In a heartwarming initiative towards fostering communal harmony, Caritas India’s Samvaad Peace Building Program organised a state-level interfaith consultation in Lucknow on 20th February 2024. The event aimed at building bridges of peace and understanding, culminating in the formalization of an Interfaith Forum. Leaders from diverse religious traditions convened to engage in dialogue, share perspectives, and collaboratively strategize for the development of understanding and cooperation. The consultation sought to establish an Interfaith Forum that would stand as a beacon of peace and ambassadorship of harmony within the state.

Representatives from Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Agra, Jhansi, Bareilly, and Lucknow, comprising religious leaders and intellectuals, actively participated in discussions. The focal point was to promote peace and harmony while recognizing the roles and responsibilities of each community leader in sustaining the journey of peace and brotherhood in their respective areas.

The primary objective of this state-level consultation was to bring together like-minded personalities under one roof, encouraging them to discuss how they could contribute with their rich experiences and influences toward promoting peace in their regions. Caritas India envisioned the formalization of a state-level forum through this dialogue to facilitate collective contributions.
The consultation began with the lighting of the lamp and a collective prayer, where participants invoked divine wisdom through the song “Itni Shakti Humein Dena Data” (Grant us the strength, O Almighty) to work together for creating a peaceful nation. Fr. Ronald Dsouza, Director for Social Work Centre, Lucknow Diocese, set the tone for the discussion by emphasizing equality among all, stating that if God created everyone in His image, then all should be treated as equals.

Caritas India representatives provided an overview of the Samvaad Peace Building Program, showcasing its success in bringing people together, fostering a grammar of peace and brotherhood in communities with different ethos and cultural practices. Success stories, such as Peace Club children engaging in peace talks, youth from diverse backgrounds uniting through sports, and communities coming together for celebrations like Eid Milan, were shared to highlight the positive impact of the Samvaad Program.

Shri Punit Mishra, Deputy Director of the State Women and Child Welfare Department, commended Caritas India’s Samvaad Program for uniting interfaith leaders from seven districts to develop a collective perspective on religious diversity. He shared various government schemes and urged participants to contribute to societal development by promoting peace and harmony.

Dr. Roop Rekha Verma, a social activist from Saajhi Duniya and former Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, welcomed the participants and stressed the need for dialogue on peace and harmony, especially in a state like Uttar Pradesh, known for its cultural and religious diversity. She highlighted the responsibility of every individual to unite communities and bridge the differences.

Representatives from various faiths, including Gurmukh Singh from Sikh religion, Shahar Qazi Tanveer Alam from Muzaffarnagar, Fr. Derrik Pinto from Bareilly Diocese, Bhante Siddharth Bodhi from Buddhism in Agra, and Pravin Jain, Chairman of Jain Mahasamiti India from Jhansi, shared messages of peace and love from their respective religious texts. The consultation concluded with the establishment of an Interfaith Forum, with representatives from seven districts actively pledging to be proactive actors in promoting peace and harmony.

The interfaith consultation organized as part of the Samvaad Peace Program emerged as a powerful catalyst, contributing significantly to the ongoing pursuit of peace and harmony in Uttar Pradesh. Through dialogue, identification of common ground, and the development of practical strategies for action, the consultation reinforced the commitment to building understanding, cooperation, and reconciliation among diverse religious communities in the state.