Hyderabad on Friday hosted the inaugural of the World Buddhist Peace Conference 2026, bringing together ministers, monks, scholars and delegates from over 20 countries in a bid to advance dialogue on peace, reconciliation and ethical leadership.
The two-day conference, inaugurated at The Plaza Hotel in Begumpet, is part of a larger global initiative aimed at positioning Telangana as a centre for Buddhist heritage diplomacy and peace-building. The summit, themed around Buddhist approaches to conflict resolution, reconciliation and healing, seeks to move beyond abstract calls for peace and instead emphasise inner transformation, ethical values and sustained dialogue as the foundation for harmony.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao described the event as not merely a conference, but a powerful convergence of minds and hearts committed to promoting peace, harmony and the well-being of humanity.
Invoking the legacy of Gautama Buddha, he said the teachings of compassion, wisdom and non-violence remain deeply relevant in a world marked by divisions and uncertainty. “True peace arises from within and must be nurtured through understanding, dialogue and compassion,” he noted, adding that Telangana’s Buddhist heritage, particularly the legacy of Acharya Nagarjuna, continues to inspire global thought and scholarship.
