Headmaster takes students on tour for religious harmony in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: It's often said that well begun is half done and when it comes to promoting communal harmony, there is perhaps no better way of doing it than allowing children an opportunity to be exposed to the many splendours of a multitude of religious faiths and beliefs - early in their lives, so that impressionable young minds can be best tapped for inculcating a sense of respect for religious and cultural diversity.
That is precisely what a headmaster at a higher primary school 48km from here has been doing.
Every year, for the last 12 years, Edward D'Souza, headmaster at the government higher primary school, Kattadabailu, has been taking schoolchildren to places of worship of various religions in order to let them understand first-hand what religious harmony and peaceful co-existence are all about.
"The idea of religious harmony was something that I had been exposed to since I was a child and I wanted to spread the same," said D'Souza, explaining the motive behind his novel initiative, which saw 15 students joining the tour this time on April 12.
Sharing details of the visit, D'Souza said the journey begins at a mosque in Guruvayankere, where the mosque head leads a guided tour, while speaking about Islam, 'namaz' and other aspects of the religion and also holds a prayer. This is followed by a visit to Shirdi Satya Sai Kendra in Halekote.
Children also given a message on co-existence
Later, they are taken to St Lawrence Cathedral, Syro Malabar Catholic Church, in Belthangady, where the children interact with Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Bishop of Diocese of Belthangady, and learn about Christianity.
Later, they are taken to Shree Rama Kshethra, Kanyadi, where the seer interacts with the children and offers insights into the Hindu religion.
The religious site visit is completed at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple.
Children are then allowed to speak to Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade. "This time, though, they didn't get an opportunity to meet Heggade since he was out of station," D'Souza said.
The day ends with the children visiting D'Souza's house, where they are given a message on co-existence, among other things.
Villagers and parents extended their full support: D'Souza
D'Souza, who has been a teacher for the past three decades, had decided to stop this initiative when the country was witnessing communal violence, lest his efforts be construed negatively.
"But the SDMC, villagers and parents encouraged me to continue it and they all extended their full support," D'Souza added.