By M Ghazali Khan,
London: Multiculturalism, love for humanity and tolerance are not new concepts but were introduced by Muslim sufis in India centuries ago, said the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Mr Nalin Surie. Mutual tolerance and the desire and ability to welcome differences and diversity are the prerequisites for peace and prosperity of the human society. Being a vital ingredient of a cohesive society they are now being promoted by almost all the modern societies like Britain, he said. He was speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour on Tuesday night jointly by the North London Muslim Community Centre (NLMCC) and North London Muslim Housing Association (NLMHC).
Mr Surie encouraged the audience to invest in India that offered bright business opportunities. He said the government was aware of some difficulties faced by foreign investors and efforts were being made to remove whatever bureaucratic hurdles there were. The High Commissioner assured the NLMCC of help and cooperation in its programmes to keep the British-born Indian Muslims in touch with India. He promised to donate books to NLMCC’s library and presented 15 CDs of “Urdu & Modern India” a documentary film produced in Urdu and English by Kamna Parsad.
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, chairman and founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum
In his welcome address, Chairman of NLMCC Mr Munaf Zeena, who is also the Chairman of the Council of Indian Muslims (UK) – CIM, said that Indian Muslim Diaspora in UK was proud of its Indian heritage and felt elated at the initiatives taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government to make India a rising economy and wished to participate in the development of the country. “The North London Muslim Community Centre, The North London Muslim Housing Association, the Council of Indian Muslims UK and many other organisations represented here today aspire to participate and contribute in this process.” He made particular mention of the opening of the multi-million rupees Jamnaba Hospital in Bardoli, Gujarat, for which the NLMCC and the CIM had raised millions of pounds. Mr Zeena emphasized on the need to take all communities on board and to take practical steps for the progress and prosperity of the country as well as to make justice a reality. He also urged the High Commissioner to remove difficulties in obtaining visas by visitors to India. “People who are of Indian origin find it difficult to prove their Indian origin or those having spouses who are not Indian. A problem faced by young children as well as older people. Similar difficulties are faced by some people who are very much Indian,” he added.
In his introduction of NLMCC, secretary Mr Shabbir Gajia said, “Open to and welcoming every resident of Hackney without any discrimination on the basis of caste or creed, the NLMCC is run and managed by Muslims of Indian descent who take pride in their multi-cultural background inherited from and brought with them by their ancestors. The reflection of this multi-culturalism may be seen in this gathering attended by the representatives of Jewish, Christian, Hindu and of course Muslim communities.”
L-R: Cllr Rita Krishna, Minister coordination Syed Asif Ibrahim, Cllr Sally Mulready, High Commissioner Nalin Surie, Munaf Zeena, Ahmad Mapara
Displaying his ever jovial style and testifying Mr Gajia’s claim, widely respected Rabbi Herschel Gluck, chairman and founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum, said, “Many will be surprised to see a Jew addressing this august gathering. But, Your Excellency, please take a message to India from here this evening how Muslims and Jews live and co-exist with each other in Hackney. Here we celebrate our diversity and our differences.”
In the wake of Gujarat genocide, Rabbi Gluck had joined the CIM in condemning the massacre of more than 2000 Muslims and had compared it with the holocaust. The Rabbi prayed and wished for a prosperous India where all communities live and enjoy life peacefully.
The dinner was attended and addressed by several other dignitaries including Councilor Ritaa Krishna, a person of Indian origin and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councilor Sally Mulready, Speaker of Hackney Council, and Chief Executive of NLMHA Ahmad Mapara.