Unity, the greatest strength of Indian culture: Gadkari at the national interfaith conference in Lokmat

Unity is the greatest strength of Indian culture and has enabled us to become a “vishwa guru” (teacher of the world), according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Speaking on “Global Challenges to Community Harmony and the Role of India” at the National Interfaith Conference hosted by the Lokmat media group Sunday to celebrate the Golden Jubilee year of its Nagpur edition, the top BJP leader also said that Indian culture is genuinely secular.

Respect for all religions, communities and ideologies is the uniqueness of Indian culture and is not associated with any “dharma,” Gadkari said. “Unity is the greatest strength of Indian culture and this is what enables us to become a vishwa guru, which was predicted earlier by Swami Vivekananda,” he said.

Read also: India must become a world power to defend itself, according to Gadkari

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that the demand for human life is diversity, but there is hatred against diversity due to our lack of understanding as well as stress. It was necessary to walk together and respect each other because all communities are important, he said.

In a video message, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said “dharma” unites but is being used as an instrument of division due to lack of mutual interaction. “India believes the world is full of diversity. There may be differences in appearance and name, but from within we are all one,” Bhagwat said.

Speaking at the event, yoga guru Baba Ramdev emphasized the values ​​of unity, equality, freedom and universal brotherhood. Religious, economic, political and medical terrorism are the greatest dangers to the world, he said.

The chairman of the editorial board of Lokmat media and former Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda said Lokmat supported the importance of secularism from day one. “Our position was that of sarva dharma samabhav. No religion is greater than humanity and we stand for these values. Lokmat respected all religions and beliefs. People have lived together for ages and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is the culture of the country, ”Darda said.

The orientation of dharmacharyas to social harmony is important in the context of the fundamentals of the present situation that were created in the name of religion. He said. Editor-in-chief of the editorial board of Lokmat media Rajendra Darda said that at a time when people are being murdered in the name of religion around the world, the world is looking to India for a solution to this problem. “India’s responsibility globally has increased as it has followed the ideas of non-violence preached by Lord Mahavir, Tathagat Buddha, Guru Gobind Singh and Mahatma Gandhi. Only the path of peace and harmony can save the world, ”he said.

“Let us not focus on the differences but on what unites us. India is home to many religions and is the standard bearer of the ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ thought process. We have a rich heritage of people of diverse traditions living together and it is the noble responsibility of spiritual leaders to preserve and promote it, ”said Cardinal Oswald Gracias.

Haji Syed Salman Chishti of Dargah Ajmer Sharif spoke of patience and gratitude, which, if followed, cannot be overcome. Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti Acharya Lokesh Muni, Founder of Jeevanvidya Prahlad Wamanrao Pai Mission, Founder of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center Bhikkhu Sanghasena and Brahmaviharidas Swami from USA also spoke at the conference.

Check out the latest DH videos here: