Commemorating Dr LM Singhvi’s Interfaith Contribution and Joint Celebration of Religious Holy Days
Posted by peacedevelopmentnetwork on October 31, 2009
Annual Commemoration of Dr LM Singhvi
and
Joint Celebrations of Holy Days during National Interfaith Week
Universal Peace Federation
Tel : 020 7262 0985 Fax : 020 7724 2262
Web: www.uk.upf.org & Weblog Email: pa@uk.upf.org
Hosted by Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh
Committee Room 4A House of Lords
Wednesday 18th of November, 2009 – at 5pm
Dear Friends,
Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh
We have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate National Interfaith Week and to commemorate the late Dr L.M. Singhvi’s contribution to interfaith work. Dr Singhvi, as a distinguished seven year Indian High Commissioner to the UK, left a deep impression particularly in his encouragement of good interfaith relations. Professor Lord Parekh, who in November 2008 gave a commemorative lecture, will highlight the significance of Dr. L. M. Singhvi’s promotion of interfaith understanding in the cause of peace. Dr Singhvi was the former President of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in India and in that position held numerous conferences on the possibilities of an Inter-religious Council in the United Nations.
The UPF Interfaith Committee’s series of Joint Celebrations of Holy Days seeks to provide opportunities for people of faith to learn about and celebrate other religious traditions. We are encouraging an inter-generational expression of younger and older representatives of Muslim, Jewish, Dharmic and Christian faiths to explain what Eid, the Jewish High Holidays, Diwali and All Saints Day means to them. We want to encourage younger participants from the audience to also offer their comments during the evening. It is appropriate that we can celebrate the holy days of several faiths while commemorating the contribution of Dr Singhvi who contributed greatly to interfaith dialogue.
Hon. Dr. L. M. Singhvi: May 21st 2007, Moses Committee Room, House of Lords, London
‘Today religion is often seen as a potent but negative force. As Lord Parekh said, we must not just look for commonalities between religions but for ways in which we can aid the process of co-existing well. In the declaration of UNESCO it states that ‘War begins in the minds of men’ – I say that peace begins in the minds of men, women and children. The Universal Peace Federation’s work is all about this peace and it is my privilege to introduce this work to you. UPF is emphasizing that peace is too important to be left to diplomats and soldiers alone. There are other constituencies of peace which deal with our common future and human equality.
Dr. L. M. Singhvi
Dr. L. M. Singhvi with Robert Kittle
‘The Universal Peace Federation is the forum to address these issues – we are many people, but one world, one cosmos. If we do not hang together, as religions, we will hang separately! The mission of religion is to reach the soul and heart of humanity. UPF promotes the culture of heart in the garden of diversity and is for intervention on a hundred fronts where humanity needs help and succour. Peace will not come unless civil society is at the forefront and pushing interfaith dialogue. It will not come through the establishment. Inter-religious work speaks of love of peace and the peace of shared love. There is so much we can do together and that we destroy in our separateness.’ Interfaith Initiatives
The evening promises to be an exciting occasion and therefore we urge you to reserve your place. Kindly RSVP by email or telephone to any of the numbers below. We look forward to seeing you on November 18th at 5:00 pm, House of Lords, Room 4A. (Please remember to leave 30 minutes to go through security.)
Yours sincerely,
Joyce Suda, Director, Interfaith Committee, 0207 – 563 -0907 – Home: 0208 467 3035
Robin Marsh Secretary General Mobile: 44 (0) 7956 210 768 Twitter: RTMarsh
Cllr. Margaret Ali, Director, Mobile: 44 (0) 7723024750
Universal Peace Federation – UK www.uk.upf.org 44 (0) 207 262 0985
Peace and Development Network: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com
http://uk.youtube.com/PeaceDevelopmntNetwk
UPF is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
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