Hindus have applauded Kazakhstan for planning its “5th World Religious Congress,” reportedly convening in the capital Astana on June 10-11, 2015.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended Kazakhstan President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev and Kazakhstan Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for reported plans to bring together world religious leaders, politicians and international organizations to discuss the problems facing humanity, to promote a global dialogue between religions and cultures, and to strengthen mutual understanding between religious communities through this Congress.
Calling it a “step in the right direction”, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that serious and honest interfaith dialogue in the world was the need of the hour.
Rajan Zed further said that religion was the most powerful, complex and far-reaching force in our society, so we must take it seriously. And we all knew that religion comprised much more than our own particular tradition/experience.
Zed hoped that Hinduism being the oldest and third largest religion of the world would form part of the upcoming Congress. If Kazakhstan needed any assistance on Hinduism, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to help.
Stressing the merits of interfaith dialogue, Rajan Zed argued that in our shared pursuit for the truth, we could learn from one another and thus could arrive nearer to the truth. This dialogue might help us vanquish the stereotypes, prejudices, caricatures, etc., passed on to us from previous generations.
Main theme of the Congress reportedly will be “Dialogue of religious leaders and politicians in the name of peace and development” and it aims to foster a culture of tolerance and mutual respect.
Country of spectacular Tian Shan or Altay Mountains and steppes, Kazakhstan has large mineral resources and huge economic potential and is the world’s largest producer of uranium. Hinduism has about one billion adherents in the world and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
