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Religious harmony can promote unity, says Barnala

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

PROMOTING RESEARCH: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala inaugurating the Institute of Dialogue with Cultures and Religions and Loyola FM radio at the Loyola College on Monday. Looking on are Mohammed Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot; Joe Arun, executive director of the institute and S.P.Thyagarajan, Vice-Chancellor, University of Madras.

CHENNAI: : Religious, caste, cultural and linguistic conflicts destroy peace and harmony and destabilise development. Only religious harmony can promote unity, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said here on Monday. He was inaugurating the Institute of Dialogue with Cultures and Religions (IDCR) and Loyola FM radio at Loyola College. Religious harmony could be achieved by shifting the focus from rituals to the higher tenets of spirituality, he said.

Commending the role of IDCR in promoting dialogue to avoid conflicts and promote peace, the Governor appealed to the members to involve representatives of the elected local bodies and self-help group members in the process.

Such a dialogue must lead to eradication of socio-economic exploitation and political manipulation and usher in social harmony and equality, A.M. Chinnappa, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore Diocese, said. The fruits of the dialogue would help to overcome prejudices and misinterpretation.

Condemning violence perpetrated in the name of religion, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali said secularism was the life and soul of India.

Though Islam was being targeted by some Western countries, Muslims in India were happier than anywhere else.

Institutions of higher education were a breeding ground for innovations and inter-disciplinary institutions such as the IDCR could provide the missing link between planning and implementation, Madras University Vice-Chancellor S.P. Thyagarajan said.

Joe Arun, executive director, IDCR, said the centre would promote research on conflict resolutions between religions and cultures. It would also prepare educational and training materials.

A library and documentation centre, regular lectures and discussions, publication of papers, inter-religious prayers and seminars on spirituality would form part of its activity.

Albert Muthumalai, principal, Loyola College, and M. Amaladoss, director of the centre, were present.

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