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A Multi-Cultural Vision of the 21st Century
DR. L.M. SINGVI
I have chosen a subject this morning which is of importance to the future of mankind and to the legacy that we can bequeath from this parliament to the future years of this century and the next. When the last parliament was held the Chairman of Parliament in 1893 made a statement which was the opening address of the parliament of religions on 11th of September, 1893. And I think it is important for us to recall the voices of 1893 in 1993 so that in the remaining years of this century and in the decades, the first few decades of 21st century, we must carry forward the legacy of 1893 in the context of our time and age. I read this in order to underline the points that we have moved from mutual respect to a sense of greater reciprocity and communication. I quote from that address of 11th of September 1893.
We meet mountain height of absolute respect for the religious convictions of each other and an earnest desire for better knowledge of the consolations which other form of the faith offer to their devotees. The very basis of our convocation, the idea that the representatives of each religion sincerely believe it is the truest and best of all than that they will, therefore, hear with perfect tender and without fear the convictions of other sincere souls on the great question of immortal life issue.
There is one phrase with which I join. The phrase is the very basis of this convocation. The idea the representatives of each religion sincerely believe it is the truest and the best of all, I think there is some difficulty. These difficulties have unfolded themselves and have become increasingly evident in the last hundred years. It starts with the proposition that my point of view is the truest and best of all. You start with the corollary that other points of view are somewhat lacking in that excellence, in that degree of truth, which you claim that your point of view possess. The
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