Ram Janam Bhoomi is national property and a non issue: Mahant Janamjey Sharanji
Inter-faith dialogue only way to extricate Indian society from virus of communalism, says Justice Ahmadi
New Delhi, October 25 (Pervez Bari): “The process of inter-faith dialogue is the only way out to extricate the Indian society, which is pluralistic in nature, from the pervading chaos perpetuated by the virus of communalism. India is an umbrella of multi-religious faiths where we should live in peace and tranquility without transgressing and hurting the rights and beliefs of other religionists.
The principle of fraternity as enunciated in the preamble of the Indian constitution, which has not received much attention as it needed, should be adhered to resolve disputes through dialogues and honoring the dignity of an individual and communities at large leading to unity in diversity”.
The above views were expressed by Justice A.M. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India, in his presidential address at the inaugural function of the three-day International Conference on "Towards Human Understanding Through Dialogue" here on Friday evening. It is being organized by Institute of Objective Studies at B.S. Abdur Rahman Auditorium, India Islamic Cultural Center here in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, president, Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi Mandir Nirman Nayas, Ayodhya.
Justice Ahmadi congratulated Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam, chairman, Institute of Objective Studies, (IOS), for taking the bold initiative to assemble the religious heads of different religions on one platform. He made a fervent appeal to these religious heads, who had reposed their faith in the process of dialogue to resolve disputes while addressing the august audience at the inaugural function, to come out in the open and nip in the bud whenever some their followers go astray and indulge in communal violence to serve their vested interests. He asked them to disapprove the unjust actions of their followers openly which is against the principles of their religion they profess to demonstrate to the masses at large as to what is right and what is wrong. They should stand up to the task before the virus of communalism vertically divides the society as the fissures are already there, he added.
“In this age of guided-missiles we have misguided people who are tearing apart the social fabric”, Justice Ahmadi lamented.
Before the inaugural function concluded Dr. Manzoor Alam sought the pledge from various religious heads and the assemblage present on the occasion to take up the challenge of coming out in the open to propagate the process of inter-faith dialogue as appealed by Justice Ahmadi. Everyone present responded enthusiastically by raising their hands on the occasion.
Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, president, Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi Mandir Nirman Nayas, Ayodhya, speaking on the occasion said that Bhagwan Ram Janam Bhoomi (lord Ram’s birth place) is a national property and it is a non issue. He warned those who are trying to politicize the issue of Mandir-Masjid (Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid) and encash it for realizing their own political ambitions.
“Our blood is of one and the same color and we all are one. We should live peacefully together. Humanity is the biggest religion”, he remarked.
Mahant Sharanji said India is passing through a critical phase. There are forces in the country which are provoking misguided people on the basis of communalism, regionalism and castes, he added. He stressed the need of unity among various religious communities in India, who he termed as beads forming a garland, while criticizing fanatics for communalizing the society.
Agreeing with him, Shankaracharya Onkaranand Sarswati, Onkar Dham, New Delhi said Islam stood for peace and harmony and those who linked it with terrorism, actually didn’t know it. While eulogizing Islam for its principles he said humanity needs it for world peace. He urged Ram Janam Bhoomi-Babri Masjid imbroglio should be set aside and all must come together to forge unity among mankind .
Rev. Baddegama Samitha Thera, chief priest, Baddegama Buddhist Temple, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Buddhism was too for a dialogue among different faiths. He said no one is superior as everyone is equal with none being a second class citizen. He was of the view that human beings are compassionate and as such there was no need to take up arms for resolving disputes which could be amicable solved through dialogue.
Hailing Dr. Manzoor Alam for his bold step in this difficult hour when humanity is craving for peace Rev. Baddegama invited IOS to lead the world and clear the myths that mars the inter-religious relationship.
Dr. M. D. Thomas, National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, CBCI, New Delhi, asserted that dialogue is the core value of human life. It is a two way process and we should see each other as our reflection. Everybody has an individual identity but also has shared and multiple identities. The divine is not confined to the four walls of a church, mosque or a temple but is omnipresent, he opined.
Swami Tatgatananda Jee Maharaj, Secretary, Ram Krishna Mission, Patna (Bihar), said that man has to break free one’s biological sphere and come out for dialogue to reach towards the goal of communal harmony and peace.
K. Rahman Khan, Deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha, said IOS deserved compliments for bringing leaders of different faiths on a common platform.
Swami Dharmanand, Sadhna Kendra, New Delhi; Maulana Abdullah Mughaisi, president, All India Milli Council and Sirajuddin Quraishi, president, India Islamic Cultural Centre also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Dr. Manzoor Alam, chairman IOS, in his welcome address, said in the present situation there was no alternative other than a dialogue. He said:” in the name of country, religion, ideology and ‘freedom’ our world is inflicting lasting pain and creating divisions that no God or spiritual law would ever permit. We seem to have lost the ability to ‘think’, ‘speak’ and ‘act’ as human beings, who are part of a large human family”. As a global citizen, he appealed, to uphold the dignity of humanity.
Prof. Sanghasen Singh, former Professor of Buddhism, University of Delhi, proposed vote of thanks in the end. (pervezbari@eth.net)

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