World Religions Conference November 1957

Author(s): Sushil Muni
Publisher: Achal Singh Seth

Page 12

Background
How-so-ever there may be a prostitution of science in these days, the UNESCO has now accepted it as a matter of fact that science is not the sole privilege of any one country but it belongs to mankind in general and all are entitled to enjoy the fruits thereof. With this end in view, it has now been considered necessary to provide the benefits of atomic energy to everyone, particularly to such countries as are under-devloped and 'Atoms for Peace,' have come to occupy, a well-marked place in the economy of the world. In this way alone science can be harnessed to useful purposes for mankind and It cannot for ever remain an instrument of death, destruction and desolation.
Greatness Of Culture
It is a happy augury that in these days, culture is being given precedence over politics and we have come to recognize that through culture alone the entire mankind can be knit together into one fellowship transcending all limitations ; territorial, racial, economic and religious and the like, and that the cultural ties are far stronger than political relationships, with the result that a regular system of cultural advance is fast developing and coming into being. To bring into broad relief, the idea of universal brotherhood, we have started delving deep into the hoary past, to find out the traces of the cultural unity that once prevailed among the peoples of the world and for this purpose, our research is being directed to both historical facts and archaeological finds.
With the birth of UNESCO and its efforts in this direction, it is clear as broad day light that Man has not yet admitted defeat nor is despaired of his success. His failures are but stepping stones to progress. He is ever in search of a New Path. The question of questions, before us, is whether we cannot work with a will and carry on our experiments in the realm of Religion and Righteousness as we do, in the fields of education, science and culture. There is nothing to be despaired of, in our quest for Righteousness. We have not for ever divorced ourselves from Truth. We do not understand as to why politics be divorced from Righteousness and have considered the two as antagonistic? All the countries of the world with their various programmes of advancement : material and mental have, with one voice, come to the conclusion that religion has no place in politics, and is considered as a positive hindrance in their way. It is a pity that the Democratic Republic of our own country too, has accepted the religiously divorced politics as the only ideal state of things and a panacea for all the ills.
All this has, however, not been done without reason. It has come as a nemesis in the wake of certain events and we must think deeply and dispassionately over the same. It is this very thing that has led to the Inauguration of the World Religion's Conference and we have gathered together to consider over the matter.