-Shaivya Pathak
The Interfaith Dialogue was the main event of the Interfaith Conclave organized at the India International Annexe Building, Lecture Hall 1, marked the beginning of the Interfaith Harmony Week at GPF India. The conclave commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Markandey Rai, Chairman of GPF India, who emphasized the importance of all sections of society coming together to work toward a common purpose. He quoted the ancient wisdom, "अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघु चेतसाम् | उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्," which translates to "This is mine, that is his, say the small-minded. The wise believe that the entire world is a family." Dr. Rai stressed that while it's easy to speak, action is what matters. He encouraged everyone to think of practical actions to make the dream of "the world as one family" a reality and welcomed recommendations from both the speakers and the audience to create actionable plans for interfaith leadership.
The keynote address was delivered by Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj, a renowned saint and National Convener of the Sarva Dharma Sansad. He highlighted the importance of people of faith listening to each other, understanding common goals, and coming under one umbrella of universal values and brotherhood. Maharaj emphasized that the universal dharma of interfaith leadership is "Humanity," a value inherent in the foundation of every religion. He suggested creating a list of faith leaders across the country and internationally, bringing them together to ignite a movement for interfaith unity from Bharat, the land of diversity. Maharaj also noted that, since Swami Vivekananda's address at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, no substantial national or international efforts have been made to unite all faiths for a common purpose. He reiterated that such a movement is only possible in India.
Following this, Mr. Shrikrishna G. Kulkarni, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Calcutta, addressed the gathering. He provided a realistic view of India as a spiritual land, where plurality is rooted in the culture and cannot be separated from it. He also stressed that division goes against the very essence of India's unity.
Ms. Anjal Tyagi took over as the emcee and introduced the first panel session on the topic, "Social Cohesion Through Interfaith Dialogue." She welcomed the esteemed panelists, which included Bhikkhu Sanghasena, President of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre; Firoz A. Naeem, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Delhi; Dr. Fr. Rajakumar Joseph S.J., Principal of Vidya Jyoti College of Theology; and H.H. Acharya Satyendra Narayan, President of the Confederation of World Religions. The panel discussion began with the question, "In today's world, where we see rising polarization, what does social cohesion mean in the context of interfaith dialogue, and how do we move beyond tolerance to real collaboration?"
Firoz A. Naeem emphasized the importance of understanding our common identity, transcending divisions. He argued that the current neglect of faith in God leads to social conflicts and that we need to restore faith to achieve social cohesion. Bhikkhu Sanghasena added that no one is born with a religious identity; we adopt our faith through understanding and experience. He emphasized that faith should not be a basis for criticism but a personal journey toward spiritual realization.
Dr. Fr. Rajakumar Joseph S.J. highlighted that social cohesion is central to India's strength. He shared that the essence of humanity lies in understanding that all people are part of the same human family, and this realization opens minds to deeper spiritual experiences. Acharya Satyendra Narayan Ji pointed out that the work of great saints has contributed to the achievements of humanity, but social unrest often leads to blaming others. He urged the revival of the concept of the World Parliament of Religions, as proposed by Swami Vivekananda, to address issues like the environment and war.
The first panel session was followed by the second panel, which was moderated by Ms. Shaivya Pathak, on the topic, "Shared Values, Oneness & Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Foundation of Unity Across Faiths." The panelists included Marzaban Zaiwala, representative of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman; Swami Sarvalokananda Ji, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi; Prof. Shashi Bala, Indologist and Head of the Bhavan's KM Munshi Centre for Indology; and Dr. M.D. Thomas, Founder and Director of the Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi. The panel discussion focused on questions such as, "What are the shared values and practices across different faiths that can help bring to life the reality of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the belief that the world is one family?" and "How can we overcome religious divisions through shared values?"
Marzaban Zaiwala emphasized that shared values are the key to fostering unity. Prof. Shashi Bala urged people to return to the fundamental principles of peace, compassion, wisdom, and sacrifice. She proposed that verses containing wisdom should be collected and passed down to future generations. Swami Sarvalokananda Ji called for values to be practiced in daily life, especially focusing on humanity and righteousness. Dr. M.D. Thomas emphasized that no one should be seen as an enemy, and the focus should be on universal values to foster unity.
The audience was then invited to ask questions. A student, Vajiha Mariyam, raised concerns about the rise of atheism in the world. Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj responded by saying that interfaith leaders must address their audiences as human beings first, not as representatives of a particular faith. Dr. Shashi Bala further elaborated that religion and dharma are distinct, with dharma representing timeless universal values. She encouraged people to have faith for their own happiness and peace, even in societies with rising atheism. Shaikh Fatehuddin, Vice-President of AMJ Delhi, shared that faith provides the foundation for human experiences with higher principles, urging everyone to embrace faith as a medium for personal growth.
Dr. Priyaranjan Trivedi concluded the discussions by summarizing the key points and calling for the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week every year. He praised GPF India's efforts in bringing together such esteemed speakers and emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue and collective work. He also referenced the proposal by Lama Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche to inaugurate a spiritual parliament in India, emphasizing the need to celebrate the essence of interfaith unity.
The program ended with the felicitations of participants and the winners of the Interfaith Poster Competition. Eleven students were awarded certificates for their contributions. Finally, Ms. Anupam Kumari, the program coordinator from GPF India, gave the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the speakers, audience, and staff for their dedicated efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue. The gathering concluded with an oath to promote interfaith dialogue, shared values, and oneness.
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