"Yeh Zeher jo chal raha hae, usko roka kaisa jae (The poison of Communal disharmony that's around; how do we stop it)" ::: Pursuing Harmony and Peace

Pursuing Harmony and Peace is the theme that guides New Delhi-based Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies. 

The organisation run by a team dedicated social workers and peace activists released a 10-yearly Souvenir on March 9, 2025. 

The Souvenir presents a series of seminars/webinars/conferences organised by the IHPS over the years on the diverse dimensions of fostering inter-faith relations and social harmony. 

Maharishi Goswami Sushil Maharaj

Speaking on the occasion, Maharishi Goswami Sushil Maharaj, national convener of Bharatiya Sarva Dharma Sansad, said "violence in the name of religion" is certainly a new and an external element in India. 

At the same time he said, we all - individuals and social groups - should be proud of our nation and the national identity of Bhartiyata. 

However, he said it is also a fact of life in the contemporary setting - there is violence in the country in the name of religion(s) and people's faith. "Yeh Zeher jo chal raha hae, usko roka kaisa jae 

(The poison of Communal disharmony that's around; how do we stop it)", he remarked leaving the gathering stunned and at the same time highly impressed.  

He also mentioned about 'harmony' in the context of Akhand Bharat - that is undivided India - and went onto emphasise that the "DNA of the people in Akhand Bharat is the same".  

Man behind the show: M  D Thomas being honoured by former Delhi CM Sheika Dikshit 

The function was also graced by M Salim Engineer, vice president of Jamaat-e-

Islami-Hind, advocate M P Raju and Dhyanacharya Ajay Jain. 

Basem Hellis, Counsellor of the Embassy of Palestine, also attended. 

Salim Engineer said it was God's grace that every individual, community and society have been made different. But at the same time, the 'freedom to make choice' is the greatest gift given by the Creator to human race. 

Advocate Raju made a powerful speech by his lucid observation on law, constitutional propriety and religion and the meaning of social harmony. 

He shared an anecdote to strengthen his argument and said - "if everyone in a village behaves in a peculiar manner, then we may believe that there is some opium or otherwise in the village well itself".  

The tale was to drive home the point that the society is like a source for human beings as a 'source of water' is to the stream. 

 

Taking to this blogger, Dr Thomas later said:

"It has been a marathon journey of trying to promote interaction and relations amongst people of all affiliations and communities. But it could be affirmed that this was a fulfilling journey as I found men, women of diverse disciplines and youngsters especially loving the very idea of social harmony," he said adding, "this is the most encouraging part of what once appeared as a thankless job". 

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