ME AND MAULANA: A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION OF WAHIDUDDIN KHAN - John M. Butt

country and his way of peace gives a new understanding about Islam, Islam’s tenets of peace, I think that is most needed today, where there is so much fractionalism, fanaticism and small mindedness, Wahiduddin Khan’s philosophy and his interpretation is most valuable. I think it’s greatly needed in the world today. He has that composite nature of understanding, accommodating other viewpoints as well, and harmony in diversity is one of his main sutras. I think it’s a very valuable mission aimed at bringing peace to people. –Sri Sri Ravi Shankar I am encouraged by the work that he is doing, in particular, the emphasis on the primacy of peace. It is so important in our world and particularly in this 21st century when there are so many different religions all intermingling with one another, so many other different perspectives of life. It is extremely important that we learn how to live together well and that means we need to work actively for peace. Peace is not a concept, a thing that happens without people doing things, you need to work for peace, to promote peace and certainly the work that Maulana is doing. I would encourage him and people in all religions to work for that deep peace and that deep understanding which I think is the way forward for our work in the 21st century. –Bishop Richard lan Cheetham: Bishop of Kingston, Church of England A great champion of interfaith dialogue and harmony, he believed in the power of dialogue (rather than debate which provokes strife and negativity). –Amitabh Mattoo: Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University