The George & Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Celebrates Speeches, Writings of the Prince of Wales

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) at the University of Maryland joined with a global community of scholars and thought leaders in celebrating a preview of Speeches and Articles 1968-2012 by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (forthcoming University of Wales Press) with a special event at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center in College Park on Oct. 7. (View the photo gallery.)

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1344","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"340","style":"width: 200px; height: 142px; margin: 5px; float: right;","width":"480"}}]]This work for the first time offers a comprehensive overview of the ideas and ideals of Charles, Prince of Wales on a broad range of timely topics, from concern for the environment to the importance of spirituality. Edited by Visiting Professor David Cadman and by Professor Suheil Bushrui, Professor Emeritus and Director of The George and Lisa Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace, the work features a foreword by Professor John Townshend, former dean of BSOS.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1348","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"340","style":"width: 200px; height: 142px; margin: 5px; float: left;","width":"480"}}]]Professors Cadman, Bushrui and Townshend were joined at the event by President Wallace Loh, Chancellor Brit Kirwan, Dean Gregory Ball and Professor Paul Shackel, chair of the Department of Anthropology, in paying tribute to His Royal Highness and in honoring the international impact of the Gibran Chair. Also in attendance were Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, the third incumbent of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace—a position which initially was held by Dr. Bushrui—and Dr. Shibley Telhami, the incumbent of the Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development. This extraordinary showing of University leadership underscored the global significance of the work and also demonstrated the audience’s esteem for Professor Bushrui.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1345","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"319","style":"width: 200px; height: 133px; margin: 5px; float: right;","width":"480"}}]]Professor Bushrui is widely recognized as the leading authority in the field of Gibran studies. Scholars from a variety of countries seek guidance from the Chair when publishing scholarly works on, or translations of, Gibran’s writings. The Chair is designed to explore Gibran's life and works, and, through them, address moral and social determinants of public justice and peace.

“Dr. Bushrui lives the values he teaches. To be in his presence is to be in the presence of true spirituality. That is why he is so beloved and respected,” President Loh said.

The Chair has a long history of highlighting groundbreaking scholars and works of international significance, including Professor Cadman and His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. 

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1346","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"351","style":"width: 200px; height: 146px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px; float: left;","width":"480"}}]]A renowned author on social, economic and environmental sustainability and on the importance of Love as a shaping principle of all that is, Professor Cadman served for a while as chairman of what is now known as The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community and is a Trustee of The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. In his remarks, Professor Cadman noted that The Prince of Wales has advanced international dialogue on matters of global significance, and has dedicated much of his life to the work of his charities and to helping some of the most disadvantaged people in society, not least of which are young people.

“In his speeches and writings over the years, His Royal Highness has shown, with great foresight, an awareness of humanity’s greatest challenges, including concerns about social, economic and environmental sustainability and about the need for understanding, tolerance and respect between the faiths,” Professor Cadman said.

In addition to speeches and writings by His Royal Highness on a number of issues of global importance, the new work contains beautiful, full-color reproductions of his watercolor landscapes. These works of art further demonstrate His Royal Highness’s love of and respect for nature, and his commitment to environmental sustainability.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1347","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"323","style":"width: 200px; height: 135px; float: left; margin: 5px;","width":"480"}}]]The next generation of scholars and advocates for social justice was represented at the event by Ms. Vishnupriya Krishnan, a student who participated in the Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race Honors Seminar taught by Professor Bushrui. Ms. Krishnan offered remarks on the impact of the words and thoughts of His Royal Highness on her education and scholarship, and on the youth of the world.

“The speeches and essays of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, as presented in the course, left an everlasting impression on all the members of the class,” Ms. Krishnan said. “We, the youth of the world, must creatively engineer sustainable solutions to global problems, and this, with foresight and poise, is precisely what His Royal Highness has done, and continues to do, with his life’s work.”

Published on Wed, Oct 15, 2014 - 1:21PM