World Religions Conference November 1957

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

Page 63

Zia-ud-din Babakhanov delegate from Russia this World Conference of all Religions. I am thankful to you all on behalf of myself, my country and my Government, for such an august gathering as this has a unique importance.
I have firm faith and belief that this Conference will deeply think over the problem of developing and strengthening the silken bonds of love, goodwill and amity that may unite Man with Man and God with His creation. I am glad that India and the Government of India have both welcomed the Conference and along with it, the delegates from all over the world. Once again I present to you all my compliments and the comlpiments from my countrymen and particularly from my Muslim brethern over there. I am glad that my friend Muni Sushil Kumar ji has invited us to this gathering of religious leaders and I pray God may grant him strength and vigour to dedicate all his life to such noble works. The object of this Conference is to wake up the inner urge in Man so that he may see the inner unity prevailing everywhere and be a witness unto the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. God through the prophet spoke "If you want Allah to love you, you must first learn to love His Creation." Again It is said, "We form one great family of God and God loves him the most who does greatest good to His people". Christ also said, "Love thy enemies as thy-self and even those that hate you and persecute you and be a model of perfection unto others".
We have to consider in this Conference the ways and means whereby we can unite mankind one common level irrespective of our socioreligious creeds and beliefs and seeming differences in our modes of life and conduct due to different climatic conditions and the regional environments in which we live. It augurs well that all of us: Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Zorastrians and others are engaged in common deliberations for the uplift of humanity as a whole. If we were to cast a look on the past. we would certainly see instances Illustrative of mutual help and respect that our religious leaders had for one another in spite of, our colour and racial distinctions. Islam emphasised that Man was but Man, no matter what religion he professed or followed, for he was after all a descendent from Adam and Eve the common progenitors of us all. But with all that Man, very often forget his common parentage and turns inimical towards his brethern and tries to harm them through social ostracisms and machiavellian politics. It is now for the society to ponder over the Commandments of God that all mankind was but one though living in different regional compartments of his Great mansion called the world and was therefore actuated by common feelings of love, life and light. 'Deen' or 'Dharam' call it what you will, are synonyms with Righteousness and Peace'. Man as man, whatever his social creed or religious belief may be,
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