BANGALORE INITIATIVE FOR RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE (BIRD) birdindia.org Coordinator P.N.BENJAMIN Flat No. 214 V.M. Meridian Horamavu Agara Road Bangalore 560 043 INDIA Cell: 9731182308 birdindia.org May I take the liberty of introducing the Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (BIRD), a low profile voluntary organization formed in 2001, by a small group of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists in Bangalore, to promote inter-faith amity in line with our native wisdom of inclusiveness for preserving Indias religious diversity? BIRD has attempted to be a forum for people of different religions to talk things over in times of strife and peace. Towards that end it has been organizing peace meetings, sending fact-finding teams to communally sensitive spots in Karnataka and organizing seminars, consultations, panel discussions and dialogues. The annual lecture series started by BIRD in 2001 in memory of Rev. Dr Stanley Samartha who lived his Christian faith and practice in harmony with his Hindu tradition and culture during his life-time remains the signature event of its inter-faith activities. Dr. Samartha boldly declared that he was “a Hindu by culture, Christian by faith and Indian by citizenship”. He is known as the “Christian Prophet of Religious Pluralism”. Dr. Samartha boldly declared that he was “a Hindu by culture, Christian by faith and Indian by citizenship”. He is known as the “Christian Prophet of Religious Pluralism”. He was Professor of History of religions and Philosophy at the United Theological College (1960-66) and Principal of Serampore College, West Bengal (1966-68). From 1968 to 1980 Samartha served the World Council of Churches in Geneva as the first Director of Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and ideologies. Samartha has written several books and articles on inter-faith Dialogue and Christology. Some of his well-known works are: The Hindu Response to the Unbound Christ (1974) Courage for Dialogue(1981) and One Christ- Many Religions(1991). BIRD has been honouring the memory of this great visionary through the annual lectures it organizes. The eminent speakers who delivered the lectures include: Dr. David Frawley (Vamana Sastry), Francois Gautier, Sir Mark Tully, Arun Shourie, M.J.Akbar, Justice K.T.Thomas, Dr. Hans Ucko, Metropolitan Bishop Most Rev. Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Dr. M.V.Nadkarni, Dr. C.T.Kurien ,and Dr. Israel Selvanayagam Fact-finding teams BIRD has been sending fact-finding teams to various places in Karnataka from where violence against Christians has been reported. These teams have sat with the alleged victims as well as the perpetrators of violence have tried to remove misunderstandings and fear among them. Two major incidents that caught the attention of international media were the attack on the Hinkal Church in Mysore in 2002 and the violence in Mangalore in 2008. The reports of the BIRD teams have been posted on our website birdindia.org An Appeal for urgent support BIRD is entirely dependent on small contributions from people of diverse faiths who are deeply convinced about the urgent need to preserve inter-faith amity in the true and abiding tradition of India, which is a living symbol of religious diversity and inclusiveness. We urgently need funds for organizing this year’s Samartha Memorial lecture and also compiling and publishing the twelve previous lectures we have organized so far in the third week of August 2014. The preparations for these two programs have already started, But BIRD’s kitty is empty. I shall be highly obliged to you if you kindly consider supporting this year’s Samartha Memorial Lecture which will be delivered by Dr. Najma Heptulla, minister for minority affairs, Govt. of India on 29th Novemeber 2014 in Bangalore Your contribution may kindly be sent to the above address or to BIRD’s bank account : Name of the Account: Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (BIRD) Name of the bank: South Indian Bank, Brigade Road, Bangalore, Account No. 0108053000008594 and the IFS Code is SIBL000108 Looking forward to your favourable reply. Yours sincerely P.N.BENJAMIN Coordinator BIRD
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:57:54 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015