Dhalla and the Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugu- rated the 33rd World Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) held in Kochi, Kerala from September 4-7, 2010. Dr Homi Dhalla, chairman of the working party of the Congress, welcomed the Dalai Lama, as per an e-mail received by Parsiana from Dhalla. "It is but apt that you, who have being carrying on the struggle for religious freedom for your people for over 50 years have come today to inaugurate the Congress for the IARF... Your perennial message of compassion and universal responsibility is a beacon light to this frac- tured world,” Dhalla ad- dressed His Holiness.

With its headquarters in Japan, the IARF was launched in 1900 after the landmark Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Chicago in 1893.

At the Congress the Dalai Lama spoke of the role of the IARF in promoting religious freedom at the global level over the past century, elabo- rating on various aspects of religion, interfaith dialog, human rights and ecol- ogy. After his talk, he answered a number of questions put to him by members of the audience.

Papers were presented by many emi- nent personalities. Dr Steven Leeper, chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation of Japan spoke on "Sci- ence and religion: Can they cooperate for the progress of humanity?” Other speakers included Indian social activist Swami Agnivesh, Rev Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association from Boston, scholar Dr Ninan Koshy and Gandhian Prof Neelakanta Radhakrishnan. Dhalla headed a workshop on "Initiatives in pro- moting the culture of peace,” the write-up notes. There were other workshops with themes like music as an instrument for inter-religious dialog, celebration of religious pluralism and role of youth for promoting religious freedom.