A FOUNTAIN OF HOPE

People should engage positively with others at a personal, community, and religious level by learning to live with tolerance and mutual respect for others.

Summarizing my experiences, I share an incident that showed a ‘glimmer of hope’ for India. I received an invitation from Mr. Madhu Mehta and Mr. Arvind Deshpande of Bombay, which stated that the Lok Swaraj Andolan is organizing an All-India Citizens Convention in Bombay. This convention will be held in Bombay at the Indian Merchants Chamber on April 3, 1993. Its invitees included prominent citizens like Mr. B. K. Nehru, Mr. N. A. Palakhiwala, Mr. Minoo Masani, Mr. Justice C. S. Dharmadhikari, Mr. Ramkrishna Bajaj, Mr. Pratap Bhogilal, Mr. Alok Jajodia, among others. The theme of this convention was, ‘The survival of India as a nation.’

I want to share two things that the participants of the convention shared. In his speech, Mr. C. Subramaniam emphasized that no society exists as a single religious entity. Given the multi-religious nature of societies worldwide, India cannot afford to isolate itself spiritually. We must ensure that all religions have equal opportunities for worship, growth, and expression, similar to standards upheld by other nations. Every individual has the right to practice and share their faith, as long as one respects the rights and beliefs of others. In conclusion, the chairman acknowledged India’s challenges but expressed hope for the future.

I agree with the above two statements. In every multicultural society like India, everyone is entitled to follow and preach their own personal and religious thoughts. We only have to learn to live with tolerance, avoidance, and mutual respect with others. We must learn to engage positively with others at a personal, community, and religious level. By following this way, the ‘glimmer of hope’ will become a fountain of hope.