PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR UNIVERSAL
ADOPTION OF THE INDIAN IDEAL OF RESPECT FOR ALL FAITHS
INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ‘DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILISATIONS: QUEST FOR NEW PERSPECTIVES’
INAUGURATED
The Prime Minister,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee today suggested that ideal of Sarva
Pantha Samabvhava’- respect for all faiths, which is enshrined
in India’s Constitution, should be accepted by all countries of
the World. Tolerance, he said should become a global ideal. This
would go a long way in promoting understanding, cooperation and
peace among peoples belonging to different faiths and cultures.
Inaugurating
the International Conference on Dialogue Among Civilizations :
Quest for New Perspectives, here today, the Prime Minister, called
for working towards confluence of civilizations. At the same time,
he emphasized upon the need for "The Culture of Dialogue"
at National level so that contentious issues can be resolved amicably
through talks. He added, "Dialogue is an essential part of
democracy. Democracy both requires and mandates dialogue. The
more a nation can harmonise differences at home, the greater will
be its ability to contribute to a dialogue at the international
level."
The Prime Minister
said that it was a fitting tribute to India’s longstanding tradition
of tolerance that the Zoroastrians, a prominent minority community
were holding an exhibition to herald the celebrations of the 3000th
Year of Zoroastrianism, to coincide with this Conference.
Addressing the
Conference, the Minister for Human Resource Development, Science
& Technology and Ocean Development, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi
stated that today we stand at a new stage in the progress of the
human civilization where intolerance and aggression are obstacles;
that these obstacles are endangered by ignorance, and that
this ignorance can
best be cleared by a new mode of awareness and a new mode of action
that promotes diversity, interchange, assimilation, synthesis
and enrichment. Dialogue is the most effective means towards this
end. It should also be made clear that a true and sincere dialogue
aims not only at tolerance of diversity but at respecting this
diversity, he added.
The Minister
pointed out that India has a long tradition of fostering dialogue
among different communities, cultures and civilizations. It has
interacted with the World, and its Scholars and Monks have carried
this tradition to different parts of the globe. It presents a
unique and ennobling experience of spiritual co-existence.
Dr. Joshi stated
that concerted action was needed towards development of a curriculum
that can bring home to the students important lessons, such as,
the entire humanity shares one basic impulse towards progress;
that humanity in its mature developments, tends to reject uniformity
and adopts the law of unity that permits and respects cultural
diversities; and that the future progress of humankind is bound
up with the development of a new science and art of living together,
which necessitates adherence to the law of mutuality rather than
conflict and the law of varied expressions rather than any uniform
monotone. Education is the most powerful instrument for preparing
a mind which can promote the culture of dialogue, he said.
On the occasion,
Director General, UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura underlined the
importance of recognizing that after the cold war coming to an
end,
new tensions, uncertainties
and conflicts began to appear on the international scene. He added
that the task in this meeting would be search for new perspectives
on dialogue among civilizations in light of events and developments
occurring at the start of the 21st Century.
The Conference
is being attended by the Ministers and Delegates from over 50
countries, besides philosophers, academicians and representatives
of International Organisations. During the two-day Conference
discussions will be held by 3 sub-groups on the themes of education
and cultural diversity : instruments of global dialogue; science
and technology, humanities and social sciences : the new frontiers
for global unity and connectivity between civilizations ; and
ethical and spiritual values
underlying the dialogue
of civilizations. A Delhi Declaration will be issued at the end
of the Conference tomorrow.
