Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Organizes 1st Peace Symposium in Pune
Pune, September 22, 2019 : On International Peace Day, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community organized its 1st Peace Symposium in Pune on the Theme of Human Values – The Foundation for a Peaceful World with its abiding motto of “LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE”.
This Peace Symposium was organized by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Pune at the Fairfield by Marriot Hotel, Kharadi – Mundhwa Road, Pune on 21st September 2019. The event was graced by various delegates and religious gurus, who came under one roof to express and endorsed the idea of Universal Brotherhood and Peace. Mr. Tahir Ahmad Arif, Head of Peace Symposium Committee Pune, personally welcomed the distinguished guests.
The Peace Symposium witnessed a packed auditorium eager to listen to the honourable speakers. Mr. Mohammad Vaseem Ahmad, Head, Youth Wing of Community Pune, and the team of volunteers, managed all arrangements to ensure the smooth flow of program.
After the traditional recitation of the Holy Quran, the stage was open for our honoured guests and religious representative to express their ideas of Peace and its need in the world today, when the world is moving towards increase in conflicts.
Dr. Shabnam Asthana Director of Empowered Solutions and Ex-Professor of NDA (Special Guest of the Event) spoke on the occasion and shared her thoughts. She said that “When Good Afternoon, As-SalamoAllaikum, Namaste, Satsriakal, Om Shanti different greetings send the same message of wishing Wellbeing, Happiness and Peace.”
She also said that “The world is a canvas, we can paint it with the colours of Love, Kindness and Affection” ….. “We should remove the Negativity with the paint brush and so we should have no phobia of any religion” She Emphasised that “Forums like this will help to give a deeper understanding of various religions and this will help us to dispel the bias and miscommunication”
Bhanu Pratap Barge ACP Crime Branch (Retd.) (Guest of Honour of the Event) spoke about real life problems in attaining peace and how we can tackle this.
He said “We are an Instrument in the hands of power holders” he gave real life examples from his experience as a police officer. He said the solution to abolish this and come out of the hands of power holders is to “Acquire the knowledge of religion and needs to know the true essence of his or her religion.” He said, “There is a need to come out of Temples, Mosques, Churches and Gurdwara’s and teach what the basics of religion are”. He emphasised on teaching children the basics of every religion in schools. He appreciated the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to bring diverse people to a single platform and discuss on the topic of peace.
Dr. Sindhutai Sapkal, Social Worker (Chief Guest of the Event) spoke on the topic of having brotherhood and love. She said, “Have brotherhood and learn to love, go where ever you see a problem, Feed people who are starving and go where there is sorrow and solve it.” She also said, “If people started living for the need of others, the world would change soon”. She emphasised on spreading the message of peace at your homes which would automatically translate in attaining peace across the globe.
Various Religious Gurus from different sects spoke about attaining peace and universal brotherhood.
The speakers from the religious communities included Dr. Rajesh Jalenkar from ISKON, Bramha Kumari Shamal from the Braamha Kumari Mission, Dr. Amar Amit Agarwal from the Ananda Sangha, Gyani Amarjeet Singh from the Sikh Community, Dhammachari Gynanraja from the Buddhist Community and Brother M Raja from the Christian Community.
The speakers lauded the efforts of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for the remarkable initiative of bringing scholars and religious heads on one platform through this Peace Symposium and appreciated our efforts in trying our best to remind the world about the dire need for Peace.
Mr. Haleem Khan Shahid, Missionary In-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Pune spoke at length on the True Islamic Teachings. He quoted verses from the Holy Quran that convey the message of attaining peace, harmony and universal brotherhood by being diverse but inclusive.
Concluding the Symposium, Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad Tahir, Representing Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Pune, spoke on understanding Human Values and need to spread the message of “LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE” from the perspective of Islam. He reflected the teachings of the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) of Islam and from the writings of the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
He made mention how Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is spearheading a campaign for peace in the world and how the Community is engaged in serving the humanity.