Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said India’s centuries-old civilisational values of mutual respect, religious harmony and peaceful coexistence offer a powerful message to a world increasingly divided by conflict, intolerance and identity-based differences.
Addressing an Interfaith Dialogue organised by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) in collaboration with the Inter-Faith Harmony Foundation of India in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said India’s spiritual and philosophical traditions have always embraced diversity rather than imposing uniformity.
“The world recognises that Hinduism—Sanatana Dharma, the world’s oldest living religion—never imposed itself. Instead, it embraced diversity and coexistence. Ancient India created a foundation of mutual respect where Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism found the freedom to flourish,” Sinha said.
He observed that while today’s world is fragmented by religion, language and race, India’s philosophical traditions possess the unique ability to bridge these divides.
“The core spirit of Sanatana Dharma and Indian philosophy can serve as a guiding light for humanity. India is a living idea that teaches the world to live together as one family,” he said, urging the younger generation to carry forward this legacy of peace and mutual respect.
Describing ‘Bhartiyata’ (Indianness) as India’s intellectual, spiritual and cultural identity, the Lieutenant Governor said it embodies values such as equal respect for all religions, the pursuit of truth, unity in diversity and the timeless ideal of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’—the world as one family.
“Our Vedas and Upanishads, representing a knowledge tradition spanning over five thousand years, have always taught harmonious living. They remind us that people of different faiths can live together while respecting each other’s beliefs,” he said.
Sinha noted that India’s sages had long proclaimed that truth is not confined to a single path but can be reached through multiple ways, making diversity a source of strength rather than division.
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he said the region has historically reflected this inclusive ethos.
“The idea of ‘Kashmiriyat’ springs from the broader philosophy of ‘Bhartiyata’. It symbolises India’s enduring message of equal respect for all religions, cultures and traditions,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the historical interaction between Indian philosophy and Sufi traditions, saying that when Islam arrived in India during the 12th and 13th centuries, Sufi saints found a culture rooted in love, compassion, spirituality and equality.
“They drew inspiration from the Vedas, Upanishads, Buddhism and Jainism, while many Sanskrit texts were translated into Arabic, enriching intellectual exchanges between civilizations,” he said.
Quoting the ancient Sanskrit prayer, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah” (May all be happy, may all be free from illness), Sinha said the prayer reflects India’s universal outlook, transcending religious and sectarian boundaries.
“India has never asked anyone to abandon their faith. It has always welcomed people to preserve their beliefs and traditions while living together in harmony. That is India’s distinctiveness and the greatness of its spiritual heritage,” he added.
The programme was attended by former Union Minister Dr. Karan Singh, University of Kashmir Vice Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan, Inter-Faith Harmony Foundation of India President Dr. Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed, NCPUL Director Dr. Md. Shams Equbal, Dara Shikoh Centre Founder Director Dr. Jyotsna Singh, Inter-Faith Harmony Foundation Director (Operations) Dr. Nasreen Shama, Kashmir Writers Association President Fida Firdous, National Coordinator Navaid-ul-Islam Khan, SSP Srinagar Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, along with senior officials, scholars, writers and prominent citizens.
