The GFCH is founded on the conviction that all faiths are valid and sacred for their respective adherents who are strongly motivated by such faiths. The GFCH is founded equally on the concern that different civilisations sourced in the different faiths are moving towards conflicts and clashes. It believes that a harmonious relationship between them can be achieved through a free and frank dialogue between them add to their potential and propensity to promote, and to avoid and resolve, conflicts. The GFCH trusts that such an initiative will increase their willingness to co-exist with other faiths and civilizations and help to avoid conflicts among them.
GFCH India was launched in Delhi on January 22, 2008 at a function chaired by former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam attended and addressed by great religious and spiritual masters belonging to all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, founder of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravishankar, the Arch Bishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the chief of Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband Moulana Mohammod Ali Madani and Rabbi Ezekiel Issac Malekar. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a televised message on the occasion.
Envisioned Tasks
a) The GFCH will strive for paradigm shift in thinking and work for capacity building and force multiplication for a dialogue and understanding to prevent any threat of violence and chaos resulting from the emerging clash of civilizations.
b) Identifying and accessing credible organizations/individuals to explain to them the concept and vision of GFCH and enlist their support to promote networking among them to bring about synergy in their efforts.
c) To undertake research studies, both directly and through outsourcing to develop strategic inputs and sharing it with academic and relevant NGOs. It will disseminate information through e-news letters, circulation of relevant features, news items etc. to concerned organizations/individuals.
d) Building up a data bank of civilizationally relevant organizations and individuals. The data bank will work as knowledge resource center both for referencing, networking and research.
e) To create awareness among people regarding civilizational threats, implications of various contemporary developments, possible responses etc. through meetings, seminars and publications etc. leveraging GFCH linked organizations.
One of the initiatives taken by the GFCH is to work with the Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband in the efforts of the latter to hold rallies against terrorism and to promote religious harmony in different parts of India. The GFCH is planning to undertake more initiatives to promote understanding and harmony among different religious and spiritual organizations.
Development Dialogue on Values and Ethics, a unit of the World Bank conducting evidence-based analytical, operational and capacity development work on issues related to faith, ethics and development, has decided to include GFCH India website in their directory, which will be having information of about 500 like-minded organizations world-wide. GFCH India is also part of the NGO Partnership Programme of the Government of India.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is among the founder patrons of GFCH India. Noted Indian media baron Mr Subhash Chandra is the Chairman of the Foundation while senior Indian journalist K G Suresh is the Director.