Prejudice can be fought by encouraging multi-cultural festivals and celebrations of religious holidays, said the Indian spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the wake of terrorist attacks in Norway.
Text: Saroj Chumber
Usually it is anger and revenge people wish for such an attack. We saw this after 11 September in New York, and after bomb explosions in Mumbai in India. Many people wanted revenge. But in Norway, people have reacted in a completely different way, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
It was a full house at the Hall (Folkets Hus) in Oslo 8 August, when the spiritual leader made a plea for violence-free and prejudice-free society. Mayor Fabian Stang, singer and actress Mia Gundersen, and lawyer and Liberal politician Abid Q. Raja was among the speakers.
Ravi Shankar, or Guruji (spiritual leader), as he is often called by his followers, came to Norway in the wake of terrorist attacks in Norway 22 July.
He is impressed by the compassion and love Norwegians have shown after the tragedy.
Multicultural education
Right-wing youth pose a threat to world peace. Although they are in the minority, right-wing extremists can make the world an unsafe place, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The Indian spiritual leader believes that society should look at the man (human) in the extremists, to change their thinking.
- Multi-cultural and multi-religious education is essential to take the prejudice at its roots, and to create brotherhood among all communities, he said.
What you learn in school about other religions and cultures is not enough. The focus is on tolerance, but people must go a step further. We must not only tolerate each other, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He wants a more secular and dynamic training.
- People should get to know other cultures, and this can be done by participating actively in multicultural festivals and celebrations, he said.
Dialogue with racists
Shankar has the belief that no one is lost. Therefore he believes that right extremists Anders Behring Breivik should have the opportunity to rehabilitation.
- I believe in rehabilitation, because inside every criminal there is also a victim, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
He praises Abid Q. Raja for his initiative to have dialogue with young people.
In his speech, Abid Q. Raja said that he wants dialogue with right-wing extremists. Raja got the Freedom of Expression Foundation Prize in 2010 for creating venues for dialogue on issues that are important in the public debate.
- Dialogue is very important. It can be hard and brutal but still be honest. Let the racists in the debate, and we will dialogue with them. We will manage to create changes in society, said the Liberal politician Abid Raja to the assembly of the People's House.
Raja concluded his appeal by asking the wider community to include immigrants.
- It is not possible for immigrants to integrate into Norwegian society alone.
Integration is important
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also emphasizes the integration among different immigrant groups.
- I understand that immigrants want to preserve their traditions and religion, but this can also be done while they integrate themselves into society. Isolation from the large community is never a solution. It is possible to find a way to preserve their culture while respecting the values of society man lives in. Indians are generally well integrated into society. I see young Norwegian Indians, and they can well to mix their parents' traditions and values of the Norwegian.
But what if these traditions are in conflict with Norwegian values?
- Any act which is contrary to human dignity as murder or barbaric actions such as cutting the hands are not right, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
