Indians convene in Abu Dhabi for interfaith iftar
The annual iftar is a reminder of the tolerance shared by Indians: Navdeep Singh Suri
Dubai: From turban-wearing Sikhs to sari-clad Keralites, a mini-India converged at the annual iftar of the Indian Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi last week.
India’s ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Singh Suri, said of the mood of the multi-faith and multilingual evening that “Indians have it in their DNA to celebrate and respect the faith and culture of one another”.
A crowd gathered around the iftar table, waiting patiently for the evening prayer call to break the fast.
“I grew up in a culture where we celebrate every festival, from [the Hindu] Diwali and Navaratri to [the Muslim] Eid and [Christian] Christmas. As a young boy, I looked forward to all these festivals with great excitement. This is part of our tradition,” he said.
“The presence of large numbers of both fasting and non-fasting people in the audience highlights not only the spirit of Ramadan, but also the spirit of India.”
The ongoing celebrations surrounding the Year of Tolerance in the UAE provided a perfect backdrop for the evening’s deliberations. “Nobody in the world epitomises the value of tolerance better than Indians do,” Mr Suri said.
“It comes very naturally to them. India is a land that has hosted followers of every religion in the world besides giving birth to four major religions.”
Mr Suri believes Indians have an inherently pluralistic worldview and could contribute greatly to the UAE's march towards becoming a modern nation that celebrates diversity.
“For me personally, the visit of the Pope to the UAE was of great significance. The signing of the Human Fraternity Document by the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar is also a powerful example to the world.”
The Indian ambassador also hailed the UAE's leadership for facilitating the construction of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
“The country’s commitment to the values of tolerance and harmony is manifested in the speedy construction of the Hindu temple,” he said.
Mr D Natarajan, president of the Indian Social and Cultural Centre, emphasised the need to follow the values of fraternity, equality and tolerance, which, according to him, are central to the Islamic faith.
“The five pillars of Islam – Shahada, salah, fasting, zakat and Hajj – are prescribed by God to inculcate a strong sense of equality and brotherhood among Muslims. There is no special preference given during the obligatory prayer to anyone based on his social or economic status. Anyone who comes late, even if he is the ruler of the country, will have to stand in the last row in the mosque,” he said.
Mr Suri also inaugurated the sixth Quran recitation competition, which will conclude with a prize distribution ceremony on May 24.
courtesy: thenational.ae
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Ramdev criticises US, Israel over Iran war; video viral
New Delhi: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has sharply criticised the United States and Israel over their conflict with Iran, in a video from a television interview that has gone viral on social media.
Speaking on a show aired by ABP News, Ramdev was asked whether India should support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reported to have been killed on the first day of the war on February 28.
Responding to the question, Ramdev said, “You can kill a person, but you cannot kill his ideas, his philosophy, his mindset, his spirit, or his valour and heroism.”
He went on to express support for Iran, saying he may not know much about the country but believes its people cannot be subdued. Referring to the Shia Muslim community, he said no one could make them “bow down” or defeat them, adding that a significant section of Iran’s population strongly identifies with Khamenei’s ideology.
When asked about Netanyahu, Ramdev criticised both him and US President Donald Trump, saying they are “both cut from the same cloth.” He added, “I am not calling anyone a thief; I am simply citing a proverb it implies that they are both of the same ilk, and I consider them both to be war criminals. I consider them criminals against humanity; I consider them criminals against nature and the environment.”
He further said that the United States and Israel have “erected a Himalaya-sized mountain of political mistrust” and claimed that both countries would have to face the consequences for decades. “In this conflict, neither can America and Israel emerge victorious, nor can Iran be defeated,” he said.
Ramdev’s remarks come at a time when India’s position on the conflict has drawn attention. The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has maintained what it describes as “strategic autonomy” in foreign policy.
