By Atma Tattva Das
In the bustling city of Jos, Nigeria, amidst the diverse trimmings of cultures and religions, Salika Das stands as a beacon of interfaith harmony and peacebuilding. As a disciple of Bhakti Tirtha Swami and the temple president at ISKCON Jos for the past 25 years, Salika’s journey has been marked by unwavering dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission of spreading Krishna consciousness and fostering understanding among different faith traditions.
This year’s UN World Interfaith Harmony Week has once again highlighted Salika’s remarkable efforts in promoting dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect among diverse communities.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week, established by the UN General Assembly in 2010, aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith. It encourages mutual understanding and interfaith dialogue to foster peace and stability in communities worldwide. This annual observance, held from February 1st to 7th, serves as a platform for individuals and organizations to showcase their commitment to interfaith cooperation.
Salika’s journey towards promoting interfaith harmony began with his involvement in intellectual university preaching and engagement with governmental and non-governmental organizations. Facing challenges in attracting devotees during the period of religious unrest in the region of Jos, Nigeria, Salika shifted his focus to intellectual preaching and active involvement in interfaith dialogue.
Reflecting on his journey, Salika shared, “I decided to focus more on intellectual university preaching…I was actively involved in teaching students on various world religions.” His dedication to education and dialogue earned him recognition from the University of Jos, where he served as a guest lecturer for over two decades.
However, Salika’s mission took on greater significance in the aftermath of the “Jos Madness” incident, a period of violent unrest between Christian and Muslim communities in Jos. Recounting the challenges of that time, Salika explained, “There was massive violence and killings…the environment we were preaching in entirely changed.” Despite the turmoil, Salika recognized the need for increased interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding efforts.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/nigerian-temple-presidents-efforts-highlighted-during-world-interfaith-harmony-week/
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