Carnatic vocalist and author T M Krishna has called upon Indians to shed the fear of the other. Delivering the keynote address at the ‘Conclave of Religions’ in the city on Saturday, Krishna described diversity and co-existence as the core of India. He touched upon several themes, including Ashoka's dhamma, Rabindranath Tagore's depiction of Bharat Mata, Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence and ahimsa, Ambedkar's maitreya (social equality), and the word fraternity in the preamble of India's Constitution. The event was held at a five-star hotel in Juhu, organized by the Inter-Religious Solidarity Council and the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, with support from around two dozen organizations.
Tagore's Vision of Bharat Mata
Referring to Tagore's painting of Bharat Mata, Krishna noted that Tagore did not see the country in narrow terms. 'Tagore's Bharat Mata is not angry or exclusivist. She is encompassing and is in a state of peace,' he said. The event coincided with Tagore's birth anniversary on May 9.
Historical Reflections on Harmony
Krishna observed that India has long wrestled with the question of 'who has the first right on this land.' He referenced Ashoka's dhamma, or the principle of non-violence and compassion, which the emperor adopted after a devastating war. 'Ashoka apologized, and his edicts speak of the reflections of dhamma and harmony,' Krishna added.
