I am pleased to write a note about the pluralistic heritage of India to honor the initiative of Dr. Raghuvanshi.
As a nation, collectively we are Adivasis, Atheists, Bahais, Bos, Buddhists, Chrsitians, Dalits, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslim, Sikhs, Tribals, Zoroastrians and every possible grouping. We are Brown, Black, White, Yellow and green with envy, magar phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.
Our Motherland is represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see God as one, none and many; and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.
We are proud of our heritage - a mulch-faith, multicultural, multi-regional and multi-linguistic society, where we have come to accept and respect every which way people have lived their lives. For over 5000 years, India has been a beacon of pluralism - it has embraced Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i and Zoroastrianism to include in the array of the indigenous religions; Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
We may want to consciously start thinking and acting as one people, one people within a nation and a community and one people globally. It’s like home when we are conflict free. I do hope each one of us purges any bias towards the other, there is joy in being free from ill-will. Try to be free from it this day forward… free from anything that prevents you from being a part of the whole.
Our combined philosophies believe in one world ; Hinduism describes the world as Vasudaiva Kutumbukum, the whole world is one family, the idea of Ek Onkar(one) in Sikhism, you are all created from the same couple as Quraan puts it and Jesus embraced every one regardless of who any one is... similar philosophies are grounded in all our religions.
Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.
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Spreading inclusive and pluralistic culture
stressed
https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140812191536-63249508-spreading-inclusive-and-pluralistic-culture-stressed
Varanasi, 12 August, 2014:
Heads of various religious faiths, prominent social activists and
professionals have called upon the government not to commercialise River
Ganga and leave it to flow uninterrupted.
Addressing the maiden Banaras Convention on Saturday here organized by Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)[i] in alliance with Bana Rahe Banaras and Bunkar Dastkar Adhikar Manch (BDAM), the Hindu seer Dwarikapeetha Shankaracharyas[ii]’ representative Swami Avmukteshvaranand underscored the need for preserving the purity of River Ganga intact.
“Let
Gangaji remain as mother, not as source of revenue”, the Hindu seer
said indirectly disapproving the government’s move to commercialise the
largest river of the country. “Let more water flow in Gangaji but not
money”, he added opposing the move by the government to construct check
dams over River Gangaji.
Shahar-e-Mufti Maulana Batin
Nomani quoted Quran saying that discrimination based on wealth or caste
is unjustified. “Saint Kabeer has taught us inculcate human values. We
all must take note of this lesson”, the Maulana emphasised.
Speaking
on the occasion Father Gabriel (Director of Diocese, Varanasi) called
upon to maintain peace and tranquillity like past year. ”We must feel
peace from within. If there is war going on within you, that would
naturally be reflected in outside world“, he said philosophy.
Buddhist
monk Bhikkhu Kirti Ratan underscores the need for keeping the values,
for which Vanarasi is famous, intact. “this city is not known for its
building but for its pristine value systems” he reiterated.
Corroborating
the views of the seer, Maulana Harun Rashid Mufti said the present
scenario of Ganga would not allow to be disturbed. “Every religion have
reposed faith in Ganga. This city can never be same without Ganga. You
find so many mosques on its banks. Muslims read Namaz on the rivers
side. We all will work for Ganga’s purity”, he remarked adding that
river Ganga is a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity.
Magsaysay
awardees Rajendra Singh vehemently opposed the union governments plan
to launch water transport in GangaRiver. The government has a made a
budgetary provision of Rs 4600 cores to develops water transport in the
sacred river by running huge mechanized boats carrying 450 Tons of
cargo. By implementing this plan of action, the government is out to
pollute the already polluted GangaRiver. This will also hampers free
flow of clean water in the river.
Congress legislator
from Kolasla Mr. Ajay Rai, Varanasi made it clear that under no
circumstances mother Ganga would be allowed to go down as a playground
of corporate bigwigs. “Banaras is the heart of the country cultural
diversity time has ticked away. Myriad changes follow but the holy city
of Banaras remains the same with its cultural mooring kept intact. No
one would be allowed to tinker with the cities values and rich
tradition” he retreated.
Prof. Deepak Malik supported
Mr. Rai’s statement saying that some people without understanding the
pulse of Banaras a trying to interfere with the city in the name of
modernization and development.
Kicking of the debate
PVCHR Executive Director Lenin Raghuvanshi highlighted the basic
objective of convention. “Time has come to accept and practice inclusive
and pluralistic culture across the globe. Varanasi – the epicentre of
such culture, should take the lead to spread the massage beyond India.”
Among
others Dr. Mohammad Arif, Bindu Singh, Vallabhachary Pandey spoke on
the occasion. Muniza Rafique Khan welcomes the guests while PVCHR
founder and trustee Shruti Nagvanshi[iii] gave vote of thanks. Vyomesh Shukla[iv] and Ateek Ansari moderated on the occasion.
To commemorate August Kranti Day[v], BANARAS SAMMELAN (Banaras Convention) was observed on August 09, 2014 at the Moolgadi Kabir Math[vi], Kabir Chaura, Varanasi, India.
The religious leaders jointly released report of “Kashi Kumbh” to save river Gangaji. Also a book title “a guideline for Communal Harmony” in hindi was unveiled.
On the sideline of historical event, Swami Avmukteshvaranand honoured Jan Mitra Award to Ms. Teesta Setalvad[vii],
a veteran social activist, Dr. Tir Vijay Singh, a veteran journalist
and Senior Editor of Hindustan and Mr. Nageshwar Patnaik, a veteran
journalist for their incredible contribution and commitment &
another hand ‘PVCHR Ambassador’ to Pandit Vikash Maharaj[viii],
Sarod Maestro and Mr. Prabhash Maharaj, Tabla Maestro as a legendary
musicians to protect and assert pluralism and inclusiveness around the
world.
The one day programme took off with the classical music by Maharaj trio Pt Vikash Maharaj[ix]
(renowned Sarod player) and Pt Prabhash Maharaj (Tabla player),
Abhishek Mahraj (Sitarist) of Varanasi Gharana. A group of singer lead
by Ashish Mishra performed on the message of Kabir (kabeer vani). A
theatre play “Ganga or Gangi by Prerana Kala Manch[x] was staged. A documentary film “Muzaffarnagar riots” by Gopal Menon[xi] was also Screened. The program proceeded with Pad Yatra (Kabir Yatra) from Kabir Chaura Math to Chandra Shekhar Azad[xii] Park, Lahurabeer, Varanasi. More than 2000 people from various district participated in the programme and Benaras Declaration[xiii] announced on occasion.
Earlier
Hon’ble President of India Shri Pranav Mukharji, Ex- Secretary General,
United Nation Mr. Kofi Annan, Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, Ms. Pratibha
Prahlad, Chairperson, Indo- German Society of Remscheid Ms. Helma
Ritscher, Mr. Mike Ghos[xiv] from
America, Director, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Mr. Sujoy Joshi,
Kanak Mani from Nepal and Director, Navsadhana father V. Sebastian, BHU
Vice Chancellor Prof. Lal Ji Singh sent massages to wish the programme a
grand success.
Dr.Lenin Raghuvanshi
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