An inter-faith gathering, initiated by the Peace Channel, convened at Hotel Jal Mahal, Dimapur, on Saturday, aimed to underscore the significance of dialogue among community and religious leaders. Addressing the purpose of the meeting, Rev. Dr. C. P. Anto, Principal of North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), and founder director of Peace Channel, delineated three main objectives. Firstly, to foster Nagaland as a model state characterized by inter-faith harmony and peace especially with reference to the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Secondly, to facilitate dialogue as a means to propel the interfaith movement beyond Dimapur into other districts, thereby averting potential outbreaks of violence.
Thirdly, to brainstorm innovative approaches for future inter-faith celebrations.
During the floor discussion, president of Muslim Council Dimapur, Ahidur Rahman, advocated for the continuation of the inter-faith movement, citing his extensive life experiences and emphasizing the need for youth involvement.
Shree Digambar Jain Samaj Dimapur President Om Prakash Sethi, commended the existing religious tolerance in Nagaland, recounting his business interactions with Christians, who never enforced or endorsed conversion.
Ajay Sethi, also from the Jain Community, highlighted the presence of worship places across Dimapur and stressed the fundamental equality of souls irrespective of bodily differences.
Nagaland Tamil Samajan, president, Kannan Dever called for enhanced efforts in promoting humanism within the inter-faith framework. Sajeev Kumar, secretary of the Kerala Samajan, lamented the rise of political agendas at the expense of religious harmony and urged for a return to the core principles of coexistence.
President of Bhojpuri Samaj, Ram Krishna underscored the importance of instilling a sense of pride among inter-faith members to drive positive change, particularly in the face of contemporary challenges.
The consensus among representatives affirmed Nagaland’s status as a model state, while expressing concerns over the Manipur conflict and escalating tensions in Assam.
The gathering concluded with a call for continued prayer support for peace and social reforms, chaired by Jose V Abraham. Notable attendees included Dimapur Bengali Samaj, KK Paul and B. Simachalan, representing the recently formed Nagaland Telugu Samaj.