Referring to the recent barbaric incident in Assam wherein a photographer was jumping on a dead body, Pankaj Chaturvedi, a renowned journalist and author, pointed out the sick mentality which gives birth to such kind of hate incidents. Mr. Chaturvedi was addressing a webinar on “Towards Healthy Mind, Healthy Body and Healthy Society,” organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on September 26.
Mr. Chaturvedi added that the boy with his physical appearance looked as if he were a religious person but was doing exactly opposite to the teaching of his religion. “By simply putting on religious attire, one cannot become religious unless and until his heart and mind is inclined to the basic teachings of religion,” he observed.
Another eminent speaker participating in the webinar, KC Raghu, a writer, columnist and founder of Pristine Organics, spoke on the importance of societal health along with the health of an individual. He said, “Our health has been hijacked by our society and the hatred and animosity affects our genes, and societal well-being has huge impact on individual well-being. Discrimination also impacts our gene. Inclusive atmosphere will help us to build a healthy society and divisive atmosphere will impact negatively.”
Prof. Ajeet Jha, member of Presidium of Swaraj India, spoke on the impact of the pandemic, the insensitivity of the people at the helm of affairs. He laid stress on the lessons to be learnt from the pandemic. According to him, the health of the society where peace prevails and no violence takes place is comparatively better as compared to places where there is hate and violence.
Presiding over the webinar, JIH president Syed Sadatullah Husaini said that communalism, communal hatred, hate speeches, narrow political interests, fake news and propaganda are more dangerous viruses than Covid-19.
The JIH leader opined, “The biggest challenge of time is the health of the society. Because, at present, viruses of communalism, communal hatred, hate speeches, narrow political interests, fake news, and propaganda are infecting the society, which is more dangerous than coronavirus. In the same way, injustices and inequalities are the diseases of the society. Even, Covid crisis made rich richer and poor poorer. Covid was used to create communal hatred. Medicines were sold on the black market. Lifesaving injections were stolen. Fake injections were administered to dying people. Crores of labourers were ignored as if they were not human beings. A moral crisis is the biggest poison. It will consume everyone. So, we all have to work hard to wipe out these evils of the society.”
Delivering the inaugural speech, JIH Vice President Mohammed Jafar underlined that a healthy society should be free of criminal and communal mindsets. He said, “People’s mentality should be well prepared for carrying out rights and duties and understanding each other. If somebody’s mind functions rightly, his body works properly as well. Otherwise, he will become destructive for the society and will involve in destructive activities.”
The programme was compered by Sharafuddin B.S. and vote of thanks was extended by Waris Hussain.