat Pandya for helping forge the partnership and encouraged Rotarians from Districts 3141 and 3131 to ensure incoming scholars feel a deep sense of belonging.

Professor Mujumdar highlighted SIU’s longstanding focus on internationalisation. With students from 85 countries and off-campus centres in cities including Mumbai, Bangalore and Dubai, Symbiosis has built a reputation for creating a “home away from home” for global learners. This experience, he said, will ensure Peace Fellows from across Asia feel welcomed and supported in Pune.

Bharat contextualised the initiative within today’s global challenges. With more than 17 million refugees and displaced persons worldwide and an estimated US$19.97 trillion economic impact from conflict in 2024, the cost of instability is immense. Rotary addresses peace not only through dialogue but by working in related areas such as health, water and sanitation, disease prevention, environmental protection and economic development – creating conditions in which peace can flourish.

Sudakshina Sen, Centre Head for the Rotary Peace Centre in Pune, outlined the program’s structure. The fully funded one-year postgraduate diploma in Peace and Development Studies will cater primarily to mid-career professionals across Asia. Delivered in a blended format, the interdisciplinary curriculum will integrate academic study with experiential learning, equipping participants to advance sustainable, actionable outcomes for social change.

Applications for the Symbiosis program are open until 15 May 2026.

Applications can be found at my.rotary.org/en/peace-fellowship-application