Missing out on identity gives rise to conflicts

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said people of different ethnicities forget that their identity is that of a human race which gives rise to conflicts.
"If our identity of belonging to the human race is missed out we are in trouble," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said while addressing an invited audience on 'Leadership Values: The Way Forward' here last night.
He said, "Conflicts arise out of the need to assert our individual and ethnic identities and forgetting that we are part of the human race of 7 billion people."
Encouraging people to promote and nurture their ethnic language, culture and beliefs as per heritage and customs, the influential spiritual leader said one should understand that the world will lose something if everything is uniform.

Calling on world leaders of today to foster a sense of caring, service and never putting self at the front, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, "A true leader is the one who makes people (his followers) happy."
He also urged leaders to ensure justice to the many roles they carry to ensure a stress-free and peaceful life.

"Are we doing justice to all the roles? If not which role are we neglecting? If any of the roles is neglected there is disharmony leading to tension," he said.
Earlier, village chiefs of a remote Raliang village in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills region gifted a small plot of land to the spiritual leader, which was applauded by all present in the hall.

Governor V Shanmuganathan lauded the Art of Living founder for his efforts to help improve people's life and the realization of God while Chief Minister Mukul Sangma invited the spritual leader to frequent his visit to the state.