Inter Religious Friends Movement (IRFM)
INTER REGLIGIOUS FRIENDS MOVEMENT is
Based on
INTER RELIGIOUS FRIENDSHIP MOVEMENT.
Puducherry has a rich heritage of many unique features of national and international importance. One among them is the unique way of peaceful living in Puducherry by the people of different religions. This unique character has been expressed on many occasions by many events. The following event was instrumental for the formation of an Inter-religious Fraternal Life Community (IRFLC) in the year 1991
In the year 1983, Fr. A.S.Antonisamy as a young catholic priest was surprised to read unusual news that a government school was named after a Christian missionary of Rev. Constantine Beschi (VERAMAMUNIVAR HIGH SCHOOL.) The newspaper also contained a report that the above initiative was taken by a non Christian teacher of that school acknowledging the contribution of the missionary to the Tamil literature.
Impressed by the broad mind of Late Mr. Sivacannappa a non Christian teacher, Fr. A.S. Antonisamy met him on the same day in that school and appreciated his goodwill. The teacher did not expect such a visit at all but all the same he was very happy to be recognized by a catholic priest. Without any feelings of difference in age and religion both of them did not realize that their friendship was born that very moment and that it would continue to grow till the death of his friend.
On the same day Fr.A.S.Antonisamy asked his friend Sivacannappa to identify a Muslim friend Immediately he introduced Fr.Antonisamy to his Muslim Friend Mohamed Hussein, the Town Cazy. It was a thrilling experience. Three of them became a first group of committed inter-religious friends and they continued to promote inter- religious friendship groups.
With a slow growth of 3 inter-religious friendship- groups consisting of 3 Hindus,3 Muslims and 3 Christians, all of them decided to form themselves as a registered society and expand it with a vision to promote the virtues of faith in God along with Justice, Equality, Freedom and Fraternity which are enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
From the year 1991 the responsibility of the registered society was shared by the following first governing members from all the religions: Latter on as and when required other governing body members were taking responsibility of the society.
1.Mr.M.M.Houssaine- President
2.Mr.S.Ramalingam- Vice President
3.Rev.Fr.A.S.Antonisamy- Secretary
4.Miss.C.Sundaram- Jt.Secretary
5.Mr.N.C.A.Gaffour- Treasurer
6.Mr.Siva Cannappah- Member
7.Mr.Lourdes Rassa- Member
8 Mr.Syed Amid- Member
9 Mr.S.Isailaiver- Member
At the end of the year 2008 there were 20 groups of inter-religious friends in two districts. From the year 2009 they had a plan to promote many more groups of inter-religious friends in as many districts and states as possible. If there is a proper planning, it is Possible to have a network of inter-religious friendship groups all over the world as a strong foundation for peace in the world.
From the year 2008 under the leadership of Hagi Charafoudine as president Mr.Duraimalyrian as Vice-President and Mr.Anto as the Secretary the society had a planned approach to promote the inter-religious friendship.
The following activities have been the initiatives of IRFLC which are replicable by others in different forms.
- Inter Religious Friends’ Day:
Three important religious festivals i.e. Deepavali, Ramzan and Christmas are celebrated by all as Inter Religious Friends Day with Participation of all Religious people.
- Inter-Religious Comparative Study.
A student of Kanchi Mamuniver Post Graduate Centre was supported to complete his PhD thesis on the servants of God in three major religions.
- Basic Education for the Poor.
Basic education at the age 4 and 5 is a period of foundation for their future development. 75 % of the children are not provided with a quality education at this age group. For two years the IRFLC gathered the poor children and organized a quality education for them. With a foundation received at that age group, such children were able to continue their education.
- Promoting unity and peace.
By supporting 100 artists the idea of One Family for peace was visualized in 100 ways through paintings. These paintings are making a great impact on the minds of the people reminding them to remain as One Family for Peace.
- Preventing violence.
On the unfortunate day When Babri Masjid was demolished the inter religious fraternal life community played a historical role by diffusing the agitating crowd at the main Mosque of Puducherry on 7th December 1992.The Honorable Chief Minister Thiru.V. Vathialingam himself came to address the mob at the Mosque and assured them of all possible support to express the sentiments of all the people of Puducherry to the Union Government of India.
- Promotion of inter-religious friendship
The making of friends, who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man’s success in life.” Edward Everett Hale
Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more people. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis.
The inter-religious Society built on the basis of friendship is trying to strengthen and spread it by promoting groups of inter-religious friends. Photos of inter- religious friends of three or four are being prepared and kept in their houses. These photos have become instruments of deepening and promoting inter-religious friendship groups.
(Photos of Inter-religious friends’ groups)
- Inter-religious Friends’ diary.
There have been many initiatives in the world to promote peace. Any initiative for peace based on friendship is like a house built on a strong foundation of a Rock. In order to promote consciously the inter-religious friendship a friendship planner is being prepared to celebrate the international friends’ day on the 1st Sunday of August and to remind everyone to promote daily the inter-religious friendship groups by different activities. Based on the activities recorded in the planner, the best promoters of inter-religious friends’ groups will be awarded every year on the international friends’ day.
- Peace Park
The IRFLC has been growing since 1991 harnessing peace among people with different religious faith. With the above backgrounds, the IRFLC has submitted a proposal to the Government of Puducherry for constituting an Inter Religious commission represented by various religious people with a purpose of building Peace and harmony among all people of Puducherry and also bridging the Govt. with the public on inter religious matters.
Consequently the Govt. may also set up a Peace Park where people from all religions can meet to interact and work for inter religious harmony. A specific place may also be identified and earmarked for developing the theme into a Peace Park.
The Inter Religious Commission may be entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the park and of conducting programmes with the financial support from the Government and if necessary, by raising fund from the Public.
When the Government of Puducherry decides to support the above proposal of Peace Park for maintaining and promoting inter-religious harmony in Puducherry it will be a pioneering project and a model to other states in India.
Fr.A.S.Antonisamy
Founder (IRFLC)
