Interfaith dialogue has been one of the salient features of K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies. Even before the three centers – Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham, the Center for Buddhist Studies, and the Center for Studies in Jainism operated as individual centres, they were actively engaged in interfaith activities.
Along with the academic activities related to ancient languages, Indian culture, and the study of religions and philosophies with special reference to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the centres always encouraged dialogue with other religious faiths such as Islam, Sufism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, etc. The centers established good connections with the institutions and universities in India and abroad. As a result of such collaborations, the centres could organise multiple national and international seminars that involved the active participation of academicians as well as spiritual leaders belonging to different religious faiths. Over the years, the institute has organised around 40 national and international seminars for interreligious dialogue.
Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham, which was inaugurated on October 20, 1989, at the auspicious hands of Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, is active in the fields of Sanskrit, Yoga, and Hindu studies. Since 1997, this centre has been organising international seminars on themes such as Hindu-Christian Cosmology and Anthropology, Persons of Peace in a Troubled World, Religious and Ethical Foundations of Family and Social Life in Hinduism and Christianity, Bhakti in Hinduism and Christianity, Meditation in Hinduism and Christianity, Streams of Spirituality in Hinduism and Christianity, Religion and Secularism, World Religions Together for Peace etc.
For these seminars, the centre collaborated with different esteemed institutes such as the Institute for Asian Studies, Sassari, Italy; the University of Turin, Italy; and the Inter-religious Monastic Dialogue, Focolare Movement, Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, etc. The academicians, scholars, and religious leaders active in fostering Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam contributed to these seminars through their august presence and thought-sharing.
Dr Shantilal Somaiya took the lead in establishing good connections in the field of interfaith dialogue. He personally participated in multiple interfaith activities that could create more space for such fruitful activities. Recognising his efforts the Government of Kazakhstan invited him to the International Congress of World and Traditional Religions that was the initiative of the Hon Nursultan Nazarbayev, first president of Kazakhstan. This prestigious Congress has been organised every three years since 2003 in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Mr Samir Somaiya, Chancellor, SVU, is currently active as the leader of the Hindu delegation. The Congress is organised around the themes that are relevant to interfaith dialogue.
The VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place in Kazakhstan in September 2022, marking a significant milestone in fostering interfaith dialogue and cooperation on a global scale. The majority of delegates at the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions adopted a declaration.
Along with this, there are various publications that reflect the contribution of the centre to interfaith dialogue.
The centre has organised many educational programmes, especially for the students from universities abroad on themes related to Indian philosophy, religions in India, etc. for the students from universities in the USA, Iran, Kazakhstan, etc. Under this centre, KJSIDS has a joint collaboration with the University of Navarra, under which Dr Mariano Iturbe, a faculty member of the University of Navarra, is working at KJSIDS as an adjunct professor. Dr Iturbe also takes initiatives to strengthen the interfaith dialogue activity.
The Centre for Buddhist Studies, which was inaugurated on December 06, 1993, by His Holiness Dalai Lama, is actively engaged in the fields of teaching and research of ancient Indian heritage, Pali, and Buddhist studies. It conducted seven biennial international conferences in joint collaboration with different universities, like Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Otani University, Japan; Shuchin University, Japan; and ICCR, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.
This centre has received the honour of being a member representative in the International Association of Buddhist Studies, such as the International Association of Buddhist University (IABU) and the International Association of Theravada Buddhist University (IATBU), since 2008. The centre has an academic collaboration with Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, and Vietnam Buddhist University (VBU), Hanoi.
Jetavan, which is an outreach centre for Buddhist studies, is another special feature of this centre. It was inaugurated in January 2016 at a location 250 km away from Mumbai. The centre fosters activities promoting spiritual cultivation, physical wellness, and livelihood support in collaboration with Ven Dhammadipa of the Czech Republic, ordained in Theravada as well as in Mahayana tradition. This project received support from donors across the world from countries such as Europe, Hong Kong, the USA, and India. It serves to create awareness in the community regarding religious understanding.
The Centre for Studies in Jainism, was inaugurated on April 21, 2003, by Acharya Shri Mahaprajna. It is engaged in academics and research related to Jain religion and philosophy. It also collaborates with universities in India and abroad.
Recently, Prof Eva De Clarq and Tina from Ghent University visited the Centre and signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ for further research and academic activities.
The centre recently celebrated its 20th founding anniversary and organised an international seminar on this occasion.
The centre organised international webinars during the COVID pandemic on “The Role of Jainism in the Future.” Also, the centre had organised a monthly seminar series at an international level from January 2022 to December 2022 under the guidance of Shri Mahendra Muniji on ‘Science and Spirituality’.
Together, these three centres under K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies try to retain the connections for interfaith dialogue at the national and international level.
– Prachi Pathak, prachi@somaiya.edu
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