New Delhi (Agency): Renowned for its vibrant diversity, India has been a significant amalgamation of various religions and cultures for centuries. This sentiment was echoed by Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor, who elucidated the role of Islam as one with a significant “position of pride” within India’s wide-ranging religious panorama.
During a gathering at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, Doval delineated these sentiments to an audience that included Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League. Al-Issa, who was visiting India, had the opportunity to experience firsthand the harmonious blend of India’s multicultural society.
Doval extended his admiration to Al-Issa, recognizing him as a veritable representative of moderate Islam on a global scale. He commended Al-Issa’s profound scholarly grasp of Islam and his ability to bridge gaps between different cultural contexts.
The National Security Advisor further emphasized the solid foundations of the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia. He suggested that the bond between the two nations is not merely based on shared cultural heritage and economic ties but extends to common values and a shared vision for the future.
Further substantiating the essence of India as a land of diversity, Doval remarked that the country has always been a crucible of various cultures, religions, languages, and ethnicities. He highlighted India’s remarkable capacity to preserve its diverse heritage while providing an inclusive space for all citizens, irrespective of their religious, ethnic, or cultural identities.
With its second-largest Muslim population globally, Doval underscored that Islam in India is not just another religion but holds a unique and significant position of pride. He added that the size of India’s Muslim population was equivalent to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a statement that reflects the profound imprint of Islam on India’s cultural fabric.