ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ON 'DHARMA GRANTH: HAMAAREE SAAJHEE VIRAASAT'

(RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURES: OUR SHARED HERITAGE)

Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi, in collaboration with Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly, New Delhi, organized a discussion of scholars from various religious communities at Baha’i House on 17 December 2016. The theme of the discussion was ‘Dharma Granth: Hamaaree Saajhee Viraasat’ (Religious Scriptures: Our Shared Heritage). The Discussion was chaired and moderated by Dr M. D. Thomas, Founder Chairman and Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi.

The discussion was planned as a workshop among a few selected scholars, in view of more in-depth and a fairly complete analysis. Prof. Amrit Kaur Basra, Prof. Rita Bagchi, Prof. Veer Sagar Jain, Prof. M. M. Verma, Prof. Manjit Singh, Dr Chand Bhardwaj, Dr A. K. Merchant and Dr M. D. Thomas were the participants of the discussion.

Dr A. K. Merchant, Trustee, Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly, welcomed the participants. Highlighting the theme of the discussion he said that the Holy Scriptures have a vital role in the making of the human society. A large number of people in the society are not aware of other religious scriptures and have not even seen them, tragically so. Ignorance is the root of prejudice, which needs to be overcome. This discussion is a solid step in this direction.

Chairman of the discussion Dr M. D. Thomas, by way of introduction, underlined the central role of scholars in facilitating change in religion and society. Educated people have the ability to see beyond the walls. Larger and holistic thinking is their responsibility, failing to perform which in social life raises a major question as regards their very scholarship. The logic behind organizing this discussion of scholars is to underscore the need of freeing the religious scriptures from the monopoly of the respective community and to facilitate wider vision and social cohesion.

Shedding light on the dynamics of the discussion Dr Thomas said that people are under the grip of a habit of repeating the tenets of one's own religious scriptures. Those who quote other scriptures are rare. The genius of this discussion is to view all scriptures at a glance, to see common things in them and to own the good values present in all of them. The objective of the discussion is to elicit a sense of leadership among the scholars by leading a new way of understanding religious scriptures and to show up sentiments of collective ownership by moving from 'mine' to 'ours'.

Prof. Manjit Singh, Head, Department of Punjabi, Delhi University, said that especially amidst the wave of materialism of modern times, it is imperative to understand the broader implications of the sacred scriptures in order to become spiritual. Making a reference to Guru Granth Sahib he said that it contains lines from various saints in addition to those of Guru Nanak. It has views of Dalits as well as from the Islamic tradition. Bringing to light the larger picture of one's scripture is a way of acquiring a broader understanding of other scriptures.

Advancing the insight of conceiving the scripture as 'Guru' in the Sikh tradition, Dr Thomas suggested that the idea of considering the scripture 'Guru' could be broadly applied to all religious scriptures. Religious Scriptures are the source of knowledge and Guru is the means of knowledge. Therefore, all religious scriptures are 'Guru' in some way or other. The contractors of religions applied a limit to the religious scriptures in view of maintaining their hegemony. One should consciously refrain from taking inspiration from the negative things in one's scriptures is necessary. In other words, one should learn only from the positive elements of the scriptures as well as of one's own.

Dr Chand Bharadwaj, Director, Sawan Aadhyatmik Satsang Society, suggested the making of a book with uniting elements from all scriptures. In view of strengthening a culture of considering all religious scriptures a shared heritage, one has to abstain from finding fault with other scriptures as well as to rise above superstitions regarding one's scripture. The general psychology of the religious scriptures is the 'inner transformation of being' and that requires a scientific temper, along with an open perspective.

Dr Thomas said that in many religious traditions there is a custom considering the original language of the religious scripture 'Devvaanee' (God's language). But, all languages are God's languages and God's mostspecial language, if any, is the language of the common people. To limit the religious scripture to a certain original language is to do a disservice to the scripture. For instance, since the Bible does not have a 'devvaanee', it has beomne the most popular book of the world that is available in nearly 3,000 languages. Therefore, getting relieved of the superstition of 'devvaanee' and making all religious scriptures available in all languages is the way of according them the status of a collective heritage.

Prof. Rita Bagchi, Former Professor, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, said that all religious scriptures are our common heritage. Non-violence, truth, right action, love and peace are the five values presentin all the scriptures. All the same, a certain value is more prominently presented in a religious text, such as love and compassion in the Christian tradition and non-violence in the Jain tradition. Raja Ram Mohan Rai and Mahatma Gandhi gave unique contribution to social change by reading other religious scriptures. To entertain the fear of being converted to another religion by reading other scriptural texts is an immature thought.

Prof. Rita also said that very good things are present in all scriptures and they are similar and are universal. For example, the Bible speaks 'love your neighbour', the Vedas says 'your neighbour is yours; it is only illusion that separates you from him', the Sufi tradition speaks of 'the unity of mankind'. They are not just for the people of the respective tradition but are for all. Evidently, all religious scriptures are complementary to each other. Therefore, we should study other scriptures and own their values.

Prof. Veer Sagar Jain, Professor, Department of Jainism, Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi, said that often people understand that religious scriptures are the heritage and patrimony of the respective communities. All religious communities are guilty of such bullying. So an atmosphere of harmony among scriptures could not be created. Many so-called religious people are narrow-minded and stoop down even below animals and dare to behave with scriptures of other religions in a foul way. It is the call of the hour to foster an open and refined idea of considering the religious texts of all religions a common heritage.

Prof. Jain asserted that religious scripture is basically a literature and literature is large in its scope. That is for all. Kabeer had no creed. The sun and the river or a certain medicine has no religion. So it is with religion or religious scriptures. That is not subject to the edict of anyone. That is a common property. Everybody should read scriptures of all religions, in order to reach the truth. Religious scriptures should be regarded as public property. Referring to Hindi films 'Oh My God' and 'PK', he felt slightly relieved that people are changing slowly. It is heartening to note in special that the young are evolving with better scientific temper and logic.

Prof. Amrit Kaur Basra, Deputy Dean, Foreign Students, University of Delhi, New Delhi, said that the religious scriptures are our shared heritage and this consciousness has to be brought to 60% of the young population of our country. Human values, if not translated to life, are sure to perish. Wisdom and truth are the central points of human life. The humans live with a spirit of being together and help each other, for which human values are to be made the basis of life. The values present in the religious scriptures are guiding principles for all. Religion and community are not really communal. Contractors of religions make them communal. One has to check one's own fitness before one blames others, as well.

Prof. M. M. Verma, President, Interfaith Foundation of India, New Delhi, presented certain universal values from different religious scriptures -- from the Vedas 'good things are welcome from all directions', 'the person who eats alone is a sinner' and 'minds should meet for the pursuit of knowledge'. From Quran – 'God created all humanity from the same spirit'; 'we should unite for the truth' and 'respect founders of all religions'. He also cited non-violence and renunciation from the Jain tradition, langar from the Sikh tradition and 10 commandments from the Jewish tradition. Religious people should make friendship with people of all communities, rather than being a tail of contractors of religions.

Dr A. K. Merchant said that none of the great men and women wrote any religious scripture. After a pretty long oral tradition, all religious texts were written later. Certain religious scriptures were written even 500 years later. The new generation has to be given correct information of the religious scriptures. Prejudiced views on scriptures should be eliminated. Paying attention to the advancement of human values is to be given priority.

Dr M. D. Thomas in his concluding remarks said God did not write any religious book. They were written assisted by the inspiration of God. However, there are lot of unnecessary things in it. Readers should use their discretion in choosing just the essential and useful things. Besides, all religious scriptures are the gift of the same God and are the collective cultural heritage of human society. Certainly, religious scriptures contain God’s teachings. But, God is beyond the religious scripture. No religious scripture is the last word. They were written in the past. Their interpretation in the context of the present, with its future orientation, makes them really relevant for all times.

Dr Thomas said that there should not be any discrimination among the religious scriptures. No one should attempt to claim an ownership of them. They should not be businesses with, too. There should not exist like islands or parallel lines. New insights have to keep emerging from them always. No one should get attached to the religious scripture or become a slave to it. Religious scripture should not become a burden forany one. No one should use religious scriptures for negative or disruptive purposes. Religious scriptures should be channels of unity and spiritual uplift. A new culture of harmony among religious scriptures has toemerge. That only can make them significant.

The discussion lasted for some two and a half hours and ended with lunch. The main objective of this discussion was that people become capable of learning from all religious scriptures as they are a shared heritage and contribute to the making of a better country and society. The workshop of the scholars from diverse religious communities emerged with a draft that strongly advocates all religious scriptures a shared heritage. No doubt, the effort and the resultant insights deserve to be complimented.