Report
on
International Conference Towards a Culture of Peace
Organsied By
Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago, USA

New Delhi, December 7-10-2003

New Delhi, December 11, 2003: A major religious gathering convened by the Delhi Pence summit and the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, concluded its three-day deliberations yesterday in New Delhi with the Valedictory function at the auspicious spot where Mahatma Gandhi fell to an assassin's bullet in January 1948. As a prelude to the upcoming fourth Parliament of the World's Religions to be held in Barcelona, Spain, in July 2004, this Mini-Parliament of religious leaders and peace activists attracted nearly 70 delegates from 18 countries and 250 from the rest of India including Delhi. Its deliberations were considered vital both by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, and the Dalai Lama. From the very beginning India's contribution to the deliberations of the Parliament of the World's Religions has been significant. If the spiritual hero from India for the 1893 Parliament was Swami Vivekananda then the subsequent Parliaments have also witnessed the presence and impact created by host of outstanding religious scholars and leaders from the country.

While inaugurating the Summit at the Ashok Hotel on 7th December evening Dr. Kalam welcomed the initiative and summarized the plural character of the Indian society. He stressed at length the need for the organisers and participants to take the message of harmony and peace to the 30 crores people in the country who are below the age of twenty.

Earlier while welcoming the delegates Dr. Mohinder Singh, Organising Secretary of the conference referred to India's unique distinction of not only being the birthplace of four major religious traditions -Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism but also being home to five of other religious traditions -Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Bahai Faith. He mentioned that in a pluralistic society like India we need to remember the message of the great Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramahans who suggested that "the aim of each religion was comparable to climbing the stairs of one's house. Once you reach the roof, you see the same sky, stars, planets and the heavens."

In his introduction to the theme Shri Jagmohan, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, reminded the participants Swami Vivekananda's speech in the first Parliament of World Religions held on 11th September 1893 in Chicago:

"I am proud to belong to a nation, which has sheltered the persecuted, and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth……..I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from hymn which I remember to have repeated millions my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings. 'As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so 0 Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked straight, all lead to Thee... ."

Dr. Karan Singh stressed the need to strengthen the inter-faith movement throughout the world.

While presenting the Mission Statement of the conference Dr. Dirk Ficca, Executive Director of the Parliament of World' s Religions, read the following Mission Statement:

"To invigorate the conscience of all the people of the world, regardless of religion, creed and ethnicity through a gathering of those who will seek to transform the hearts and minds of people and help promote culture of peace and healing. At a four day conference to be held in New Delhi it is proposed to invite men and women from India and abroad for the affirmation of above values and to leave a legacy of spirited groups of people in every state and of every religion and spiritual community who will speak out with a united voice against intolerance, prejudice, violence and injustice particularly in times of stress and communal violence and to work together for Social and Economic Justice, Harmony and Peace." 

The Valedictory Address by His Holiness The Dalai Lama was followed by a moving cultural performance and the ceremonial lighting of candles by each of the delegates and members led by the Dalai Lama who placed the first candle at the spot where Mahatma Gandhi fell to an assassin's bullet. Former President of India, Shri R.Venkataraman, Shri Jagmohan-Minister for Tourism and Culture, Government of India, Mr. A.M. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India, Dr. Karan Singh and Dr. L.M. Singhvi, M.Ps., well-known Gandhian Dr.Nirmala Deshpande, Lady Diane Goldin and Dr.Dirk Ficca from Chicago and religious leaders of the nine major religions of the world also addressed the assemblage of delegates and guests during the three-days deliberations. Ms. Ela Gandhi, grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, who traveled all the way from South Africa, revived the nostalgia of Mahatma Gandhi's passion for Hindu-Muslim unity.

Representatives from the United Nations, other major International Association for Religious Freedom, United Religions Initiative, World Congress of Faiths, the Temple of Understanding, participated in the deliberations of the conference. At the end of the conference a Call for Solidarity was read by Dr. B.S. Hansra, Trustee of the Parliament of World's Religions, Chicago, and greeted by a larger number of participants including religious heads, scholars and statesmen from allover the world.

Three hundred persons gathered to express their solidarity, support and willingness to translate into practical reality Swami Vivekananda' s legacy to the far corners of India with the support of Dr. T.O. Singh from the east, Shri Saidas Babaji from the west, Father Albert Nambiaparambil from the south and Dr. Ausaf Ali, Dr. A. K. Merchant and Dr. Nirmala Deshpande from the north all of whom had worked tirelessly for the past one year to organise the Summit with support from Indian Trustees of the C.P.W.R., Dr. B.S. Hansra, Dr. Rahul Dipankar, Dr. Hama Pokharna, Ms. Mazhar Ahmad and Mr. Rohinton Rivetna.

His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who inaugurated the Summit led the delegates in prayer to affirm the spirit of respect and understanding for all.

"Oh Almighty, create thoughts and actions
in the minds of the people of the nation
So that they live united.

Oh Almighty, bless the people
To take a path of life with righteousness
As righteousness gives the strength of character.

Help all religious leaders of the country to
give strength to the people to combat the divisive forces.
Guide the people to develop an attitude to appreciate different
Ideologies and transform enmity among individuals,
Organizations and nations, into friendliness and harmony.

Embed the thought 'Nation is bigger than the Individual'
In the minds of the leaders and people.

Oh God, bless the people to work with perseverance to
Transform the country into a peaceful and prosperous nation
And promote world peace."

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For further information , contact

Dr. Mohinder Singh
Delhi Peace Summit 
C/O. Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan
Bhai Vir Singh Marg, New Delhi-110001. 
Tel: 011-23746641/23363510
Fax: 011-2374-4347
www.cpwr.org
Emil: parliament_religion@rediffmail.com
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