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THRISSUR – A three-day grand Ulema conference, which concluded in Thrissur city in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Sunday, underscored the need for fostering the pluralist values to safeguard the integrity and secular fabric of the world’s largest democracy. Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the valedictory session of the conference in which the keynote speaker was Sheikh Abubaker Ahmed Kanthapuaram, general secretary of All India Sunni Jameyatul Ulema. About 15,000 religious scholars attended the conference, with the central theme of “Muslim Renaissance in the Kerala context,” organized by the Samasta Kerala Jameyatul Ulema. E. Sulaiman Musliyar, president of Samastha, presided over the session.
Inaugurating the session, Chief Minister Vijayan lauded the efforts being made by Samastha in upholding values of humanity and tolerance in India’s pluralist society. He urged the scholars to stand united in safeguarding these values and prepare the society to confront the potential challenges facing it.
In his keynote address, Kanthapuram, who is also general secretary of Samastha, warned against the attempts being made to divide the people in the country. “Nowadays, some organizations are spreading hate and terror in the name of religions. At the same time minorities are being hunted everywhere in the country and we don’t know what type of development the communalists are planning with the hate politics and violation of human rights,” he said while emphasizing that Samastha can’t soften the stance against those who are attempting to divide the people in the country.
The scholar also appealed to the state government to craft a truthful history of Muslim renaissance and cultural tradition of Mappila Muslims. Samastha will conduct several programs to make aware to the people about the renaissance and social reforms led by reformers including families of Makhdooms, Sayyids and Qaziz in the state.
Prominent Islamic scholars presented working papers in the seminar on the topic of ‘The Muslim religious life in the secular scenario of India,’ held as part of the conference. Panels concluded the session with appreciating the pluralistic approach of Indian constitution and praising the validity of Islamic jurisprudence. The debate session on Ulema activism underlined the need to empower the community through science and technology. Dr. Muhammed Abdul Hakeem Azhari, Dr. Abdu Salam, and Sheikh Basher Faizee led the session.
The conference began with a cultural session on Friday. Sayyid Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari, chairman of the program committee, hoisted the flag. C.N. Jaydevan member of Parliament, inaugurated the event, which was chaired by Kanthapuram. Veteran writer Alankode Leelakrishnan delivered the keynote address. N. Ali Abdulla, Ravunni, Jose Vallur, Adv. C.V Francis, and Karim Vengadang spoke.
