Shillong, Mar 18: Harambee, a new word meaning “pull together, work together for harmony”, was introduced by speakers at a function called, “Interfaith Dialogue for Peace and Harmony” today as an antidote to the often troubled undercurrents in the otherwise peaceful state where ethnicity, religion and traditions intersect in a conflictious history.
Faith leaders from all religious callings, Christian, Seng Khasi, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Buddhist were present.
The meeting ended with the Shillong Harmony Declaration being unveiled by the principal of St Edmunds College Br. Sunil Britta and the introduction of the Peace Bell which was set up in a corner of St Edmunds College premises christened the “Peace Garden”, to mark the occasion, which the faith leaders called “momentous” and “history”.
The declaration was signed by all the faith leaders after it was first signed by two students of the college to emphasise that it is the youth who yearn for peace and harmony.
The programme was organised by the Department of Social Work (PG) ST Edmunds to observe World Social Work Day, by holding a program in line with the guidelines, “Co-building Hope and Harmony, A Harambee call to unite a Divided Society” inspired by the philosophy of Harambee, a Swahili traditional concept.
During the panel, faith leaders all underlined the philosophy that all religions preach love and peace and that the underlying foundation of all religions is “respect for others”.
Students who filled the auditorium were encouraged to ask questions from the senior faith leaders. Some of the youngsters asked questions that were critical and relevant to the existing scenario of unrest that is global, national and local.
Some of the questions were; that there are many communities living together and many a time misunderstandings flare up so during such troubled times what is the role of faith leaders in resolving such conflicts?
Another query was that Meghalaya is a Christian majority state and as such how can the faith leaders reach out to the minorities to promote harmony and a sense of security.
Another critical question was “In the north east where tribal identity is most important, how to deal with this and how can spaces be for dialogue?
The answers from the faith leaders came in varied words but they all added up to the same message: respect all religions. No religion is greater than the other and that the end of every religion is to promote love, peace and harmony so that people can live and thrive to make an equal and just society
Rev Edwin Kharkongor, of the Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders Forum said that every day experience is that misunderstandings happen among individuals and communities, but the aim of the Church is to promote harmony. “We are one. We work together. The effort to show respect to others” he said.
Swami B Videshananda Director, VCC Ramakrishna said “Religious institutions should not show any interest in the political arena. In the Ramakrishna Mission our belief is not just of tolerance of others, it goes beyond that to accept other religions as also being the true path. That is the real Hindu philosophy, Ramakrishna Mission is there across nations and we firmly stand for the universality and equality of all religions and beliefs,” he said.
President of Hindu Central Puja Committee, Shillong Naba Bhattacharjee, praised the students of St Edmunds and the faculty for holding such a program with students. He said it’s better to start from the grassroots than talk in high committees.
“As a practicing Hindu I believe in inclusivity, respect, universality of all religions and I have a deep abhorrence of the fanatical approach,” he said. He made a pertinent point when he appreciated the function as “Peace should be cultivated in peaceful times. Normally what happens is that peace meetings are only hurriedly called in times of trouble”.
Representing Seng Khasi, Dr Sonita Khongwir, Principal of Shillong Commerce College said the tenet of Khasi religion is “love your own, respect others”. She said that the majority has to respect the voice of the minority for balance and peace in society.
Father Richard M Majaw, Episcopal General of the Shillong Archdiocese said faith leaders always believe in prayer and dialogue. Diversity in society is most important and it requires everyone to work together to maintain diversity. This, he said, can be achieved by respecting each other. Peace, hope and faith have to be cultivated. He underlined the fact that the ‘majority has the major role to maintain respect for diversity.’
Rev S R Dkhar, President, North East India Council of Churches said that the decision of the majority is not always good. Faith leaders have to work for bringing harmony to society and to bring respect to each other. “Bigger brothers have to understand that they cannot push younger brothers around”. He said that we must work together to maintain peace by recognising the presence of God in all religions, then only we will have harmony and peace.
Brahmo Kumari representative Dr Kaberi Kakor, associate professor, B Barooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati said diversity is strength. Divisions are dangerous. Various intentions to divide society in the name of religion, caste, race etc are going on and this has to be resisted.
“Religions are not different; the religion of the soul is love, harmony and respect. Spirituality makes us realise we are all one. The true meaning of religion is to give and give and give without expecting anything in return, she said.
Rev Darhun Khriam, minister of the Unitarian Union North East India said that we need to understand and respect one another. One cannot claim one Identity is better or higher than the other, he said
The Abbot of Buddhist monastery, Shillong, Tenzin Thinlay said, “We should be open to learn respect from others. No religion is better than the other. There are various paths of spiritual growth, he said and the peaceful way is mutual respect.”
Jasbir Singh, President, Sikh community said that the city is a harmony of tribes and communities and the credit goes to Christian dominated Meghalaya that people like him never felt as outsiders. The majority embraced us and looked after us, he said as a third generation family of Sikhs in the city.
S M A Zulfi, Secretary Shillong Muslim Union, was one of the invited speakers in the all faith platform but he could not attend due to sudden illness, the organizers informed.
