While India is celebrating an upward trajectory of economic growth combined with ecstatic euphoria through the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya it would be foolish to remain oblivious to the upheavals of a tottering civilization. We are just 90 seconds from a global catastrophe as per the latest announcement of the Security Board of Bulletin of Atomic Scientists for the second consecutive year.

Let me, therefore, focus on the theme of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, 1-7 February which is “Uniting for peace,” and the positive role that religious communities can play to save our planet. In this age of interdependence and interconnectedness at every level of human existence followers of religions or dharma or mazhab, whatever term is used, have to accept that no spiritual system or cultural milieu can thrive in isolation or compartments. Believers and even non-believers must transcend petty differences and conflicting doctrines to create a people’s movement of interfaith harmony. This is, indeed, an important goal of all interfaith conferences and seminars. The legacy of the interfaith movement may be traced to the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Chicago. Leaders of religions and the laity have shown that harmonious relationships can be forged to live side by side and peacefully for tackling other major crises such poverty alleviation, gender imbalances, climate emergencies, conflicts and wars fueled by a range of causes by building capacity through educational institutions and selfless services for the welfare of all.

The spiritual luminaries described variously as the avatara, the tathagatha, the tirthankara,........

© The Statesman