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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has emphasized the need to “deepen the traditions of communal harmony” and “safeguard” them. At a function to give away the National Communal Harmony Awards here today, the Prime Minister observed that “tolerance is an important lesson of all religions”. “Those who resort to violence in the name of religion are doing a disservice to their faith and to humanity at large”, he added. “No religion sanctions the killing of innocent people and certainly not in the name of that religion”, the Prime Minister said.
Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion:
“I deem it a great privilege to be here to join you all in honoring some very distinguished citizens of our country who have contributed a great deal to communal amity and harmony in our country. I extend my heartiest congratulations to Shri Ram Shankar Singhji, the awardee of the Kabir Puraskar 2004, and to respected Acharya Shri Mahapragya and the Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj, the recipients of the National Communal Harmony Awards for 2004.
These distinguished awardees have dedicated their entire lives to the cherished goals of communal harmony and religious tolerance that define our ancient culture and civilization. India is home to all the great religions of the world. While some were born here, others took root in this ancient land of ours. This sub-continent has for centuries provided a unique social and intellectual environment in which so many religions could co-exist and flourish.
The Kabir Puraskar captures the moral message and the practical vision of inter faith harmony as exemplified, nearly six hundred years back, in the life and work of Sant Kabir. His numerous verses, Dohas and hymns draw upon the spirituality of both Hinduism and Islam. They deeply moved ordinary people over the centuries and inspired them to live in peace with one another. Shri Ram Shankar Singhji is a remarkable citizen who put at stake his own life to prevent a communally charged mob from attacking people of another faith. He showed Gandhian courage and commitment in doing so.
Shri Ram Shankar Singh seemed to have been inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s view that “humanism is the true religion”. The ideal of humanism, which was at the core of Kabir’s teaching, rather than any sophisticated understanding of secularism, prompted Shri Singh to act in support of his fellow human beings. Their religion was different, but his faith was humanism and so he intervened to protect the other. People like Shri Ram Shankar Singh are the preservers, protectors and defenders of communal harmony and national integration. He richly deserves the award and I once again congratulate him for this distinction.
I do believe that our notion of secularism must be imbued by humanism. Secularism is not a political ideology. It is a social and cultural philosophy of live and let live, and the non-interference of the State in the personal faith of an individual. Yesterday, I heard the eminent economist and Nobel Laureate, my great friend, Dr. Amartya Sen, speak about the two different interpretations of secularism. One sees secularism as neutrality of the State towards religions. The other views secularism as distancing the State from any religious symbolism. While the latter is a Western concept, our country has followed the former view. The State, while being neutral, allows and respects all religions.
An informed view of the religious beliefs and practices of people belonging to other faiths is an important pre-requisite for communal amity and communal harmony. Acharya Sri Mahaprayagya has, through his writings and actions, attempted just this in a magnificent manner. An ardent exponent and practitioner of inter-faith harmony, he has immensely contributed to the promotion of unity among different religions by organizing peace marches and reconciliation conferences and through his numerous writings. His activities have awakened the consciousness of our people and encouraged them to show respect to the faith of others.
The conferment of the National Communal Harmony Awards to Acharyaji is, therefore, in recognition of his valuable and valiant efforts for fostering the cause of tolerance and understanding in our society.
I also congratulate the Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj for working towards establishing peace and understanding among different religious communities and promoting national integration and peace in the country. The activists of Samaj have reached out to the areas affected by communal violence and have taken steps to restore peace and harmony there. The peace marches and relief work undertaken in militancy-ridden Punjab, terrorist-affected areas of Jammu-Kashmir and communally-disturbed areas of Gujarat are a testimony to its commitment to national integration and communal harmony. I salute them. I congratulate them.
No religion supports violence. Those who resort to violence in the name of religion are doing a disservice to their faith and to humanity at large. Tolerance is an important lesson of all religions. All great saints, sages and teachers have, through the ages, had only one message for us mortals. To be tolerant of one another. No religion sanctions the killing of innocent people, and certainly not in the name of that religion. All religions of the world are great because all of them have a message of love and humanism.
Communal harmony, therefore, is the basic building block of our country. Different communities have been living peacefully and amicably for centuries in this ancient land of Bharat. The work of individuals such as Ram Shankar Singh and Acharyaji and the institutional activities of Rachnatmak Samaj inspire us all to deepen the traditions of communal harmony and safeguard them. They deserve our commendation and their activities need to be widely recognized and replicated. With these words I once again congratulate the awardees and wish them all success in the noble task they are engaged in. May the path of those inspired by them be equally blessed.”
YSR/DS/HS/CS
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