Inter-Religion Intellectual Meet on Peace, harmony and national integration held in City
Mangaluru: An Inter Religion Intellectual Meet on Peace, harmony and national integration was held at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on January 9.
The programme began with an invocation. Former DGP Krishnamurthy welcomed the gathering. The programme was inaugurated by Dr Imam Umer Ahmed, Sri Sri Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji of Puttige Math, Fr Valerian D’Souza of Milagres Parish, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh leader Indresh Kumar and Twaka Ahmed Musliyar by lighting the traditional lamp.
Addressing the gathering Dr Imam Umer Ahmed said, “We need to love and respect one another. We also need to respect other religions. Recently when I spoke to Krishnamurthy about organizing the programme in Mangaluru since most of the people know Mangaluru which shines in every field. Mangaluru is not a small city, it is also popular for the wrong reasons. We are all brothers and sisters, we should respect all the religions. We all being Indians should understand that we all are one. There will be differences between us which should not be taken seriously. When we come out from our houses we are Indians”.
He further said, “India has unity in diversity and this is our identity which should be retained. If we organize inter-religious dialogue we can bring peace, harmony and unity in our country. If we respect people of other faith, we will be respected which will help to strengthen our bond. Nowadays there are fewer riots in our country. It is sad that sometimes, whoever grows a beard is tagged as a terrorist. There are only a few people who create problems in the society. If we live in brotherhood there will be peace, harmony and unity in the society. I urge the people of Mangaluru not to allow any communal riots to take place here”.
Speaking on the occasion Sri Sri Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji of Puttige Math said, “India has unity in diversity. Love means peace and fighting means enmity. Selfishness leads to fights. India is the only country where there is peace and which does not encourage war. If Muslim and Hindu leaders will fight in the name of religion there will be enmity, if the same leaders will respect one another there will be peace and harmony. We need to understand and respect the people of other religions. India is the only country in the world which has not declared war on any country. The USA every year declares war on other countries”.
The parish Priest of Milagres Church Fr Valerian said, “When Mother Teresa visited Mangaluru, she said, “Mangaluru is a beautiful city, no one should feel that there is no one who cares for him/her. We should be humans first”. We need to be good human beings. When we become good human beings we will be able to change others. We belong to one family, we should respect, love, care and share for one another. Where is our God, where do we find him? When we see every human we see the vibrant face of God, then why do we fight in the name of God? Are we hypocrites or do we really love God? Is my love for God limited only to the Church or do we see God in every person? We need to have one purpose in mind that we are going to take the message of peace, love and brotherhood and we can live like brothers and sisters. Let this mission begin from our homes and neighbourhood. Let there be harmony, joy and peace, surely the call given by Mother Teresa will be fulfilled. I hope sharing here in this beautiful place will bear fruit for our motherland to rejoice because no matter which religion we profess we are all brothers and sisters taking care of our motherland the beautiful house God has given us.”
Indresh Kumar speaking on the occasion said, “While dealing with our bosses we use plural but while we address God we use singular, because if we use singular to our bosses we will be dismissed from work. We all believe that we are the creation of God and he is within us. We are part and parcel of God. If we have trust in God we should not fear for anything”.
He further said, “We cannot write our past (before we were born) or future (After death) address, we can write only our present address. To come to this earth God has given us only one way and that is through the womb of a woman. But after we come on this earth through the womb, why rape, abuse, sexual assault, discrimination on daughters/women. Daughters are not a curse but they are blessings from God. Whoever respects women they are human beings and whoever misbehaves with them, they become bad people. God has chosen the woman to give birth to men, if every human being thinks about it in a positive way, there will not be any crime on earth. We have the only identity that we are human beings! Is our identity of any religion, caste, tradition, ancestors or culture? If there is no Mother earth and Motherland, we would not have been here or would have any identity. Motherland has provided us everything for our use. Religion is the purification of humans. If we are not clean from outside we have soap or cosmetics to clean, but if our mind, heart and soul are impure there is no water, brush, or soap to clean it”.
President of Ullal Darga Abdul Rasheed; Ramesh Guruji of Agasthya Ashrama, Bengaluru and others were also present.
