Cardinal Tauran, a godly man of deep reflection, has imparted a refreshing new perspective on the Vatican’s relations with Hinduism and other oriental faiths. In an interview last year, he had categorically stated that “he would be travelling to India soon and there he wanted to give this message that all religions are equal...We mustn’t get the impression there are first-class religions and second-class religions.” His remarks in Mumbai have created a sound basis for carrying forward the Hindu-Christian dialogue in a positive direction. The genuineness of the interaction was also evident from the fact that, after the first day’s closed-door deliberations, Cardinal Tauran led the Christian delegation on a goodwill visit to Mumbai’s famous Siddhivinayak Temple. This was followed by the Hindu delegation visiting the Holy Name Catholic Cathedral.

The scope of inter-faith dialogue got enlarged on the second day when Cardinal Tauran was the chief guest at a soulful all-religion prayer, followed by an enlightening colloquium, in which eminent Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist personalities also participated. It was organised by Shantilal Somaiya, a renowned octogenarian educationist, who has been striving for better inter-religious understanding for many decades.

The road of reconciliation and durable harmony and peace is a hard one. Several important questions need greater debate leading to convergent positions. In the months ahead, both Hindu and Christian leaders also have a duty to crystallise mutual trust and understanding into a practical and collaborative agenda of action at all levels, including the grassroots level, to remove the sources of prejudices, tension and conflict. How to move ahead? One clue was given by Swami Chidananda Saraswati, who said, “Apni apni bhakti, parantu sabse badhkar rashtra bhakti.” (Let us love and follow our respective faiths, but keep love of the nation above all.)

... contd.