The Muslim Council of Elders hosted its second seminar at the New Delhi World Book Fair under the theme \u201cInterfaith Dialogue in the Spirit of the Document on Human Fraternity.\u201d The session brought together leading scholars and peace advocates to discuss how the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity can guide societies toward deeper understanding, coexistence, and mutual respect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giani Jaskirat Singh, Spiritual Researcher and Anti Extremism and Peace Activist, described the Document on Human Fraternity as a transformative initiative that reminds the world of the seriousness and responsibility required to build lasting peace. He stressed that genuine interfaith dialogue must begin by recognizing the fundamental truth that \u201cas human beings, we are all equal.\u201d He argued that peace emerges not from highlighting differences but from identifying the deep commonalities shared by all people. Singh reflected on the idea that inner conflict is often the source of outer chaos, and that true peace \u201cbeyond ideas, beliefs, culture, or tradition\u201d comes from awakening to our shared humanity and becoming sensitive to the suffering of others. Interfaith encounters, he said, create the space for this rediscovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Dr. P. R. Kumaraswamy, Professor of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, described the Document on Human Fraternity as inclusive, timeless, and fundamentally anchored in the principle of equality rather than mere tolerance. He called it a \u201croadmap\u201d that invites continual refinement and implementation, rather than a document that stands completed. Kumaraswamy also noted that genuine dialogue is grounded in equality, mutual respect, and a willingness to focus on shared values among religions to help manage inevitable differences. Even when deep disagreements exist, he argued, dialogue remains indispensable for reducing ignorance, prejudice, and extremism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Professor of English Language and Literature at Indira Gandhi National Open University, described the Document on Human Fraternity as \u201cthe moral necessity of today.\u201d Signed by leading Christian and Muslim figures to uphold the spirit of human fraternity, it aligns closely with the Indian Constitution\u2019s emphasis on fraternity as a safeguard of dignity and freedom of religion. He emphasized that the essence of the document lies in seeing others as \u201ca brother or a sister.\u201d He also highlighted how compassion transcends religious boundaries and how unconditional help is a universal moral calling. Professor Kumar also stressed that dialogues promoting human empathy and interfaith understanding are essential for peaceful societies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the seminar, participants agreed that the Document on Human Fraternity offers a powerful framework for confronting modern challenges\u2014whether extremism, polarization, or cultural fragmentation\u2014by reinvigorating timeless values rooted in human dignity and shared responsibility. They called for interfaith and intercultural dialogue to become a continuous, active practice, enabling communities to move beyond stereotypes and toward genuine coexistence. Speakers also emphasized that the document\u2014co-signed in 2019 by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb\u2014remains one of the most important global calls for fraternity, compassion, and shared humanity in an era marked by polarization and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Muslim Council of Elders\u2019 participation in the New Delhi World Book Fair stems from its belief in the pivotal role of knowledge and culture as fundamental pillars for fostering understanding, countering division, reinforcing social cohesion, and affirming the importance of religious and intellectual institutions in addressing global issues and building bridges of communication and dialogue among societies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Council\u2019s pavilion at the New Delhi World Book Fair is located at Bharat Mandapam, Hall No. 4, Pavilion H-06.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Muslim Council of Elders hosted its second seminar at the New Delhi World Book Fair under the theme \u201cInterfaith Dialogue in the Spirit of the Document on Human Fraternity.\u201d The session brought together leading scholars and peace advocates to discuss how the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity can guide societies toward deeper […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n