I FOUND MY CALLING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MAULANA - Mr. Haroon Shaikh, Mumbai

member of society is one who never asks but only gives and discharges his societal duties diligently. Maulana’s ancestors had played a part in India’s freedom struggle and from the very beginning, he too imbibed nationalist ideas from early on. A Gandhian by nature, his life is full of examples of how he contributed to ensuring peace in society even during most dire circumstances. He took his guidance and inspiration from the original texts of Islam: Quran and Hadith and dedicated his life to present it in the modern idiom. He has done momentous work to dispel the notion that Islam is a religion of peace, contrary to the widespread view, which developed owing to misinterpretation of religious texts. The focus of his writings was to promote inter-faith dialogue, interactive exchange and fraternity. He established CPS International with the sole aim of spreading peace and harmony in society. His relentless efforts transformed minds of thousands of youth who were previously engaged in violence at different levels. He was a peace-loving pragmatist who regarded that a society must observe freedom and openness to allow unhindered flow of creative ideas and thoughts to sustain itself. While his departing has created a void for hundreds and thousands of his well-wishers around the world, who looked up to him as a visionary, guide and mentor. But his teachings shall be there with us for times to come. As a fervent wellwisher of mankind, his singular mission was to transform the minds of people and develop them into positive and spiritually awakened members of society. This mission, has now devolved upon all of us, in our individual or collective