India Foundation, in collaboration with India Habitat Centre, organised a book discussion on the book ‘Seeking The Infinite: Mahakumbh 2025’ by Shri Yakub Mathew, Author and Corporate Leader, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on 10th March 2026. The session was moderated by Captain Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President, India Foundation. The panel featured Ms Advaita Kala, Author and Screenwriter; Haji Syed Salman Chishty, Gaddi Nashin, Ajmer Sharif and Chairperson, Chishty Foundation; Elder Kelly R. Johnson, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The discussion brought together various spiritual leaders and thinkers to explore the philosophical and spiritual depths of the largest human gathering in the world. Yakub Mathew, a business leader, shared how his personal journey to the Mahakumbh with friends from around the globe transformed from curiosity into a profound spiritual discovery, noting that the book was a joint effort featuring 55 prominent figures from religion, business, and politics, each providing insights into the “infinite.” The panel described the event as a huge gathering marked by remarkable order amid a seemingly chaotic environment.
A central theme of the dialogue was the concept of “collective consciousness”, a pillar of Indian philosophy embodied in the phrase ‘Aham Brahmasmi’. The panel highlighted how the ideas of cleansing and renewal in the Mahakumbh connect with the Christian view of baptism and the common wish to be freed from past burdens; the “oneness of being,” stating that self-knowledge is the key to understanding the Divine, a belief echoed in Sufi, Vedantic, and Sikh traditions.
The session concluded with an agreement that the infinite is not a far-off goal but a “horizon without end” that exists within each person. The panelists encouraged the audience to move past material concerns and embrace the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—our world is one family, especially during these challenging times. Through Yakub Mathew’s experiences and the panel’s varied viewpoints, the panel framed the Mahakumbh as a strong symbol of our shared spiritual journey and a force for global unity.
