Last week, the social organization AWARD arranged a tour to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur for individuals belonging to different religions and sects of Faisalabad. The program was hosted by AWARD’s Executive Director, Christina Peter. The core theme of the tour was that Pakistan’s shared heritage promotes harmony among religions and sects because it highlights commonalities, teaches respect for religious freedom, and considers all citizens equal. This creates an atmosphere of brotherhood, tolerance, and peace. Students, teachers, scholars, writers, and social activists from different religions participated in the tour. In other words, it was a dialogue involving multiple segments of society to help address the issues we are facing today. The lack of social harmony is one such burning issue that has deeply affected our society. It is important to create awareness that all people living in the country are equal, regardless of their religion or sect.
Pastor Taufeeq said that social harmony means that while maintaining our religious and cultural identities and having different opinions and views, we still live together peacefully. Social harmony does not mean that the diversity created by different religions, beliefs, and cultures should be eliminated. Instead, the goal is to understand how we can coexist harmoniously while maintaining these differences. This was the purpose of the tour during which people of various religions traveled in the same vehicle, sat together to eat at the same place, and not only organized literary gatherings together but also played games collectively. Participants also benefited from each other’s views. Most participants believed that for social harmony, discussion should be based on shared values, while differences such as the religious beliefs that make a Muslim a Muslim, a Hindu a Hindu, and a Christian a Christian are matters of faith and cannot be changed by persuasion or pressure. Interfaith harmony should not involve any attempt to make the weaker group compromise its beliefs or religion.
All participants displayed beautiful manners, polite speech, and gentle communication, which deeply influenced one another. Harsh words and inappropriate tones are usually the biggest causes of disputes. All religions teach us to call others with kindness and to present arguments with respect during dialogue and to refrain from insulting others’ deities, lest they insult your God in return.Miss Kinza Syed a teacher said, there is no fundamental difference between human beings of different religions; therefore, people should abandon the mindset of division and disagreement. Unity will naturally flourish. Mr. Azeem a social activist said that followers of all religions are human beings of the same kind. In worldly relationships, there is no essential difference between one human and another. The Granthi (priest) of Gurdwara Sahib Kartarpur said in his speech that Baba Guru Nanak was an advocate of peace and love, and his teachings were based on humanity. The Gurdwara provided abundant food, and there was no distinction based on religion. The shrine was open to everyone, regardless of their faith.
There is no doubt that God has blessed human beings with intellect, aesthetics, and morality. Humanity is unique among all creatures because only humans possess a balanced combination of these three qualities. These essential abilities can only flourish in an environment of peace. Love is the gateway to peace. Every human being has the right to choose their own path in life. Participants believed that all mosques, temples, gurdwaras, and churches in Pakistan are part of our shared, composite heritage.
In the end, AWARD’s Executive Director, Christina Peter, asked the participants for feedback about the tour. Everyone agreed that such collective travel involving scholars and young people from different religions is extremely important. The dialogues held during the journey can play a key role in promoting mutual understanding and reducing prejudices. Pakistan’s composite heritage its shared historical sites, the sacrifices of minority communities, and the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom promotes social harmony because it teaches us to respect each other’s beliefs, ensures religious liberty, and helps build a common national identity based on peaceful coexistence, in which the respect for places of worship and interfaith dialogue play a crucial role. Participants believed that such tours should continue, as they help people of different religions understand one another’s issues and strengthen mutual love and affection. Dialogue promotes a culture of tolerance.
