SRINAGAR: A two-day international conference on “Conservation
of Environment and role of religion” began at Nowgam Campus-I of the
Central University of Kashmir (CUK) on Wednesday. The Conference is
being organized by the Department of Religious Studies, CUK in
collaboration with the Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi.
Academicians and experts from different parts of the world are
participating in the conference.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor, CUK Prof. Mehraj ud Din
Mir expressed his happiness over the presence of the galaxy of
luminaries from different parts of the country and the world under one
roof. He said, “I am happy, despite many challenges, a good number of
scholars from outside the country have joined us and dignitaries from
different socio-religious backgrounds are sitting under one roof that
has been the illustrious tradition of Kashmir.” Highlighting the role
of religion in preserving human values, Prof. Mehraj ud Din said that
religion has a vital role to play in safeguarding the environment.
Among those present on the occasion included Vice-Chancellor Central
University of Jammu Prof Ashok Aima, Vice-Chancellor Islamic
University of Science and Technology (IUST) Prof. Mushtaq A Siddiqi,
Prof Lenord J Swidler, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, Mufti
Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti Emeritus of Bosnia, Prof Z M Khan,
Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi, Deans, Heads and
Coordinators of the varsity, Professors of CUK, Professors of
University of Kashmir, religious scholars, environmental and social
activists, scholars and students of various departments of CUK.
In his Keynote address, Prof Lenord Swidler laid the emphasis on the
significance of dialogue in human society. He said, “If we look at it
keenly we will find that the whole Universe is in the constant state
of dialogue between mass and energy.” Further emphasizing the need for
dialogue for solving the problems that humanity is facing today Prof
Lenord said,” Nobody knows everything about anything, therefore,
dialogue.” He made the audience to repeat these words with him a
couple of times.
In his welcome address Head of the Department of Religious Studies,
CUK Prof Hamidullah Marazi underlined various critical themes of the
conference and welcomed the local and the foreign guests. He thanked
all the guests and especially the Vice-Chancellor CUK for his support
in conducting the conference.
Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Mufti Mustafa Ceric highlighted the importance
of purification of the human soul in order to solve the problems like
environmental pollution. He said, “The question of the environment is
the question of all questions in our times but when we talk about the
environmental pollution we have to understand it is one of the
offshoots of the pollution that we have created inside ourselves.” He
said that the man’s greed to possess nature is leading to the
destruction. The Grand Mufti blamed the power imbalance in the world
for the ills. He said, “Dialogue is no doubt is necessary for our
survival but those who are powerful don’t care about the weak and the
weaker section cannot initiate the dialogue.” Mufti Mustafa further
said, “We are living perhaps in the deepest moral crises of all times
because when we know what we are doing is wrong and we are still doing
it that leads to strong moral crises.” Suggesting a way out from the
crises Mufti Mustafa said, “Each one of us needs to build his or her
own Noah’s Arc and that Arc is to cleanse our souls.”
Rector Darul Uloom Bandipora Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi also spoke on the
occasion. Mufti Nazir quoted from the Holy Quran and Hadith and draw
home the point that Allah has directed human beings to use natural
resources judiciously. He said, “Conservation and preservation of
water and other natural resources is a religious obligation for all
mankind and not complying is a violation against the compassion of
the Creator.”
Dr Z M Khan from Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi said, “We
are not the owners of this nature, but have been made the trustees
only and it is imperative to use the natural resources with the
highest sense of responsibility.”
While speaking ob the function Vice-Chancellor Central University of
Jammu Prof. Ashok Aima said, “It is high time that we start to create
the public ownership of our natural assets for our posterity that is
how we can preserve our precious natural wealth.”
Dean Research and Development, CUK Prof Mohammad Aslam also spoke on
the occasion and said that mankind has a duty towards the nature that
is to be fulfilled at all costs otherwise the disasters are
inevitable.
A book release ceremony was also held at the occasion in which books
of Professor Hamidullah Marazi, Dr Showkat Ahmad Shah and Mr Maqbool
Ferozi were released.
The dignitaries present on the occasion also felicitated Alhaj Manzoor
Ahmed Wangnoo, Chairman Nigeen Lake Conservation, Dr Naseer Ahmad,
Chairman Dr Naseer’s Group of Unani and Panchkarma Hospital, Abdul
Raheem Bhat, Chairman Raheem Greens, Dr Sheikh Gulam Rasool, RTI
activist and Arif Shafi Wani, Correspondent Greater Kashmir for their
contribution in the field of environment protection.
Vote of thanks was presented by Dr Mued uz Zafar and the proceedings
were conducted by Dr Showkat Ahmad Shah, both Assistant Professors at
the Department of Religious Studies, CUK.
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