Speaking on the occasion, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani asserted that  a majority of the people of the country value the same ideology of unity in diversity

NEW DELHI – An Eid Milan (a get-together) was hosted by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) at Hotel Shangri-La in New Delhi to promote the time-tested Ganga-Jamani tehzib (a shared composite culture) in the country. The event was attended by prominent personalities from various walks of life at the invitation of Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani.

The function turned out to be socially significant in the backdrop of the prevailing communal atmosphere of the country and the personalities who graced the occasion. It was a gathering of who’s who of India. Hamid Ansari, former Vice-President of India, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, Senior Congress leaders, Mani Shankar Air, Rajiv Shukla and Janardhan Dwivedi, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, renowned political analyst Prashant Kishore, Christian religious leader Dr. Ibrahim Mathew, Bishop Theodore, Sikh religious leader Singh Giani Ranjit Singh, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Saadatullah Hussaini, Ameer of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salafi, Maulana Tauqeer Raza and ambassadors and representatives of foreign embassies in Delhi all came together for the event.

In his presidential address, Maulana Mahmood Madani said that the purpose of the Eid Milan reception of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind was to celebrate universal human values as the Jamiat which he represents has a centennial history and tradition of uniting the people with a message of peace and unity and composite nationalism.

The Maulana said the country still constitutes a majority of people who value the same ideology of unity in diversity, the people of all religions have been living here together for centuries, their colour is the same, and their ancestors are one.

He further said that not only in India but all the people of the world were born to one parent, so the elements that are breaking the country will never succeed and their dreams will be shattered. He asserted that there is no country in the world which is so diverse; this diversity is the beauty and reward of this country, which we all have to strive to maintain.

Maulana Madani said that since Eid is the reward of fasting in Ramadan, it is important for us to understand the spirit of Ramadan and fasting. Feeling hungry in Ramadan is one of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Be hungry to realise what hunger is all about and be patient, and do good that will bridge the gap. Love should have a chance to flourish. There will be an encouragement to ignore each other’s weaknesses. And if the members of a society learn to share each other’s pains, then the peace of mind of such a society does not need any luxury.

Maulana Madani’s speech was greeted with resounding applause with all participants expressing his determination to gather the means and resources that could unite the country.
Maulana Niaz Ahmed Farooqui, secretary of JHI, Dr Zafar Mahmood, Parmod Krishnan, Mr AK Merchant, Mr O P Shah, John Dayal, Shahid Siddiqui, M J Akbar and Yogendra Yadav among others were also present on the occasion.