The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : We should celebrate diversity: Chandrashekar

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Monday, Jan 28, 2008
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We should celebrate diversity: Chandrashekar

Special Correspondent

– Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Sharing a thought: Chairman of the Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar and Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras at the inauguration of the Federation Day celebrations of the Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations of Karnataka, in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: Chairman of the State Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar said on Sunday that there was no future or hope for civilisation without compassion towards others.

He was speaking at the Federation Day celebrations of the Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA) here.

He said every time there was an attack on the minorities in the country “I put my head down in shame”. “Yes, we are a culture bound by diversity and why should we be afraid of diversity? It is our strength and we should celebrate diversity,” he added.

He said that it was not wrong to have affinity towards one’s own community, religion, language, culture and customs. These things were to be cherished and enjoyed with people from other community. Praising the Christians and their peaceful outlook, Prof. Chandrashekar recalled his student days in England and said that he used to visit churches in the English countryside. He saw the same feeling of security, serenity and peace in the churches of Bangalore also.

Issue

He said Christianity did not have any caste system. But there was an issue of Dalit Christians which had to be treated with care. But Christianity did not have any other force that bred “inequalities” in the community, he added.

He said the Christians should enter politics without any fear or apprehension. There were “right thinking” people in the majority as well as minority communities to support them.

Prof. Chandrashekar said Indian politics needed people with integrity, character and vision and the Christians had all these qualities.

He said that he had close association with Christian politicians such as Oscar Fernandes, Blasius D’Souza and Margaret Alva and found in them qualities such as uprightness, honesty and hardworking nature. Most important of them all was the quality of taking every part of society together towards social and economic prosperity, he added.

The FKCA honoured cooperative banker and social worker John D’ Silva , Managing Director of Printania Offset of Mumbai Albert Wilfred D’Souza and Executive Director of Oriental Bank of Commerce Allen Pereira.

Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras gave the benediction. On the occasion, the FKCA opened its website, www.fkca.com.

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