Youngsters must neglect minor religious issues: Fr Ronnie Prabhu at SIO rally

Mangalore, November 3:  There is a need for youngsters to learn to give priority to the important things in religion and neglect those issues which are of lesser importance, said Fr Ronnie Prabhu, Assistant Bishop, Mangalore.

He was speaking at a rally organised by the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) calling for communalism-free campuses, in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Mangalore on Saturday.

There is a growing interest among students of today in matters of religion, Fr Prabhu said, stating that although it is a good development, there is a need to prioritise issues.

“There is a reawakening of religious sentiment today, especially in youth, which is a good thing considering that the world is drifting towards atheism. But blindness and fanaticism is also coming in with this religious awakening. Hating people of other faiths to consider yourself a good Christian, Muslim or a Hindu is not right. Every religion has issues which are of greater importance and some of lesser importance. People must not give prominence to the minor issues. It is these minor issues that became cause for divisions in Christianity too”, he said.

Fr Prabhu also said that people must respect each other's faith and follow their respective religions without causing harm to the people of other religious communities.

Mohammed Azharuddin, President, SIO, said that classrooms are places where destiny of the country is shaped but unfortunately campuses of today are witnessing growth of undemocratic attitude and extremism. There is a need to accept plurality and polarization only divides the society, he said. People must do away with the communitarian approach and adopt the universal approach, he said.

Mohammed Kunhi, Manager, Shanthi Prakashana, Mangalore, in his address said that multi-culturalism must be considered India's strength rather than taking it as the country's weakness. Stating that it is the capitalist ideology which advocates suppressing of the powerless, Mr. Kunhi said that  capitalist ideology is the root cause of growing communal unrests in the country. “India did not have any connection with Israel earlier. Neither Gandhi nor Nehru preferred to have any ties with Israel. But ever since India became a slave of capitalism, its ties with Israel grew, so much so that the intelligence of two countries started working together. It was after that link got stronger was the Babri Masjid demolished and several other communal unrests took place”, he said.

Raising the issue of burqa in college campuses, Mr. Kunhi said that educational institutions today are practicing extremism. “An educational institution is making girl students take off their robes out on the streets. The same people, who oppose obscenity and carried out homestay attack, are against girls covering themselves up. Burqa is a sign of civilized society. Man without clothes has been referred to as uncivilized. But people want to oppose this sign of civility. Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to ban burqa in France but a year later he had to welcome Tawakkal Karman, a Yemeni Nobel Prize winning burqa clad woman”, he said.

Abdullah Javed, State President, JIH, Karnataka, Ashfaq Ahmed Shareef, President, SIO, Karnataka, were present among others.