Interfaith inspiration

"It is very important for our small community worldwide to be actively involved in interfaith activities,” wrote Ervad Rustom M. Ghadiali who was elected president of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) of Singapore for the year 2016-17. As a rare honor, Ghadiali who has been associated with IRO since 1995 was elected "president for the third time.”
Ghadiali’s priorities in his third term are "to ensure that racial and religious harmony continues,” unhindered by any external pressure, he wrote in response to Parsiana’s queries. For the benefit of youngsters who have "very little understanding of religion,” IRO is working with young Muslim scholars "to put up a chart showing commonalities in religion.” According to his estimates, 13.5% of the Singapore population does not believe in any religion.

Rustom Ghadiali (3^rd from left) with interfaith representatives at the 46^th War Memorial Service in Singapore

A resident of Singapore for 37 years, Ghadiali has served as president/vice president of the Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore for many terms and endeavors to keep the local Zoroastrian community united. The Zoroastrian community in Singapore numbers nearly 280, including 35 children, he reports. He is also a committee member of the World Zoroastrian Organisation that first brought to our attention news of Ghadiali’s new role in their emailer.
The 31-member IRO council is represented by 10 faiths, with five members each from Buddhism and Islam, four each from Taoism and Christianity, three from Hinduism, and two members each from Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism and Baha’ism, notes its website. The other Zoroastrian representative on the council is Zubin Dastoor.
Founded in 1949, the first of the 13 objectives of IRO is "to inculcate the spirit of friendship and cooperation among the leaders and followers of different religions.” The subsequent objectives lay down the guidelines and activities to achieve the goals. Over the years it has conducted interfaith prayers and blessings at the inauguration of public and private institutions as also in times of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Seminars, talks, publications, exhibitions, study tours have been its regular activities. Whilst intensifying efforts "towards making the Organisation an effective body of friendship and brotherhood among the adherents of different religions without compromising any of (their) religious values” IRO hopes to "build on the momentum already generated and continue to promote inter-religious peace and harmony in the years to come,” declares its website.