At Jnana Degula, one idea sits at the heart of everything we do: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — often said as Vasudeva Kutumbakam — “the whole world is one family”.
Where the words come from
The phrase appears in the Maha Upanishad, and a similar verse is found in the Hitopadesha. The full thought goes something like this:
“This one is mine, that one is a stranger” — so think the narrow-minded. For the large-hearted, the whole world is one family.
What it really asks of us
The verse is not only about being polite to strangers. It describes a way of seeing: the boundaries we draw between “my people” and “other people” are smaller than the bond we all share.
- At home — treating everyone in the family, young and old, with equal respect.
- At school and work — welcoming people of every language, region and background.
- In the world — caring for people we will never meet, and for the earth we share.
An idea for our times
In 2023, India chose this ancient idea as the theme of its G20 presidency, expressed as “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. A few words from thousands of years ago are still guiding conversations about the world today.
Talk about it at home
Ask children: Who is in your family? Then ask: Who else could be? Their answers may surprise you.
That is the spirit of Jnana Degula — learning our heritage not to divide, but to understand that we belong together.
