India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Urdu Caucus of North America hosted a dinner event in Lindenhurst, last week. Lake County and Chicago area officials besides representatives of different faiths attended the meeting the purpose of which was to get people of diverse faith to have an exchange of ideas and a frank discussion. Participants in the event spoke of the importance of maintaining good relationships between in community of different faiths, especially in the context of forth coming Presidential election.As a South Asian community, taking part in the event also meant involvement in the political process as a non-partisan and non-sectarian with a non-polemical approach.

Educator Dr Ghazi founder and executive director of Iqra International Educational Foundation pitched for developing tolerance and an understanding with faiths and cultures of others and help people of the other faiths to develop an understanding of the eternal Islamic message of tolerance and justice.

Medical Professor VB Singh came from India for a medical conference in US. He came to attend the event as he was invited as a Special Guest. In his address he talked about the underlying unity among Indians and gave his ideas about interfaith concept. He stressed the need for a continual inter-faith dialogue.

Prof Singh is an associate at SP Medical College and Hospital in Rajasthan India. Dr Muzaffer Farooqui, yet another speaker, dwelt on his new book Muslim Rule in the Independence of India. In British India, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and other minority worked together while having complete concept of interfaith.

They respected all religions and also had inter-faith marriages. It is a symbol of brotherhood. He pointed out what the Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Kahn once said: "Hindu and Muslim both are like my eyes". The last Mogul King Bahadur Shah Zafar believed in interfaith by having a Hindu lawyer fight his case over the British government stopping his pension and assets in a London court. Professor Masroor Qureshi in his address focused on the history of different religions in South Asia and the followers working together with long term relation Sher Mohammad Rajput shared his ideas about interfaith concept and he gave the example of Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali developing solidarity among different faiths and of multi religious societies.

They both promoted diverse religions, Rajput said.Interfaith committee members of Lake County among others are Congressman Danny Davis, Eddie Washington State Rep. 60th District, Pastor Robert Davis, Fr. Cecil, Rev. Amy Heinrich, Deb Levin, Ibrahim Mohammad, Mujeeb Osman, Alderman Sam Cunningham. The US born Hafiz Awais M. Khan led the prayer and made the Dua for world peace.