As part of the 150th Birthday celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, organized an Interfaith Meet on 10th and 11th September 2011, in the Vivekananda Auditorium  of the Mision.  Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, inaugurated this Meet on 10th September.  Leaders of major world religions spoke in the Meet as in the printed Invitation as per the programme enclosed herewith.  After  every  religious leader spoke at the scheduled time printed in the programme, an interactive programme followed for about 20 minutes during which audience from different walks of life asked questions concerning the  Faith and they were answered.

Two months before the Interfaith Meet, eminent  leaders from the respective Faith had been invited and after getting their consent to participate in this Meet, as many as 1000 Invitation Cards along with the programme drawn up for 10th and 11th September 2011, were printed and sent to all prominent personalities in the respective fields.   In addition, 1000 copies of  the programme  printed separately were distributed to our devotees and general public.

  • A view of the assembled audience for the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • A view of the assembled audience for the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • A view of the assembled audience for the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Acharya Sri Lokesh Muni, Chief Functionary, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati , spoke on Jainism at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Children of the Sarada Children Forum presented a few songs in their melodious voices.
  • View of the vast crowd assembled for the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Dorji Damdul Geshe, Deputy Director, Cultural Centre of H. H. The Dalai Lama, spoke on Buddhism at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam enthralled the audience with his wise words.
  • Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
  • Former President of India, Dr. Kalam, being welcomed by Swami Shantatmanandaji, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi, to participate in the Inter-faith Meet.
  • Dr. Mohinder Singh, Member, Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Govt. of India and Dr. J.S. Neki, Professor and former Director and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi spoke on Sikhism at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Dr. Shernaz Cama, Director, UNESCO, Parzor Project, spoke on Zoroastrianism at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • All the speakers gather around Smt. Shila Dikshit for a photograph.
  • Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, President, All India Imam Organization, spoke on Islam
  • Participants were encouraged to ask questions during the specified sessions. One such participant responding to the talk given by Dr. Neki.
  • Participants were served lunch.
  • Prof. Dr. M. D. Thomas, National Director, Commission For Religious Harmony and Dr. Dominic Emmanuel SVD Director, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese spoke on Christianity at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Judah Hyam Synagogue, spoke on Judaism at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Participants break for some hot beverages and snacks.
  • Smt. Shiela Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, gave the Valedictory Address at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi (R) and Dr. Mufti M. Mukarram Ahmed, Shahi Imam, Fatehpuri Mosque, respond to questions on Islam.
  • Swami Animeshananda sang the Closing Song after the final session of the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Swami Atmapriyananda, Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, during the Valedictory Session at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Swami Harshananda, President, Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru, spoke on Hinduism at the Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Swami Harshananda, President, Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru addressing the audience. Inter-faith Meet held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.
  • Swami Shantatmanandaji welcoming the assembled audience.

The following were the main speakers:

  • Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India
  • Swami Shantatmanandaji was the overall co-coordinator
  • Swami Harshananda, President, Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru, spoke on Hinduism
  • Dr. Mufti M. Mukarram Ahmed, Shahi Imam, Fatehpuri Mosque, spoke on Islam
  • Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, President, All India Imam Organization, spoke on Islam
  • Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Judah Hyam Synagogue, spoke on Judaism
  • Dr. Shernaz Cama, Director, UNESCO, Parzor Project, spoke on Zoroastrianism
  • Prof. Dr. M. D. Thomas, National Director, Commission For Religious Harmony, spoke on Christianity
  • Dr. Dominic Emmanuel SVD Director, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, spoke on Christianity
  • Dr. Mohinder Singh, Member, Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Govt. of India, spoke on Sikhism
  • Dr. J.S. Neki, Professor and former Director and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New  Delhi spoke on Sikhism
  • Dorji Damdul Geshe, Deputy Director, Cultural Centre of H. H. The Dalai Lama, spoke on Buddhism
  • Dr. A. K. Merchant, Hon. National Trustee and Chairman, Delhi Bahai Spiritual Assembly, spoke on the Bahai Faith
  • Acharya Sri Lokesh Muni, Chief Functionary, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati, spoke on Jainism
  • Swami Atmapriyananda, Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, spoke during the Valedictory Session
  • Smt. Shiela Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi gave the Valedictory Address

Swami Animeshanandaji rendered a soulful devotional song for the benefit of the audience.

Shri Karma Thinley, Director,Tibet House, who had brought about 70 students from the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Delhi, presented a saropa and a book on Buddhism to Swami Shantatmanandaji Maharaj on the stage.

The two-day Interfaith Meet was indeed a grand success.   On the first day (i.e., on 10th) as many as 1000 people attended the Meet and on the second  day (i.e., on 11th)  about 900 people attended the Meet.   All those who attend the Meet  appreciated the presentations of leaders of  different Faiths and the interactive session that followed the presentation by  each. We had a wonderful  feedback from 402 persons in writing and many of them want to have more such Interfaith Meets for a correct understanding and appreciation of all religions.

Swami Harshananda, President, Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru