By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Oct 8, 2022: Divine Word Father Pushpa Anbu has been elected the president of Islamic Studies Association (ISA), a group of Christian scholars on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations.
The election took place October 8 at the association’s general body meeting at St Xavier’s School, Delhi.
ISA was established in 1979 to promote study, research and teaching regarding the history, religion, culture, socio-economic conditions, and other aspects of Islam and to work towards promoting relations among Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and other religious and social communities in India.
Over the years, the association has remained committed to promote national integration of all Indian cultural, social, and religious groups and support Government programs for this purpose.
Father Anbu, who holds a doctorate in Islamic Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, is also the general Secretary for Formation and Education in the Society of the Divine Word congregation.
He thanked the general body for electing him to his new role and emphasized the relevance of the mission of ISA in our times as ambassadors of Christ promoting peace and reconciliation in the present context of hatred and fear. Ignorance is a fertile ground where hatred and fear spread like wildfire, he added.
The ISA will organize programs to bring people of different faith traditions so that they learn to esteem the faith of the other, Father Anbhu said.
ISA also elected Jesuit Joseph Victor Edwin, lecturer, theology and Christian Muslim Relations, Vidyajyoti Institute of Religious Studies, Delhi, as secretary, and veteran missionary Jesuit Father Varkey Perekatt as treasurer.