Media Release
Udupi, Sep 28: In a significant step towards fostering interfaith understanding and harmony, a ‘Friendship Gathering’ was held on Friday at St Anne's Church Hall in Thottam, Malpe, organized by the local unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind as part of their ‘Prophet's Message Campaign.’
The event brought together religious leaders and community representatives from various faiths, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect, love, and trust among people of different religious backgrounds.
Fr Dennis D'Sa, the parish priest of St Anne's Church, Thottam delivered a powerful message during the gathering. He emphasized that reading the scriptures of other religions and understanding their practices and teachings naturally leads to respect, affection, and trust towards the followers of those faiths.
Fr D'Sa highlighted that all religions in the world teach humanity and harmonious living. He pointed out that the messages of compassion, forgiveness, justice, and equality taught by Prophet Muhammad remain relevant even today. "We do not live on isolated islands but in a community," he stated, stressing the need for shared living and cooperation.
Drawing an analogy, Fr Denis D'Sa compared individuals in society to bricks in a wall, each playing a crucial role in building a strong community. He emphasized that by standing together, any challenge could be overcome. The priest expressed concern over the diminishing values of truth, trust, and tolerance in society, calling for collective efforts to preserve these essential qualities.
Speaking on behalf of Hinduism, Ramesh Thingalaya, president of the Thottam Samanvaya Sarva Dharma Samiti, reminded the audience that living together harmoniously is a culture inherited from their ancestors. He expressed concern about the negative influence of social media, which has given rise to mutual distrust. Thingalaya suggested that such interfaith gatherings send a powerful message of coexistence, countering the toxic atmosphere prevalent in society.
Janab Isak Puttur, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mangaluru, who presided over the function, spoke about the universal message found in all religious scriptures to act without causing pain to others. He called for strengthening mutual friendships through good deeds in society, as prescribed by various religious texts.
The event also saw participation from other notable figures, including Leslie Aroza, secretary of the Samanvaya Sarva Dharma Samiti, Edwin Sons, pastor of Malpe CSI Church, and Ganesh Nergi, president of the Ambedkar Youth Sena.
Maulana Imranulla Khan Mansuri, Imam of Malpe Abubakkar Jamia Masjid, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the inclusive gathering. Janab B Siraj Ahmed, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Malpe, proposed the vote of thanks, while G Shuaib Malpe skillfully compered the programme.