Dr. Thea Gomelauri and Rt. Rev. William E. Swing. / Courtesy Photo

Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Hofstra University, has named Dr. Thea Gomelauri and the United Religions Initiative (URI), founded by pioneering interfaith leader and president emeritus Rt. Rev. William E. Swing  as the recipients of the 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize. The $50,000 biennial award will be split between the two honorees, recognizing their efforts in advancing interfaith understanding and peacebuilding.

The award ceremony is scheduled for Apr.22, 2025, at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York.

The Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize was established in 2006 by Sardar Isha Singh Bindra and family to honor the legacy of Guru Nanak, the 15th-century founder of Sikhism known for advocating equality, service, and interfaith harmony. Past recipients include His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Dr. Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith America.

“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 2024 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize,” said T J Bindra of the Bindra family.

Dr. Eva Badowska, dean of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said, “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.”

 

Bindra potrait. / Courtesy Photo

Dr. Thea Gomelauri, a biblical scholar at the University of Oxford and director of the Oxford Interfaith Forum, has been recognized for her work uniting academics worldwide to engage with sacred texts through inclusive and interreligious lenses. Her research on Georgian Jewry, one of the oldest Jewish diasporas, has drawn international recognition for illuminating overlooked histories and communities.

“This prestigious award in the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji inspires us to continue the promotion of universal peace through interreligious education at this critical time in our history,” Dr. Gomelauri said.

The Forum was recently honored with the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Award by King Abdullah II of Jordan for its contributions to peace and religious education.

URI, founded by bishop and president emeritus Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, is the largest grassroots interfaith network in the world, active in over 100 countries. Its origins trace back to an interfaith service at the United Nations in 1993. Today, URI supports local peacebuilding efforts led by youth, elders, and community members.

“The generous heart of Guru Nanak was powerful in his time, and through this award the spiritual power only increases,” said Bishop Swing. “To be honored in his name is an inward blessing.”

URI engages in a range of activities, from conflict resolution and environmental action to human rights advocacy. Its work has reached communities across all continents.

“We feel proud and grateful for this honor which celebrates URI, its founder, and the entire URI network of interfaith activists who dedicate their lives to a world where we can all live in trust, love and unity, beyond and through our necessary and lauded differences,” said Eric Roux, chair of the URI Global Council.

Dr. Julie Byrne, Hofstra University’s Monsignor Thomas Hartman Chair in Catholic Studies and chair of the Department of Religion, said, “The committee was deeply impressed by the complementary work done by these two stellar interfaith organizations: the United Religions Initiative that concentrates on grassroots networks of communities, and the Oxford Interfaith Forum that brings together scholars for the sharing and production of new knowledge about religions and their interactions. Community-based and scholarly approaches are both needed to advance understanding and acknowledgment of difference in today’s global world.”