IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, August 21: India’s eminent peace activists Ram Puniyani, Sandeep Pandey and Ayodhya priest Yugal Kishore Shastri were honoured with Sadbhavana award by country’s largest Muslim organization Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at a function here on Saturday. These three and Gujarat’s renowned social activist Dr J S Bandukwala were honoured with the award for their outstanding work for peace and communal harmony during the troubled times in the country.
Puniyani, Pandey and Shastri received the award from Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, national president of Jamaat at the inaugural of the 15-day Peace & Humanity campaign at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in the national capital.
“Communal polarization is very dangerous for a country like India and is a serious impediment in her path to development and prosperity, and a serious dent to the image of a developed and democratic India,” said Maulana Umari.
Speaking on the occasion, eminent social activist and writer Ram Puniyani said: Situation in the country is worsening. Communalism of all religious groups is bad. Today communalism of Hindus calls itself nationalism.
Supporting the campaign, he said, “Today lots of wrong things are being spread against Muslims and Christians. Therefore, common people need to be approached in order to remove their misunderstandings.”
Magsaysay awardee and eminent social activist Dr Sandeep Pandey highlighted the division in the society in Gujarat post 2002 riots.
“One partition took place in 1947 but the second one has now taken place in Gujarat – where Hindu areas have no Muslim resident and Muslim areas have no Hindu resident.”
“There is an urgent need to promote co-habitation where all should reside together. They are creating walls in minds. Efforts are being made to divide us and incite violence,” he said.
Ayodhya priest and renowned peace activist Yugal Kishore Shastri also spoke on the occasion.
Due to illness, Dr Bandukwala could not make it to the event.
Eminent faces from different religions including John Dayal (Christiantiy), Kasturi Muni (Jainism) and Navaid Hamid (Islam) also addressed the gathering.
