By Matters India Reporter
Patna, September 2, 2019: The Archdiocese of Patna, Bihar, on September 1 inaugurated Inter-Religious Dialogue Institute Rajgir (IRDIR) to foster peace, harmony and solidarity among different religions in northern India.
“It is our duty to spread good will and religious unity. This [IRDIR] is dedicated for peace, unity and to unite people,” said Jesuit Archbishop William D’Souza of Patna.
It is the first initiative from the Catholic Church at the town of historical Nalanda University to bring all religious people together, he added while blessing the center.
“The world is undergoing stress and unrest. A religious teacher has a lot to defuse this negative mindset. Inter religious gatherings can work and research on this field,” said Shravan Kumar, Minister for Rural Development and Parliamentary affairs, Bihar.
Religious leaders from various religions should ask people to protect environment by tree planting, water harvesting, and protect women and girls from rape and sexual violence. Inter religious unity is needed internationally, the minister added.
He also said that he will help the Catholic Church so that it would take up Yoga Centre along with a quality education institution for molding children to develop the future of Bihar state.
More than 450 Christians, about 250 Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhist monks, Jain Nuns from Veerayatan Centre, Guru Ramakrishna Matt, Archbishop D’Souza, Father S Peter and Sr Rose of Chetanalaya of Rajgir, several government officials and others attended the event.
Bihar legislator Rajgir Ravi Jyoti said, “If Church were not to be there, no poor and Dalit (formerly untouchables) in this country would have received education. They would be poorer and underdeveloped in all fields.”
“Rajgir has been missing Catholic presence like a beautiful flower in the garden of religions. Inauguration of this Catholic institution has brought life and solidarity to Rajgir’s religiosity,” said Maulvi of Makdam Kund (Muslim leader).
Rajgir is the land of religions and land of learning with experiments and experiences from each other.
Lord Buddha meditated here at Rajgir. People are invited for meditation at the holy sites Buddha, Mahaveera, Makhdum Sahib, and Guru Sikh Sahib open to priests, Catholic nuns, bishops and people.
Rajgir, 203 km east of Patna, is a place of national and international tourism for pilgrimage and leisure. It is well connected by railway and four lane roads and daily trains from Delhi and Kolkata. New Nalanda University is being run from 10 yards from IRDIR. Besides, all games Stadium, Bihar Police Academy are being constructed three kilometers from IRDIR.
According to the 2011 census, 80 percent or 960 million of India’s 1.2 billion people are Hindus. Muslims make up 14.2 percent of the population (170 million) followed by Christians with 2.3 percent (28 million).
Archbishop D’Souza, IRDIR president, has appointed Father James Rosario to head the institute as its first director.
“Father Rosario is a visionary and able to reach out to people in love, equity and commitment. He is learned learner who will guide this IRDIR to benefit the least to the great,” the prelate said.
Speaking about the importance and need of IRDIR, Father Rosario told Matters India, “IRDIR welcomes all. It will have quarterly ‘Table Fellowship’ with the religious leaders and experts and scholars of various religions.”
“the Catholic Church in direct dialogue with religions” will have meetings with common citizens of various religious sects to share and care for social and religious struggles for happy life in society, he added.
As a Christian Institution of learning, IRDIR invites students, scholars and lay people to know and explore other religious expressions under guided tours.
Students of Philosophy and Theology who are studying to be become Catholic priests can truly have a firsthand experience of Buddhism, Jainism, Sufism, Hindu traditions, and renowned old Nalanda University methods as they attend programmes and events at IRDIR.
“As its first and founding Father of IRDIR, I dream to bring good will and understanding among the various religious groups to establish peace in the minds and hearts of people. Initiatives of Inter religious Team building will take a good shape,” he said.
IRDIR will impart quality understanding of various religious to the Christian learners as well as leaders. It will motivate open minded discussion on various issues facing society, country and world at large.
IRDIR invites foreign nationals to explore the religious culture coexists at Rajgir. It has full time director and three part time experts in Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism. Jainism will be guided by Jains, Islam by Muslim scholars.
“I want to send to our and others institution in India and abroad,” Father Rosario said.
At the end of the inauguration, all religious leaders and participants sang “We shall overcome…” by holding hands of each other.