Conference links spiritual values to SA’s sustainability agenda

THE International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) recently held its inaugural conference on sustainability to mark the 50th anniversary of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s arrival in South Africa in 1975.

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The founder's historic visit set in motion a trajectory that has seen ISKCON become an established presence in South African civic life, contributing to social cohesion across a cosmopolitan membership and advancing initiatives in food security, education, and culture.

The conference, held under the theme “Creating a Unified Foundation for Sustainable Development in South Africa”, paid tribute to Srila Prabhupada’s 1975 address to students at the then University of Durban-Westville, now known as the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj, Senior Lecturer at UKZN’s School of Commerce and Chairperson of the Conference, described the gathering as “both an academic and spiritual celebration.”