Muni Udit Kumar
Foundation of Unity of Religious and Enlightened Citizenship
The President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam inaugurated Unity of Mind' Conference organized by Jain Vishwa Bharti Institute, a Deemed University, at Ladnun, Rajasthan in the auspicious presence of Acharya Mahapragya. In this conference, 16 Religious Acharyas and Philosophers of Different Religions participated.
A declaration form was prepared after various discussions between the Religious Acharyas. On 15th of October 2003, this Declaration Form was unanimously accepted and signed by all the participants of this conference in the presence of our President and Acharya Shri Mahapragya. Everybody heartily admired the efforts taken by the President and Acharya Shri and promised to contribute for this noble cause and it was published as 'Surat Spiritual Declaration.'
The incidence of celebrating the Birthday of the President of India in the presence of Acharya Shri has indeed become a historical event. The President stayed for around four hours in the large and attractive Terapanth Bhavan at Surat with Acharya Shri.
The five projects and activities of the Surat Declaration are as follows:
- Celebration of religious festivals and functions.
- Multi-Religious Projects
- Education in and with the ambience of Unity of Religions
- Inter-Faith Dialogue.
- Formation of an independent and autonomous organization at national level, which will be managed by various Religious Gurus and Acharyas including intellectuals, scholars and enlightened citizens.
On the basis of this 5th Project the "Foundation of Unity of Religions and Enlightened Citizenship," (FUREC) was started on 15th June 2004. FUREC is a Non-Profit Organization set up to sustain the human spirit on the basis of the acceptance of, and respect for all religions, spirituality, economic well being and the practice of Non-Violence.
The Programme of FUREC will be organized at individual and social levels so as to develop better harmony between different religions, eradication of poverty and developing a non-violent human being. A series of programmes have already been organized by FUREC.
Acharya Mahapragya and the President are like the mentors of FUREC. There are religious Gurus in the Core Committee. The Executive Committee consists of six members and one Co-ordinator.
The discourses of Acharya Mahapragya in the lecture series of Surat Mahanagar Palika, the Bi-centenary Celebration of Bhikshu Nirvan Day, Jayacharya's Bi-centenary Birth Celebration, a warm welcome by the Muslims dominated - Limbayat, are some of the important activities at Surat during His Highness's, stay at Surat. In the zone of Maharashtra, Khandesh, people of all castes and creeds participated in the Ahimsa Yatra with full enthusiasm.
