The speakers at the religious meet. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Sept. 11: Commemorating the 107th anniversary of the All Religions’ Council at Chicago in 1893, from whose podium Swami Vivekananda had launched his crusade against religious fanaticism, representatives of different religions today pledged to launch a similar fight against religious extremism.

“Ekam sat, vipra bahuda vadanti (truth is one, but religious masters have interpreted it differently),” the speakers said.

Introducing the subject of world peace and unity of religions, secretary of Ram Krishna Mission, Shashankananda said: “Relevance of such religious meets assumes special significance when divisive forces are bent upon breaking human bonds.”

The function began with DAV School (Hehal) student, Shivapriya Singh’s recitation of Vivekananda’s speech, which he had delivered at the opening ceremony of Chicago Council in 1893. “There is no synonym of the English word ‘exclusion’ in Sanskrit. And I am proud to belong to the religion which sheltered the remnants of the persecuted people of all religions,” she echoed Vivekananda.

Call it water, jal, aab, pani, or aqua — all the words mean the same substance that quenches one’s thirst, Shashankananda said, so it is foolish to fight in the name of religion. One who fights in name of religion cannot be religious, he said adding that we are living in a country, which has been propagating the truth of unity and divinity of all beings.

Representing Hinduism, secretary of Porbundar RK Mission, Nikhileshwaranda said: “Those who claim exclusivity of one’s religion over others are real fanatics. Speciality of one’s religion should be preserved but diversity must equally be tolerated and encouraged.”

Referring to Samuel Huntingdon’s book “Clash of Civilisation”, the monk said: “If fanaticism arising out of religiosity is not checked now, we will not be here to organise another all religion meet next year.”

Representative of Buddhism, Bhikshu Bodhipal said: “It is ironical that the country from where Vivekananda made the call to end religious bigotry in all its forms, was dealt the heaviest blow last year on this day by religious fanatics.”