Mehfuz Alam/Patna
The religion-based hatred has been increasing steadily. This requires serious efforts from dharma (religious) gurus to reverse it; it requires the Gurus to sit together and discuss differences, and commonalities threadbare. This is the only way to usher in the development of society and strengthen brotherhood and national unity.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Bihar Chief Maulana Rizwan Ahmed Islahi expresses these views.
Speaking to Awaz The Voice, Rizwan Ahmed Islahi said that a Patna-based platform called Sarva Dharam Manch Bihar has been working for several years in this direction. He is the convener of Sarva Dharma Manch wherein all religious leaders hold meetings to address myths and misconceptions about each other.
The Manch has Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, and Christian leaders and meets every three months.
The Manch also launches campaigns to generate goodwill and national unity. Rizwan Ahmed Islahi says this platform tries to reduce the distances between different communities. "We are working together to eliminate the common evils that have crept into religions," he said.
Sarva Dharam Manch Bihar is away from politics and is a social initiative meant to change the ground situation. "India is a multi-religious country. Today the distances between people have increased. Therefore, religious scholars, intellectuals, and social workers must look into this serious problem and initiate countermeasures to correct it."
Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi says that a society develops only when people respect each other and for that people must first understand each other's religions, and sit together to reconcile differences and end hatred.
He feels the distances are also growing due to the lack of knowledge about each other. To address this, Sarva Dharma Manch Bihar holds meetings with Dharma gurus and allocates practical work to them as per a plan of action.
"We are conducting programs at various places and continuous efforts are made to create awareness among the people," he said.
Maulana Rizwan Ahmed Islahi says that people of different religions should sit together and chalk out a plan of action for bringing about the e.
"Sarva Dharam Manch Bihar is trying its best towards this goal. In the past, there was no such hidden hatred in society. Every class of society and people of every religion used to value each other but today the situation has changed."
I feel it's important for the people of different religions to sit together for a conversation." Islahi feels that cases of discrimination based on religion were less but now it's quite high. Conflict in the name of religion and civilization has increased."
He however feels these problems can not be addressed by the political leaders and only religious leaders can save the situation.
Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi says all religions consider violence and conflict in the name of religion or God as wrong. Also, all religious leaders condemn the riots individually but they do not work together.
"He feels firstly, the people have to accept the problem and then forge unity to end the strife. "If dharma gurus sit together and seriously consider this, such discrimination will end. Efforts should be made to understand each other's religion."
He said that to live in a mixed society, it is important that we understand each other's religion and make it a continued process.
He says that Sarva Dharam Manch is trying to give a better direction to the Bihar society.
Rizwan Ahmed Islahi says, "We have to understand each other's religious beliefs, slogans, civilization, and culture to improve the situation."
He says that today people get offended by small things like overtaking a person driving a vehicle of a different religion while driving becomes the cause of a major conflict. People are ready to quarrel over trivia. A person living in a civilized society - that includes people of all faiths - does not approve of such an environment."
He said that Sarva Dharma Manch Bihar is trying to rekindle the love and harmony for which India was once known. "India's Ganga-Jamini culture is an example and the hate is only because of the lack of understanding about each other's religion. Therefore, I believe that understanding each other and knowing each other's religions is important for love and goodwill."
Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi said that people should study each other's religious books. "We have adopted a method through which people share each other's happiness and sorrows. They are encouraged to participate in each other's religious, social, and community programs while remaining true to their religious beliefs."
According to Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi, Sarva Dharma Manch Bihar wants to create a religious Jan Morcha for the youth. "We are trying in this direction."
Rizwan Ahmad Islahi feels there is a need to focus on youth and women. Sarva Dharma Manch Behar invites them to come with him. There are great dharma gurus of all religions in this forum who want to eliminate hatred, anarchy, power, and hatred in society, and this is the greatest wealth for any country. If the structure of the society is good then the life of the people will be quite easy along with the development and construction of the country.
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He said that on various occasions we organize programs organized by Sarva Dharma Manch Bihar and people associated with this Manch meet every three months and review how to do more for the betterment of the society.
