Let's celebrate differences': St Aloysius College holds inter-religious dialogue

[email protected] (CD Network)
December 9, 2016

Mangaluru, Dec 9: The department of Journalism of city based St Aloysius College (Autonomous) on Fridayorganized an interfaith dialogue on the topicLove and Forgiveness: Preached and Practiced'.

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The resource persons were Rev. Fr Pradeep Sequeira SJ, Finance Officer, St Aloysius College, Advocate Dayanath Kotian, President of Forum of Justice, and Manna Muhammed, Teacher at Madrasatul- Huda-Al-Islamiyyah.

Dr Alwyn D'Sa, Vice-Principal of Arts and BCA faculty presided over. The students and the resource persons engaged in an open discussion towards the end of the session.

“It's not the religion that matters; it is humanity that matters,” said Dayanath Kotian. He addressed the gathering asFriends and Divine ones' and sad: “We are part and parcel of the divine cosmic soul and hence all people are one.” He concluded quoting from the Bhagvath Gita and stressed Hinduism envelopes all; haves, have-nots, believers and non-believers.

Mr. Manna Muhammed gave an Islamic perspective based on the teachings of Prophet Muhammed and quoted the Holy Quran. In the context of terrorism, he quoted the verse,If anyone killed an innocent person it is as if he has killed the entire humanity and if he saves one life it is as if he has saved the entire humanity'. He highlighted that Islam condemns abusing Gods of other religions and encouraged religious solidarity.

According to Christianity,God is Love' andForgiving is an attitude of the strong and not the weak,' opined Fr Pradeep Sequeira SJ. He promoted the idea that love is to be spent for the betterment of others. The concluding statement, “Don't use people to love your religion, use your religion to love people” invoked the ideals of religious harmony.

Dr Alwyn D'Sa, in his presidential address encouraged all not to just tolerate but to celebrate their differences. Joyson, student co-ordinator welcomed the gathering. Michelle, College President delivered the vote of thanks.

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Comments

Fairman
 - 
Saturday, 10 Dec 2016

This is very important to know some basic points on religion before in depth analysis.

- What is religion.
- Why is it required.

Then you will have answer to all questions, also you will have minimal gap among all religions. OR the gap can be totally eradicated and bridged.

1. What is religion.
It is the way of life set by the CREATOR. Simply it is the full guidance to follow our every aspect of life from birth until death. With this guidance only, we will be able to success in this world and in the next world which is for ever and ever.

So when all of we say there is only 1 God. Also we believe in death and the life after the death. We call it as Swarg and Narak.
That is paradise and hell.
These above are the common belief of all religious groups.

So how can be there more than 1religion. First we close this question then only we can talk anything on the topic.

2. Why is it required
As it is a full guidance, it shows right path to success in this world and the next permanent life which is after the death, where there will be no death again.
The status of that life is based on our performance in this life.

Once the God has created us then it is HIS right to test us whether we follow his instruction in his so called religion. It is required for us to know whether we follow we follow his religion as per HIS order OR we don't follow it as per his order.

Therefore it is everybody's duty to find out where is that true, right religion which will make us successful here and hereafter.

Christianity and Islam has the close link. these 2 religions can be merged easily, if some efforts are exerted.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 29: Seven new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Karnataka since Saturday 5 pm to 2 pm on Sunday.

The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 83, out of which five have been cured/discharged and three have lost their lives, according to the Karnataka Health Department.

A total of 979 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.

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Ram Puniyani
June 29,2020

In Minneapolis, US an African American, George Floyd lost his life as the white policeman, Derek Chauvin, caught hold of him and put his knee on his neck. This is a technique developed by Israel police. For nine long minutes the knee of the while policeman was on the neck of George, who kept shouting, I can’t breathe.

Following this gruesome murder America erupted with protests, ‘Black lives matter’. The protestors were not just African Americans but also a large section of whites. Within US one police Chief apologized for the act of this. In a touching gesture of apology the police force came on its knees. This had reverberations in different parts of the World.

The act was the outcome of the remnants of the racial hatred against blacks by the whites. It is the hatred and the perceptions which are the roots of such acts of violence. What was also touching that the state of democracy in US is so deep that even the police apologized, the nation, whites and blacks, stood up as a sensitive collective against this violence.

US is not the only country where the brutal acts of violence torment the marginalized sections of society. In India there is a list of dalits, minorities and adivasis who are regularly subjected to such acts. But the reaction is very different. We have witnessed the case of Tabrez Ansari, who was tied to the pole by the mob and beaten ruthlessly. When he was taken to police station, police took enough time to take him to hospital and Tabrez died.

Mohsin Sheikh, a Pune techie was murdered by Hindu Rashtra Sena mob, the day Modi came to power in 2014. Afrazul was killed by Shambhulal Regar, videotaped the act released on social media. Regar believed that Muslims are indulging in love Jihad, so deserve such a fate. Mohammad Akhlaq is one among many names who were mob lynched on the issue of beef cow. The list can fill pages after pages.

Recently a young dalit boy was shot dead for the crime of entering a temple. In Una four dalits were stripped above waste and beaten mercilessly. Commenting on this act the Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan commented that it is a minor incident. Again the list of atrocities against dalits is long enough. The question is what Paswan is saying is the typical response to such gruesome murders and tortures. In US loss of one black life, created the democratic and humane response. In India there is a general silence in response to these atrocities. Some times after a good lapse of time, the Prime Minister will utter, ‘Mother Bharati has lost a son’. Most of the time victim is blamed. Some social groups raise their voice in some fora but by and large the deafening silence from the country is the norm.

India is regarded as the largest democracy. Democracy is the rule of law, and the ground on which the injustices are opposed. In America though the present President is insensitive person, but its institutions and processes of democratic articulations are strong. The institutions have deepened their roots and though prejudices may be guiding the actions of some of the officers like the killer of George, there are also police officers who can tell their President to shut up if he has nothing meaningful to say on the issue. The prejudices against Blacks may be prevalent and deep in character, still there are large average sections of society, who on the principles of ‘Black lives matter’. There are large sections of vocal population who can protest the violation of basic norms of democracy and humanism.

In India by contrast there are multiple reasons as to why the lives of Tabrez Ansari, Mohammad Akhlaq, Una dalit victims and their likes don’t matter. Though we claim that we are a democracy, insensitivity to injustices is on the rise. The strong propaganda against the people from margins has become so vicious during last few decades that any violence against them has become sort of a new normal. The large populace, though disturbed by such brutalities, is also fed the strong dose of biases against the victims. The communal forces have a great command over effective section of media and large section of social media, which generates Hate against these disadvantaged groups, thereby the response is muted, if at all.

As such also the process of deepening of our democracy has been weak. Democracy is a dynamic process; it’s not a fixed entity. Decades ago workers and dalits could protest for their rights. Now even if peasants make strong protests, dominant media presents it as blocking of traffic! How the roots of democracy are eroded and are visible in the form where the criticism of the ruling dispensation is labelled as anti National..

Our institutions have been eroded over a period of time, and these institutions coming to the rescue of the marginalized sections have been now become unthinkable. The outreach of communal, divisive ideology, the ideology which looks down on minorities, dalits and Adivasis has risen by leaps and bounds.

The democracy in India is gradually being turned in to a hollow shell, the rule of law being converted in to rule of an ideology, which does not have faith in Indian Constitution, which looks down upon pluralism and diversity of this country, which is more concerned for the privileges of the upper caste, rich and affluent. The crux of the matter is the weak nature of democracy, which was on way to become strong, but from decades of 1980s, as emotive issues took over, the strength of democracy started dwindling, and that’s when the murders of the types of George Floyd, become passé. One does complement the deeper roots of American democracy and its ability to protect the democratic institutions, which is not the case in India, where protests of the type, which were witnessed after George Floyd’s murder may be unthinkable, at least in the present times. 

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News Network
March 2,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 2: BJP leader and Karnataka cabinet minister BS Sriramulu's daughter Rakshita's wedding will take place with Sanjeev Reddy here on March 5. The nine-day function will cost crores of rupees.

For the wedding, decorations and arrangements are being done at Sriramulu's home here.

The reception will take place in Bengaluru Palace Ground on March 5.

"I couldn't invite you all in person but I tried to welcome you all. Through the media, I am again inviting you all. We are not performing a pretentious wedding. I invite you all on March 5 at Palace Ground," Sriramulu said.

After BJP leader Janardhan Reddy's daughter's marriage in Bengaluru Palace Ground, the marriage of Sriramulu's daughter is being considered one of the costliest marriages in Karnataka's history.

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