Panchshila is based on the guiding principles and values of solidarity, justice, peace, freedom and mutual responsibility and empathy.

It aims to bear testimony to the transformative power of the human mind’s ability to learn from experience.

The name Panchshila has its’ origin in the stone tablets created by Emperor Ashoka in 300 B.C. in India and the values they enshrine. They bear witness to the transformation of a warrior king to
peacemaker and peacebuilder through the path of non-violence.

Panchshila is the culmination of a development process of many years. It is a confluence of many flows and streams of learning and experience. This is the beginning of a new phase.

Sumita Dutta is the founder-director of Panchshila. She has many years of experience in working in the UK and at an international level in cross-disciplinary fields including economic and social justice, human rights, organisation and enterprise development and design, marketing and publicity.