City hosts seminar on secularism

Guwahati: Ram Puniyani, former professor of IIT Mumbai and Md Arif, professor Benaras Hindu University, deliberated on communal harmony, democracy and secular values at an interactive session organised by the Ajmal Foundation in the city recently.
The session was attended by educationalists and students in large numbers.
Arif talked about Gandhian philosophy that inspired him and made him put his academic career at Banaras Hindu University on the back burner to promote communal harmony, composite culture, secularism and democratic values.
"Even though the Constitution says it all, there is a need to talk about secular values," he said and explained how people were misled by political parties and vested interest groups into hating each other.
He exhorted the participants to uphold the country's composite culture and thwart the efforts of those who wanted to divide people on the lines of language, creed and faith.
Puniyani, associated with All-India Secular Forum, explained how violence in the shape of terrorism and communal strife was increasing globally and proposed that peace centres set up in cities and towns where like-minded people could discuss burning issues, read useful books and see films promoting brotherhood.
Tinat Atifa Masood, author and compère of the event, presented a cheque of Rs 20,000 to Shafikul Islam, a teacher from Barpeta district, for eradicating the problem of students dropping out of school in his area. Islam is the headmaster of 1338 No Dapnasing Mathauri LP School in Jania.
Earlier, Puniyani and Arif visited different educational institutions run by the foundation in different parts of Assam and addressed a national seminar on 'Values of National Integration and Communal Harmony' at Maryam Ajmal Women's College of Science & Technology, Hojai.