The three-day International Interfaith Conference organized by City Montessori School, Asharfabad at CMS Kanpur Road auditorium came to a grand conclusion here today with firm resolve by participants to promote religious unity in the world. Religious gurus, intellectuals, educationists, judges and philosophers from nine countries of the world namely UK, Canada, Brazil, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia and India spoke unanimously that they will continue to make efforts to unite the whole world with the spiritual balm of religion and pave a new way for the younger generation based on love and trust of humanity. Earlier, CMS students enthralled the audience with a delightful array of educational-cultural items. The cultural presentations by the students also carried a flavour of Oneness of Mankind and Unity amidst diversity that forms an integral part of Indian culture and heritage.

Earlier, on the final day of the conference, two plenary sessions were held in which scholars spoke on the features of different religions, the underlying unity that unites all mankind as one human family, the misconceptions of religion and the need for harmony between various religions, all of which lead to the same God. In the morning session, the discussion began with the enlightening thoughts of the CMS Founder-Manager, Dr Jagdish Gandhi on ‘Role of School in Promoting Inter-faith Dialogue’. Dr Gandhi said that India has always been the ‘Jagat Guru’ spreading the light of World unity and World Brotherhood everywhere. Our culture is enrichened with the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ (the earth is but one family) and the feeling of Unity in Diversity. These thoughts must be spread in all corners of the globe as they are imperishable, eternal and everlasting. Dr Gandhi further stated that religion as a spiritual force, a way of life must be fully understood and practised instead of just soaking to the rituals. Religion of humanity is the best way to unite the world and this will lead to progress and upliftment of humankind, he said.

Taking Dr Jagdish Gandhi’s deep thoughts forward, Prof Mohammad Akhtar Siddiqui, Chairperson, NTSE, New Delhi said that education plays a vital role in bringing about religious unity and religions harmony. School is a place where children of different races, castes and creed sit and study together, play together and enjoy as a group. It is therefore important that lessons of religious unity and harmony must be given in childhood so that the foundation can be laid for a peaceful and prosperous society of the future. Mr Saran Srinivas, Programme Manger, Right Livelihood College, from Malaysia said that for understanding oneself and one’s own religion properly, one should try to learn about other people’s religions also. Religion is important for binding the society and upholding values that distinguish man from an animal. In the same way, Mr Nasri Marco, Ph.D., President & Founder, Sharm El Sheikh International Arbitration Centre, Egypt speaking on Tolerance and Hypocrisy’ said in today’s world, illiteracy has been causing conflicts and chaos everywhere. Therefore there is a need for the followers of different religions exchange their views and strive to establish religious unity. On this occasion several other dignitaries including Dr Nabil Abdel Fattah Mohamed, Asst to the Director of the Al Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, Egypt; Mr Mohamed Hassan El-Bana, Editing Manager, Al Akhbar Daily Newspaper, Egypt; Ms Zena Sorabjee, Vice-Chairperson, National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of India and others too enlightened the gathering with their learned views.

In the interactive session held in the afternoon session, the participating scholars from India and abroad discussed various aspects of the ‘Role of Teachers/Education’. The teachers and followers of different faiths presented their ideas in simple form through multimedia they showed on the occasion. Mr Michael de Salaberry, Former Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada presided over the proceedings of the afternoon session today. In his presidential address Mr Solaberry said that we must not run away from the difficulties but strive to solve them by developing our spiritual powers. He suggested inclusion of the education of life values in the school curriculum and said that we must imbibe universal values in our routine life. Mr Salaberry said that foundation for a global religion has already been laid and what is left is only to take it to the masses.

At the closing ceremony, Convener of International Interfaith Conference and Principal, CMS Asharfabad, Ms Archanaa Pande said that these great religious leaders and educationists have made a new public awareness with their enlightening and learned speeches delivered at this conference and it is with their participation in this conference that the school has assumed its real meaning as the place of pilgrimage. She expressed her faith that this light would have its reach all over the world and would enlighten the human mind with divine light. She said that the environment of friendship and unity thus created is the real achievement of this conference and this would indeed prove to be the real motivation behind developing values of brotherhood and fraternity in the future generation.

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