India Interfaith Campaign

River Activists at Ganga Sansad, 2012

India Interfaith Campaign begins on Nov 21, 2015.

Why?

Because we only talk intellectually about compassion, about inclusiveness. And we want to believe that we indeed are so. But here is the thing-- the best of intellectuals, the best of practitioners need to sit in the uncomfortable fire of difference again and again.

For difference, at its very core disturbs. Of course, we want to gush and say—“Aah, no matter. We love.” But in reality, when it comes to the crunch, difference makes us restless.

It can be a simple thing as a man growing a beard, or wearing a turban. A woman with a tikka and one needing to cover her head all the time. Or a woman without a pottu (bindi) in South India. You note the difference.

You note the difference when some are not celebrating the same festival you do. Or greet or exclaim with a phrase that is unfamiliar—“Ram Ram!” “Alhamdulilah”


Just like some hardcore vegetarians wince when you make vegetables in a vessel that previously cooked meat or used a ladle that had previously stirred a meat broth.

Or some Hindus wonder about the gathering at Sunday Mass. And like some of the Christian faith wonder about non-Church nature of Hindu worship, that it is so private.

But in that wonder and discomfort, you face it, you see it. And slowly adapt to that difference till it turns integral to our way of life.

There is something else that happens when we sit with the Other, we begin to comprehend the life behind the “they”—that they laugh, cry, have concerns about their loved ones and get angry as others do. There is a stirring within that humanizes and creates a relational bond between two or more communities.

You may say—heck, in civil wars and communal riots, neighbours and friends have attacked their own. I agree when mob fury hits and rhetoric strikes its hammer, bonds are severed.

But in today’s world, more than physical violence, what we civilians do is to support policies that discriminate and that deny a person of a different community home, food, livelihood, and security. That take away opportunities for their children to play and study in joy. That makes them stateless. That makes their everyday life uncertain.

We sit in our little holes and theorize about them and what they should do or not. We reflect aloud on our facebook walls or twitter or blog on who should respond how and wherein lies the truth.

The truth is here—in the lives undone and pushed to a corner because we did not sit and face the other. The truth is here—in the lives that turn and react violently, in ways we know via media and in ways we don’t know because of precision airstrikes.

Because we didn’t know. We didn’t see.

Here is a chance to undo that. India Interfaith campaign emerged from a restlessness that communities of faith are segregating ever more, that the rift has become deep. This campaign was conceived by Suresh Ediga who blogs at Suri’s and is part of active team of NRI Samay.

On Nov 21, 2015 the campaign invites members of all communities of faith and those who are agnostic/atheist or with no clear religious lines to participate The only agenda for this day worldwide is that we step in and meet people of other faiths. That is all.

In Kolkata, ONganic is hosting a multi-faith workplace get-together. In Folsom, Shachi Thakkar who blogs at Expressions is innovating the concept of Satsang to include multiple faith discussions. In Hyderabad, Our Sacred Space has taken the lead in organizing a public multi-faith potluck get-together. In Albuquerque, I who blog here at Tilling the Earthwoman is organizing a multi-faith get-together to attended by folks of at least six different faith traditions.

This is just the beginning of this campaign.

You can join in too. In any way that is convenient and creative. For this campaign is in your hands.

This is a campaign for peace. You are the node for that Peace. You are.

Facebook event page:https://www.facebook.com/events/184379408563642/
To register: http://tinyurl.com/RegisterForInterFaith