Inter-religious conclave on May 9 to call for rejecting extremism

The event will feature eminent artist T. M. Krishna delivering the keynote address, with Najeeb Jung serving as session chair. Panel discussions will include leaders from the Ramakrishna Mission, the Archdiocese of Bombay, and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Remarks from Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas, Rajni Bakshi, Joy Sengupta, and Dr. Surinder Kaur highlighted ethnocentrism, compassion, and bridging gaps, underscoring that religions should learn from each other and avoid extreme, harmful action. IRSC stated the conclave aims to promote peace and harmony through dialogue and shared cultural practices, and the program will conclude with an evening of Carnatic music by T. M. Krishna and his team.

Keshav Chandra Das, convenor of IRSC and a functionary of ISKCON, and Irfan Engineer, co-convenor of IRSC and director of CSSS, addressed the press ahead of the event. Das described the initiative as urgent for fostering social harmony in polarised times. Engineer noted that shared religious values such as compassion, truth, and service to humanity can strengthen India’s social fabric and reduce hatred. The conclave is described as bringing together religious leaders, civil society members, academics, and intellectuals to discuss two main themes and encourage dialogue across faiths.