By Matters India Reporter

Sonada, Feb 1, 2020: An inter faith dialogue forum has proposed the creative use of digital media to propagate awareness on the urgent need of harmonious living between the various religions in the hills.

“It was decided to introduce the concept of Inter Faith Dialogue as a series of panel discussions for distribution to local cable television channels to promote the idea of harmonious living among the believers of various religions,” said secretary of Darjeeling Inter Faith Dialogue Forum Father George Thadathil.

Father Thadathil, who is also the principal of Salesian College, said, “The first episode would be an opening session, followed by ‘Green Theology/Environment and Inter Faith Dialogue,’ followed by other themes based on Religions and Sustainable Developmental Goals.”

Vicar of Darjeeling Cathedral parish and former director of Darjeeling Diocesan Communications Centre Father Alex Gurung who has hosted over 200 television episodes in Darjeeling Television will host the proposed show.

“Radio Salesian 90.8 FM – the Voice of the Hills, the only community radio in the hills, will air similar programs both in Nepali and English languages,” said station director Salesian Father C.M. Paul.

The dialogue forum members present were: Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling, Anurag Agarwala, Imamudin Ahmed, Irshad Ghulam Ahmed, Fathers Gurung, Paul and Thadathil.

“Other regular members of the group, Brahma Kumaris, Sai Samiti, Pranami, and Buddhist Association could not make it and had given apologies,” said forum secretary Father Thadathil.

The forum members mutually appreciated the 15-year long journey of Dialogue Forum in Darjeeling and the series of events organized for the variety of target groups (college teachers, school teachers, and youth), and the timeliness of the idea to go digital in order to attract a newer generation of viewers.

The meeting was held on the occasion of 132nd Death Anniversary of Don Bosco at Salesian College Sonada presided over by Bishop Lepcha, the chairman of the Dialogue Forum, on January 31.

The occasion was also specially marked with a memento (Samvardhan patra) being given to Debbie Agarwala, the Chartered Accountant of the College for the past 20 years, with a citation, and a memento of the college. He was accompanied by his son Anurag Agarwala a member of the Dialogue Forum.