19

Jul

National Initiative for Communal Harmony Lunched

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Anwarul Haq Baig

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New Delhi | Friday | 19 July 2024

In a bid to foster communal harmony and interfaith relations across India, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at bringing together diverse religious communities. The organization recently held a two-day national coordinator meeting here at its headquarters to outline plans for promoting social justice, combating communalism, and strengthening democratic values throughout the country.

Addressing the meeting, JIH Vice President Prof. Mohammad Salim Engineer introduced the organization’s newly established Communal Harmony Department, highlighting its ambitious goals. “We aim to strive for the establishment of social justice in India and make concerted efforts to address social evils such as casteism, bigotry, immorality, and the deprivation of women’s rights,” Prof. Salim stated.

The department will operate at both central and state levels, focusing on maintaining peace and order while actively working to eliminate hatred, unrest, discrimination, and communal violence. Prof. Salim emphasized the importance of strengthening civil society networks to collaboratively promote peace, harmony, justice, and fairness across all segments of society.

 

Article at a Glance
In a bid to promote social justice, combat communalism, and strengthen democratic values, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has launched a comprehensive initiative to bring together diverse religious communities across India. The organization recently held a two-day national coordinator meeting to outline plans for its newly established Communal Harmony Department.

The department aims to establish social justice in India, address social evils, and promote peace, harmony, and justice across all segments of society. A key component of this initiative is the formation of "Sadbhavna Manch" (Goodwill Forum) at local levels, which will create an atmosphere of love, harmony, and cooperation in neighbourhoods across India.

The objectives of Sadbhavna Manch include encouraging intermingling, seeking cooperation to eradicate social evils, dispelling misconceptions about different communities, supporting weaker sections of society, and promoting mutual tolerance. The platform will remain strictly non-political and focus on strengthening the fundamental values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

To further support these efforts, the JIH has established the "Dharmik Jan Morcha" (Religious People's Front) and the Federation for Democratic and Communal Amity (FDCA). These initiatives will bring together religious leaders and scholars to promote communal harmony and address common social issues.

Renowned Christian leader Dr. M.D. Thomas emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue, stating that it strengthens and expands one's understanding of religion and humanity. The JIH has taken important steps towards realizing the constitutional ideals of equality, justice, liberty, and fraternity, and its initiatives have the potential to bridge divides and promote mutual understanding among diverse communities.

 

A key component of this initiative is the formation of “Sadbhavna Manch” (Goodwill Forum) at local levels. This grassroots platform aims to create an atmosphere of love, harmony, and cooperation in neighbourhoods across India. “Sadbhavna Manch will serve as a medium for mutual dialogue and understanding, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to address common concerns,” explained the JIH leader.

The objectives of Sadbhavna Manch include:

  1. Encouraging intermingling to promote love and harmony
  2. Seeking cooperation from all sections of society to eradicate mutually recognized social evils
  3. Dispelling misconceptions about different communities
  4. Supporting weaker sections of society
  5. Educating people about constitutional guarantees of cultural and religious freedom
  6. Promoting mutual tolerance through cooperation with various social organizations
  7. Collectively addressing emergencies or instances of communal discord

Prof.Salim clarified that the platform would remain strictly non-political and would not be used for religious propagation. Instead, it will focus on strengthening the fundamental values enshrined in the Indian Constitution: equality, justice, liberty, and fraternity.

To further support these efforts, according to the JIH V-P, the organisation has established the “Dharmik Jan Morcha” (Religious People’s Front) at central and state levels. “This interfaith coalition brings together religious leaders and scholars to promote communal harmony and address common social issues. Additionally, the Federation for Democratic and Communal Amity (FDCA) has been set up to advance democratic values and foster a value-based society in collaboration with various cultural entities across the country,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, JIH Vice President Malik Moatasim Khan emphasized the universal importance of communal harmony, stating, “The concept of communal harmony is not limited to any particular region, community, or religion. It is a basic human need and an essential Islamic teaching.” Malik Moatasim Khan cited references from the Quran to underscore the significance of maintaining good relationships with all people, regardless of their background.

Highlighting India’s unique diversity, the JIH Vice President noted, “Our country has a dire need for communal harmony due to its vast plurality. India is home to numerous communities, faiths, castes, races, and languages, making it essential for us to work towards mutual understanding and cooperation.”

On this occasion, renowned Christian leader Dr. M.D. Thomas, Director of the Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, delivered a thought-provoking address on the importance of interfaith dialogue. He challenged the notion that such dialogue could weaken one’s faith, asserting instead that it strengthens and expands one’s understanding of religion and humanity.

“Interfaith dialogue doesn’t hinder your faith in your religion. On the contrary, it moves your belief in the right direction and widens its scope,” Dr. Thomas explained. He emphasized that as individuals grow and gain experiences, their understanding of faith should also evolve and mature.

Drawing from his extensive experience in interfaith work, Dr. Thomas shared, “I have been engaging in interfaith relations and dialogues with people of different faiths, including Muslims, Hindus, and even atheists, for many years. This has greatly strengthened my understanding of God and Christianity while also broadening my perspective on life and humanity.”

Dr. Thomas cautioned against a narrow, insular approach to faith, using the analogy of a frog in a well. “If your faith and understanding of different beliefs do not increase, you will not move forward. You’ll become like a frog in a well, thinking the entire world is just that small space,” he said. He encouraged people to explore the vast diversity of religious thought, likening it to moving from a well to experiencing “big ponds, rivers, and seas.”

Quoting from the Quran (49:13), Dr Thomas highlighted the divine purpose behind human diversity: “Human beings, We created you all from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.” He emphasized that differences among faiths should not lead to rivalry but should instead foster understanding, cooperation, and unity.

JIH National Secretary Mohammad Ahmad provided a detailed overview of the Sadbhavna Manch and Dharmik Jan Morcha initiatives, outlining their objectives, progress, and impact on society. He expressed optimism about the potential of these platforms to bridge divides and promote mutual understanding among diverse communities.

In an innovative approach to promoting communal harmony, JIH Assistant Secretary Waris Husain introduced the concept of “communally harmonized model localities.” These are envisioned as ideal neighbourhoods where people of different faiths and communities coexist in complete harmony, maintaining strong mutual relations despite their diverse backgrounds.

The JIH official outlined ten key parameters that will define these model localities:

  1. Embracing diversity
  2. Presence of an active Sadbhavna Manch
  3. Freedom from communal incidents
  4. Establishment of community centres
  5. Open and accessible religious places
  6. United celebration of festivals and events
  7. Integration of local institutions
  8. Involvement of elders in social and political issues
  9. Effective conflict resolution mechanisms
  10. Promotion of positive narratives

“We have begun efforts to identify and develop such model localities across the country,” Waris Husain announced. “These communities will serve as beacons of hope and examples of how diverse groups can live together in peace and mutual respect. The concept of model-harmonized localities could provide tangible examples of peaceful coexistence and serve as inspiration for similar efforts across the country,” he added.

Throughout the two-day meeting, representatives from various states presented models of successful Sadbhavna Manches and shared detailed activity reports. These presentations highlighted the growing impact of the initiative and provided valuable insights for replication in other regions.

According to the JIH leaders, Sadbhavna Manch’s programs will engage diverse communities effectively, address deep-rooted social issues, and overcome potential resistance from those who benefit from social division. Underscoring the local-level engagement and the involvement of respected religious leaders, the Dharmik Jan Morcha offered promising avenues for building trust and fostering genuine understanding among different communities. The JIH has taken important steps towards realizing the constitutional ideals of equality, justice, liberty, and fraternity.

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