Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK hosted a seminar on Identity & Integration with an esteemed panel at the Navnat Centre in Hayes on 2nd August 2016, attended by over 250 community leaders and guests.
The stage was graced by panelists: Samani Pratibhaji Pragya – Head Nun of Jain Vishva Bhariti, London. Shri Dr Girdharilalji Bhan – Former President of VHP UK, Shri Mohanraoji Bhagwat – Sarsanghchalakji of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - India and Shri Gauridasji – Managing Director of Bhaktivedanta Manor - ISKCON – London.
The seminar was inaugurated by the President of Navnat Centre, Shri Dhirubhai Galani and Shri Mohanraoji Bhagwat by light of a deep, followed by all panelists giving a thought provoking glimpse of their life’s experiences on Identity and integration.
Shri Gauridasji said “You will see in the person, you will see in the elephant, your will see in the cow in the civilized and uncivilized the same. This aatma in all of us.. we are Aatma” He also added we didn’t keep the manor open because we were Hare Krishna. It was because we we’re Hindu”
In summary Shri Mohanraoji said ‘The world today needs India’s example to resolve conflicts. We have a glorious tradition of unity in diversity. We see diversity as the manifestation of unity, of a single inherent unit, of the underlying oneness. We have no problem with identities. Oneness and many-ness are not opposites; it is not so in our tradition,”
“This unity in diversity...is being lived. Where to find it? Go anywhere, where Hindus live. Hindu is that identity that says all identities are respected, accepted and they are bound together by this magnificent oneness of ‘atman’. Hindu says diversity is to be celebrated. It enriches our unity,” Mohanraoji added.
Portraying a picture of harmony in Indian society, Mohanraoji said “We go to each other’s religious places...not only the identities who have origin in the land of Bharat, but also other identities acquired from outside...they come together and we celebrate their identities also. In spite of our history, we don’t treat anyone as a foreigner. A ‘gyani’ from every discipline was equally respected in the past, and that is what happens even now.”
Finally, all panelists answering questions from the audience, Mohanraoji said that according to Indian tradition, every individual can independently decide which faith to belong to. “But using other means, and using conversion for some other things, and converting people by lure or some other means that is aggression on individual rights. That should not be allowed, that is what our tradition tells us,” Urging Hindus settled anywhere to become torch-bearers of “unity in diversity,”
Mohanraoji said: “Unity can be achieved within diversity, without conflict. But then you have to be a human being. You have to have that compassion. You have to have clarity of truth. And you have to have the daring not to succumb to lowly impulses, existing or artificially created from somewhere.”
