CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

1-Historical Delhi Interfaith Conference

The Interfaith Conference was organized by the Centre on 31^st October, 2017in the Constitution Club of India.The Conference was held in the Deputy Speakers Hall which usually has capacity of 120 persons. But  the Conference was jam-packed with more than 150 delegates, all consisting of elite  Faith leaders, religious scholars, University Professors and representatives of Interfaith organizations. There were only a handful of A.M.U students in traditional sherwanis  as volunteers. Gyananand ji Maharaj., one of the top spiritual leaders of India  He congratulated Aligarh Muslim University for establishing the Interfaith Centre and organizing this Programme: Swami Shantatmanandji, President of Ramakrishna Mission in North India and Delhi also felicitated AMU and said: The main problem is that we speak about religion but do not experience it.

Shree Vrejendra Nandan Das Vice President of  ISKCON International  said: This is a wonderful programme and such meetings should be organized everywhere to promote unity of mankind and the national integration. Acharya Dr Lokesh Muni ji  a top Jain dharma guru of the country, , said: Aligarh Muslim University has taken a commendable initiative and said: I We should learn tolerance and respecting other Faiths. There should be different identities but no conflict . Religion teaches uniting mankind, not dividing.  Swami Shri Hariprasad, chief of Vishnu Mohan Foundation, and from  Chennai said: Religion is one and its essence is love. Focus of all religions is  on character-building If individuals do not have good character, how they can reform society. Giyani Rajinder Singh,  quoted verses and poems from Guru Granth sahab to elucidate this point and said: God is of all persons, and is in all places of worship. wami Vivek , said:Muni ji, famous Jain faith , Dr Jeet Ram Bhat, famous scholar of Sanskrit and Secretary of Sanskrit and Hindi Academy , Mr. Sachin Gupta, Chancellor Sanskriti University, Mathura, Prof. Merajuddin, Vice Chancellor of Central University of  Kashmir (CUK), Sri Prof. P. N. Shastry, Vice Chancellor, Rashtrya Sanskrit Sansthan also addressed the Conferencewuh sab ka baap hai,  kisi ke baap ka naheen.  Dr Karunasheel Rahul Bhikku Lama, the Buddhist leader of Dhamma Movement congratulated AMU for establishing this Centre.
Today our problem is that we have intense prejudice about our religious identity but do not try to understand or practice our own religion.
Hazrat Maulana Kalbe Sadiq sahib, Hazrat Maulana Mahmood Madani, Mufti Mukarram sahib Raja of Mahmoodabad, SHead Priest, Gurdwara Sisganj, Chandni  Chowk

2. Symposium on

‘Ways to promote Interfaith Understanding

                   

The Centre for Inter-Faith Understanding, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) organized a symposium and Penal Discussion on "Ways to promote Inter-faith Understanding". Swami Shri Hari Prasad of Vishnu Mohan Foundation, Chennai was the chief guest while AMU Pro Vice Chancellor Prof M H Beg presided over the function.

3. International Seminar on

Family System in World    Religions

  

The International Seminar on Family System in World Religions” was organized by Centre for Interfaith Understanding, Aligarh Muslim University , in collaboration with Al-Mustafa International University on 13-14th February, 2019.This was one of the most memorable and biggest Seminars at Aligarh Muslim University in the Academic year 2018-19.

             

The Inaugural Function, attended by a galaxy of top Faith leaders and scholars  from India and Iran, was held in the J.N Medical Auditorium which was overflowing. from 10 AM to 1 PM.

 After a working Lunch, the Plenary Session was held in the beautiful Assembly Hall of University Polytechnic (Boys). In this Function also, the Hall remained full for more than three hours. Hujjatull Islam wal Muslimeen Mohammad Reza Saleh, Chief of Al Mustafa International University (India Brach) delivered Inaugural Address. His Excellency Dr. Ali Chegeni, (Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran) was the Chief Guest. Dr. Alamul Huda , very peminent Iranian personality,   Head, Institute for Science and Technology Studies, Shaheed Baheshti University, Tehran , Swami Shantatmanand ji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi, Rev. Father Dr. Packiam. T. Samuel, Director, Henry Martin Institute, Hyderabad, Shree  Dr. Karunasheel  Rahul , (Buddhist Religious Leader) , Shree Vijendra  Nandan Das, National Director, ISKCON Communications, India, Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimeen  Syed Mahmood Madani , (Vice Chancellor, Jamiat-uz Zahra, Qom, Iran

   The Plenary Session was held in the Assembly Hall of the University Polytechnic after Lunch.

Chief Guest Dr  Ms Alamul Huda, Ayatullah Saleh, Hujjatul Islam Marviyan, Swami Agnianandi, Prof Rashid Shaz, Prof. Dr. Habib Raza,  Prof. Mubarak Husain, Dr. Muhibbul Haq, Prof. Shakil  Samdani , Dr Ahmad Mujataba Siddiqui, Dr Raza Abbas  and Dr Kausar Fatima participated

                

   The Valedictory Session was held in the Assembly Hall of University Polytechnic on 14^th February 2019 at 3, PM. It was again well attended . The Valedictory Session was addressed by Faith-leaders-Lama Chosphel Zotspa, Giyani  Rajinder Singh, Swami Agnianandi, Dr Debesh Arya, Shree Naresh Kumar Sharma, and Mufti Shamoon Qasmi . Among University Scholars, Prof. A. R. Kidwai, Prof. Saud Alam Qasmi, Prof. Touqueer Alam, Mufti Zahid Ali Khan,,Prof. Obaidullah Fahd and addressed. Prof. Ali Mohammad Naqvi welcomed and presented the Report, Dr. Ahmad Mujtaba Siddiqui conducted and Dr. M. Shahid moved the Vote of Thanks

4.International Webinar on

THE Role OF FAITH IN FACING CRISES

(What Religion can offer to the Post-Covid World?)

              

The International Webinar on  was held on 26^th September, 2020.    Professor Tariq Mansoor, Humble Vice Chancellor , A.M.U,  presided, Gurudev  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Dr Haddad Adel (Iran) and Hazrat Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi  were our Chief Guests

Dr Moosa Raza, IAS, Padam Bhushan l delivered  the  Keynote Address. Prominent personalities and religious leaders were among speakers

The Inaugural Session of this International Webinar was held from 1-30 AM to 11-45 AM.  The Honourable Vice Chancellor of AMU, Professor Tariq Mansoor presided this function. Luminaries such as- Gurudev  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art for Living, His Excellency Dr Haddad Adel- eminent Iranian Philosopher and leader, ex Speaker of Iran’s Parliament,  Hazrat Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi, ex-Rector of Darul  Uloom Deoband, Janab Musa Raza , IAS, Padam Bhushan,  Prof  Ramesh Kumar Pandey, Vice Chancellor Central Sanskrit University, Delhi, Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood, President Zakat Foundation of India and Dr Aquil Ahmad, Director National Council for Promotion of Urdu delivered address in the Inaugural Session.

Prof. Ali Mohammad Naqvi, Director of Dara Shikoh Centre for Interfaith Understanding and Dialogue, welcomed the guests. Prof. Akbar Husain, ex Dean, Faculty of Social Science and the Coordinator of this Webinar, presented summary of the Session. Mohammad Shahid, Deputy Director, Sir Syed Academy proposed the vote of Thanks. Husain in Haider of Sir Syed Academy conducted the Session

Presiding the function, Prof. Tariq Mansoor, the Vice Chancellor said: The respect of each other’s faith is the hall mark of a civilized society. Dialogue is a key to Interfaith Understanding. Potential differences and political differences have to be there in a democracy. But there should not be social schism. We must avoid social divisions in our society because it will be very counter-productive. We must all work together to bridge the divisions among various sections of society.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji said: There are different ways of worship, but there is only one god. This brings love and harmony in the world. Therefore it is a duty of all of us to take the message of interfaith harmony to all. World is one family. Challenges do come in life but we should pray together, humanity is one. World is one family. This message we have to give to the whole world. This count India always has stood with this ideal of vasudev kutamabkum. We want to win over everybody not with dominance but with love and care

People use the world tolerance and say we should have tolerance towards all faiths but we should not use world 'tolerance' but say we should honour each other’s faith. You tolerate `something you do not like it. It comes from a space of dislike. But the correct approach is appreciation, honour and understanding the virtue of all faiths.

He said: Violence has no place in any religious perspective. No religious person can think about violence as love of God is necessarily reflected in love for humanity. Thus this interfaith dialogue says to the world that those who are engaging in conflicts and violence call them to wake up look God does not approve of violence. Islam says that even if a single person is hurt, the whole humanity is inflicted with hurt. This is the declaration by the Holy Qur'an. The same is said in Veda. Among the 5 pillars of yoga, the first is ahimsa, non valance. It is only through this one reaches to salvation

Dr Haddad Adel, Eminent Iranian Philosopher and former Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, said: Whether we like it or not it is a fact that the world is full of pain and suffering. Pain brings some kind suffering to individuals. Some times to collectivity, known as social suffering. As crisis as natural

Contrary to progress in science and technology, our present civilization has not decreased war or suffering in human life. One can say more progress in science and technology has resulted in more efficient killings and more destructive wars.

Pandemic of corona shows weakness of medicine and has caused severe crisis in human society. We are not denying the role of science and technology and medical devices. It should be considered a complimentary aspect of it

Hazrat Gholam Mohammad Vastanvi, Eminent Islamic ‘Alim and former Rector of Darul Uloom , Deoband, said: To save lives is a religious duty in Islam. The Governments have the right to make special legislation to achieve this end in the situation of pandemics. Though life and death is in the hand of God, but He has directed that all precautions took be scrupulously taken. Thus, limiting individual freedoms, lockdown, curfew all is in accordance with the teachings of Islamic shariah.

Mr Moosa Raza, Padam Bhushan, IAS (Rtrd), (Chairman of the South Indian Educational Trust) said: The Quran also says that you can call God by any name because all the name of God are Asma al-Husna they are all beautiful names of God. One of the famous Rabbis of England Dr. Sebastian called his  book ‘ the Dignity of Difference.’ Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Shinto religion, all are different;  there are differences in laws,  in rituals, and many other things.  We have to recognize and  understand the dignity of this difference. 

Prof. Ramesh Kumar Panday, Vice Chancellor, Central Sanskrit University, Delhi, said:

Hazrat Salman Chishti, Gaddinashin of Ajmer Shareef, Dr Zafar Mahmood, President Zakat Foundation, Prof B.N Sharma, prominent Law Professor, Prof. Rajveer Singh Mr Ramish Siddiqe also delivered speechesProf Iqbal Ali Khan and Dr Mohammad Nasir of Faculty of Law were the chair and Co-Chair of the Plenary Session.,