A Study of Religion

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MR. RAVINDRA MOHAN CHOPRA (14 January, 1934 in Haticabat, West Punjab is a worthy son, aborting dedication to social work and literary disposition from his worthy father Late Dr. Hira Lall Chopra, MA, (Punjab) D. Litt (Tehran, the well-known litterateur and social worker of Kolkata Mr. Chopra had a brilliant academic career throughout culminating in his getting First-Class First in MA in Islamic History of Culture, from Calcutta University in the year 1956. In his professional field he had been a top executive with Turner Morrison Group of Companies which be joined in 1962. When in 1965 Industry Representatives were first taken in the top position of Shellac Export Promotion Council, Mr. Chopra joined it as the first elected Vice-Chairman. He was also Vice-President of the Indian Lac Exporters Association and, subsequently, a member of the Executive Committee of the Indian Mining Association and Chairman of the Calcutta Selected Coal Association. He is now well established in his own business of Millstore items, Hand Tools and Drilling Accessories.

Mr. Chopra is a social worker of repute and was District Governor of District 322-B of Lions Clubs International in 1981-82 and his slogan was REACH THE NEEDY. During his tenure considerable work was done for the benefit of the physically and visually handicapped persons in urban and rural areas.

Mr. Chopra is a widely travelled man in India and abroad. He has travelled in the USA, England and France. In January 2009, he travelled to Tehran and Isfahan in Iran through the courtesy of Dr. Karim Najafi, Cultural Counsellor to the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran in India, where he attended the Sixth International Congress of Teachers of Persian Language and Literature which was held in commemoration of the 30" Anniversary of the Revolution in Iran.

A study of religions concerns enduring question about religions, human society, and the meaning individuals and communities make in life. The study of different religions also facilitates interaction with people of other religions and their cultural, historical, intellectual, and social phenomena. This also provides a basic understanding of major religious traditions of the world, their-ethico-social and mystical approach to religion but more so a deep understanding of their fundamental principles and philosophical concerns such as ethical foundation, metaphysics and the nature and form of salvation. I also feel that studying such material is bound to give one richer and more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices regarding sacred, numinous, spiritual and divine.

Another reason why one should undertake study of different religions is the analysis of influential cultural definition of individual and social identity as it will contribute significantly and distinctively to our knowledge of human nature, global cultures, diversity and ethical standards and practices.

This subject has assumed greater importance in the contemporary world as we are living in pluralistic societies which contain people belonging to diverse groups of religious cultures and traditions. Pluralistic societies now exist around the world which contain many different religious groups. There is constant mutual interaction between these groups in one and the same society. For maintaining civic peace, tranquillity and harmony, it has become imperative for those religious groups to tolerate each other and build relationships. Pluralism is more than mere tolerance of differences - it requires knowledge of them. Tolerance is no doubt important but it does little to remove our ignorance of one another. In order to overcome preconceived notions, constituents of the society have to be educated to know the basics of other religions. This involves understanding people with different religious beliefs and knowing the fundamentals of their religions. In the contemporary world it is impossible for anyone religion to exist in splendid isolation and ignore the others. In spite of science, technology and modernity dominated scenario religious freedom remains one of the most cherished and treasured liberates of mankind.

**Contents and Sample Pages**