Prabuddha Jivan 2009 Year 19 Ank 01 to 12 - Ank 03 is not available

SR No.: 525994
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dhanvant Shah
Publisher: Mumbai Jain Yuvak Sangh
Publication Year: 2009
Total Pages: 320
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Prabuddha Jivan, & India
File Size: 5 MB

Page 211

3124612, 2000
પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવન
realisation of God.
While observing the auspicious period of Paryushan, let us reaffirm our commiments to practising eternal values like love, brotherhood, compassion, caring and sharing towards our fellow human beings and other living beings. Sisters and Brothers,
I shall now briefly discuss the challenges before us as a nation, the need to preserve India's plural character and secu- larism, the need for interfaith dialogue and now citizens could act as an instrument for building peace and rapproachment.
India has always been an inclusive, open multi-cultural, multi lingual and multi ethnic society. This is a land where some of the greatest religions of the world, namely Hinduism Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism were born and prospered. The Parsis and the Jews found India to be the most recep- tive land to practice their unique religion and cultural tradi- tions. They have been living in India for centuries without any presecution and are contributing to its socio-economic and cultural richness.
The most important characteristics of India is its unity in diversity. We have never attempt to thrust uniformity on oth- ers or dilute diversity. India has always believed in a com- posite culture where individual identities are always respected.
Our Constitution makers very rightly chose to maintain this identity of India by making is a 'Secular' State, where every religion and faith would be respected. The Constitution guartanteed every individual the right to profess, practice and propagate (his or her) religion'.
The late Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi had said, and I quote, 'Secularism is the bedrock of our nationhood. It implies more than tolerance. It involves an active effort of harmony.' (unquote)
Today at a time when India is emerging as a leading country of the world, the biggest challenge facing the nation is to maintain its rich pluralistic heritage and secular fabric of the country.
If terrorism and fundamentalism are challenges facing the world, we in India are facing, in addition to these, a few more, and perhaps equally dangerous, challenges like casteism, linguistic hegemony, naxalism and regionalism. If left unattended these problems could pose a threat to our unity and national integration.
At this crucial juncture, members of the Jain community, which is one of the strongest votaries of peace, should be at the vanguard to restore peace and the spirit of brotherhood among different communities.
Globalisation has made the world a small village. As religious communities and as nations, our future is now inextricably linked to one another. Along with globlisation has come the worldwide movement of people from one place to another, both within the country and among the countries. All over the world people of different religious live together, in mixed societies. The map of the world cannot be colour-coded based on
Hindu. Christian or Muslim identity, but each part of the world is now patterned with the colours and textures of the whole. these trends have made religious relations a pressing issue in many countries.
In today's world we cannot afford to be ignorant of one another, or to have enmities between different faiths. Extremist groups are seizing every opportunity to sow distrust and hatred in peace loving communities. They are perverting and abusing religion to radicalise attitudes, justify violence and brainwash young members. To root out the stereotypes and prejudices that form the fault lines in a multi-religious society like India, it is crucial to have a process of dialogue and engagement. Such dialogue is not aimed at achieving agreement, but at building relationship. When we get to know one another, we not only appreciate how others in different religious communities encounter the divine, but also enhance our understhanding of our own religion. In the process, we widen the common ground, which we all share together. It is all the more necessary for today's youth, men and women to know about the different religious and understand their teachings so that there will be better understanding among the people and societies.
I take this opportunity to urge the Jain Yuvak Sangh to institutionalise interfaith dialogue and organise interaction meeting among religious leaders at different levels. We should build these linkages now when conditions are tranquil, and relations are not under stress. Then in times of crises, we will have a strong and resilient network to hold our society together.
Indians have traditionally learnt to trust one another, and to accomodate each other's different customs, traditions and ways of life. We must continue with this pragmatic and responsible approach, and work together as partners for a common cause. Only then can we keep our society cohesive, and keep our country social and harmonious for many more years to come.
I wish all of you my warm greetings on the occasion of Paryushan Parva and thank the Jain Yuvak Sangh for associating me with this wonderful occasion.
૨૫ મી સંસ્થા માટે અનુદાન
લોક વિધાલય - વાળુકડ આ વર્ષની વ્યાખ્યાનમાળા પ્રસંગે તીર્થભૂમિ પાલીતાણા પાસેના વાળુકડ, ગામના શ્રી વિનય વિહાર કેળવણી મંડળ સંચાલિત-લોક વિદ્યાલયને આર્થિક અનુદાન આપવા માટે જૈન સમાજને આ સંસ્થાએ વિનંતી કરી હતી.
જૈન સમાજે આ વિનંતિનો ઉષ્મા અને ઉત્સાહભર્યો પ્રતિસાદ આપી આજ સુધી લગભગ વીસ લાખનું અનુદાન પ્રાપ્ત થયું છે અને હજી પત્ર-પોસ્ટ દ્વારા અનુદાન આવી રહ્યું છે. | સર્વે દાતાઓની પૂરી વિગતો અમે ઓક્ટોબર અંકમાં પ્રગટ કરીશું.સર્વે દાતાઓને ધન્યવાદ.
- મેનેજર