No Conflict is Unsolvable
By Craig Considine
L to R: Professor Akbar Ahmed,
Tridivesh Singh Maini and a distinguished scholar
|
New author Tridivesh Singh Maini
launched his new book South Asian Cooperation and the
Role of the Punjab’s on March 22nd at the School
of International Service at American University. The former
Masters Student had a panel following the launch which was
chaired by Ambassador Akbar Ahmed. Tridivesh acknowledged
Ahmed as his guide and mentor who has encouraged him towards
dialogue and coexistence. He also acknowledged Dean Louis
Goodman who welcomed the distinguished audience as a true
teacher and patron.
The essence of Maini’s book is that using cooperation
and dialogue can pave the way for a coexistent relationship,
the citizens of the region can help bring peace and more stability
to one of the most dangerous regions in the world. Maini’s
promising ideas offers hope to a region that is one new clash
away from a potential nuclear conflict with devastating results.
The bond and peaceful relationship that Maini stresses is
critical to the whole world, not just these two nations.
During his presidency, President Clinton called Southeast
Asia the most dangerous place in the world because tow major
nuclear powers with a combined population of over a billion
people face each other in an uneasy truce. It is important
for Americans to understand this important but somewhat neglected
part of the world. We are grateful for a young scholar like
Tridivesh Singh for showing us the way forward towards dialogue,
friendship and coexistence between Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.
To Maini, the first step in creating peace is to resolve the
problematic nature of the conflict unraveling in the Punjab
region. The book searches for harmony in a world where everybody
is denying it. He rediscovers the roots of the Sikh faith
by exploring ideas such as compassion and tolerance. In doing
so, Maini has reaffirmed his own South Asian traditions of
inter-religious understanding because the great Sufi saints
were closely allied to the founders of the Sikh faith. By
better understanding their perspective cultures and by forging
new economic agreements, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs can live
in a more prosperous region that benefits all people.
Numerous panelists also contributed greatly to the importance
of this event. Dr. Rajwant Singh, a Sikh from the Washington
DC community, stated that very few scholars such as Maini
have discussed the deteriorating relationship between India
and Pakistan. Singh believes that all faiths must come together
to work in reconciliation so that a strong future can be built
in which interfaith communication builds bridges rather than
burns them. Ambassador Anthony Quainton called for recapturing
Punjab identity by creating worthwhile agreements that meet
the needs of both sides. He believes that it is up to the
Indian and Pakistani people to find commonalities in their
culture so that these two nations can live in harmony and
peace. The ideas that Maini exhibited in his book have inspired
not only the students and faculty at American University but
people of all faiths in the Washington community. Professor
Venturelli was one who was especially appreciative of Maini’s
work because as an individual of Indian descent she realizes
the necessity for cooperation and coexistence in this region
for this generation and for our children.
Mowahid Shah, the senior advisor of the chief minister of
the Punjab province in Pakistan, summarized Maini’s
book and the event perfectly by stating that what the regions
needs is an acceleration of understanding through language,
arts, infrastructure, love for humanity, and a celebration
of our differences rather than ridiculing them. For peace
to prevail there must be right rather than might. Pointing
fingers will no longer work in the region because every society
needs to self-correct its own problems. Maini added that the
books significance lays in the foundation to establish positive
vested interests within a symbiotic relationship while creating
a cohesive identity between multiple religions.
In the end, Ahmed congratulated Maini for his efforts and
said he believed that his was the best way for the future
of South Asia, adding that Maini has become an ambassador
between the different traditions and religions of the region.
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