(A Report on the First International
Conference of Elders of Ancient Traditions and Cultures, held between Feb
4 to Feb 9, 2003)
Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan
"Udaaracharitaanaam vasudhaiva kuthumbakam"-"For
the large-hearted people, the whole world is one family"-so declared our
ancient Vedic seers. An ancient Tamil sage proclaimed: "Yaatum oore, yaavarum
kelir"-"The entire world is my native place and all are related". It is
the same ideal that surged up in the hearts of more than one hundred and
eighty delegates from about forty countries who represented various ancient
religions and traditions of the world in the First International Conference
and Gathering of the Elders of Ancient Traditions and Cultures held at
"Keshav Shrushthi", the 200 acre beautiful and spacious international campus
of the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabhodhini, at Utthan near Bhaynder West in Mumbai.
In one voice all of them responded "Ahoy!"-"Yes!"-when the slogan "Mitakuye
Oyasin"-"We are all related"-was raised.
Sri Faggan Singh Kulasthe, Union
Minister of State for Tribal Welfare, inaugurated the conference on the
morning of Tuesday, February 4, 2003, in the presence of Elders of various
tribal religions and traditions of the world and Smt. Indu Jain, the Managing
Director of Times of India Group. The occasion was marked by the rendering
of the prayers for peace and brotherhood in various tribal languages of
the world by the elders representing diverse traditions. During the five
day conference about two hundred papers were presented on varying themes
like the Concept and Role of Elders in Ancient Traditions, Threat
to the Ancient Tradition from Various Sources, Revival of Ancient Traditions'
Various Experiments, Spirituality-Metaphysics and Ancient Traditions,
World Council of Elders-Role and What Next, Indigenous Medicines-Present
and Future, and Introducing Ancient Traditions. The morning hours were
devoted to the demonstration of worship, prayers and havan according to
different traditions of the world and the evening hours were full of cultural
programmes bringing on one stage the cultural and aesthetic heritage of
the various tribes and cultures of the world.
Among the dignitaries who addressed
the conference were Sri K.S. Sudharshan, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh, who threw light on the threat posed by conversion and globalization
to the various cultures and traditions of the world. The most important
resolution that was passed in the conference is the historic "Mumbai Manifesto",
a unanimously adopted proclamation on 9th February 2003. The proclamation
giving a clarion call to the children of Mother Earth to unite was signed
by 184 delegates from the various countries of the world representing various
traditions and cultures.
MUMBAI MANIFESTO
Preamble:
At the start of the New Millennium,
humanity stands at critical crossroads of history. In the midst of tremendous
strides in scientific and technological progress and material comforts,
there is an urgent need for spiritual and moral resurgence for ensuring
the well-being of the human family, for preserving the larger living world
and for strengthening the foundations of durable universal peace.
We the participants at the First
International Conference and Gathering of the Elders of the Ancient Traditions
and Cultures and Children of the Mother Earth firmly affirm the following:
I. We assert that all human beings
are born equal and have equal rights to live peacefully on Mother Earth.
* Peace and Prosperity, at global
level, can be realized only when the conflicts within and between the communities
vanish and we develop the spirit of tolerance.
* We vow to strive for World Peace
and Prosperity, by working towards achieving a bond of
humanity between different cultures, traditions and by bringing about the
synthesis of the cultures of East, West, North and South of Mother Earth
II. This sacred universe, full of
mysteries, is the Divine Manifestation. All of us have drawn inspiration
from our rich heritage passed on to us by our ancestors, who as a part
of their spiritual pursuit, had realized that The Omniscient and The Omnipotent
Divinity manifests in different forms. We affirm that
* We consider ourselves an integral
part of the Divine Creation and should relate to each other as Children
of Mother Earth.
* All spiritual and religious traditions
and humanitarian philosophies ultimately lead us all to the same divinity
and same salvation.
III. We have inherited from our
ancestors, rites and rituals to invoke and honour Divinity, by different
names and forms. We proclaim that-
* We have equal rights to follow
our own traditions, rituals and spiritual and religious philosophies that
are not harmful or threatening to others' existence.
* If we follow these rites and rituals
properly, which are in perfect tune with nature and environment, it can
solve many environmental problems, humanity is facing today.
* It is time for all of us to come
together and revive the ancient traditions and customs which are in tune
with scientific and spiritual knowledge for promoting an understanding
within communities and globally.
IV. We declare that we shall work
towards
* Reducing all sorts of exploitation
that have continued in the name of race, religion and economy.
* Highlighting the pains and trauma
of religious conversions made on the presumption that others' traditions,
cultures or religions are inferior and thus create an awareness to stop
any religious conversions.
* Bringing about an understanding
within different cultures and build up an atmosphere that will be conducive
to the development of humanity as a whole.
CHILDREN OF THE MOTHER EARTH UNITE!
The conference ended with a grand
valedictory function addressed by His Holiness Acharya Mahapragnya of the
Anuvrat Movement and Dr. Shankar Tattwavadi, the Pracharak In charge of
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in countries outside India, held in the Terapanthi
Bhavan at Kandivali, Mumbai.
The World Council of Elders of Ancient
Traditions and Cultures in association with Times Foundation will hold
the Second International Conference and Gathering of Elders at Washington
DC, USA, from 13th to 16th July 2006. The proposed International Conference
is aimed at looking within oneself for the true spirit of spirituality
and cultural legacy that one is inheriting as part of one's tradition or
Dharma (way of life). The conference will explore the spiritual experiences
of various cultures and try to understand the underlying similarities.
Mitakuye Oyasin! Vande Bhoomi Mataram!
