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It's a great honour for the University of South Australia to introduce
and celebrate the founding of the International Centre
for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding here in New Delhi.
It should not be too surprising that we have chosen
to launch this centre here, for there is a considerable
amount that we can learn from India.
Given India's great diversity of religious practices,
languages, customs and traditions,
it's to India we turn to learn the framing of a broader social
justice agenda and transcending that divide
between the Muslim and the non-Muslim world.
The centre will have an advocacy role as much as a
research function. Which is consistent with our
university's mission and values.
It's not only about deep scholarship, it's about
deep connectivity and diffusion of the insights.
I envisage that this centre will become a global
think tank which most people concerned with these
issues will want to turn to as an important source
for advice and also for contribution.
We want to promote understanding and friendship
between Muslims and non-Muslims.
It's critical for us, it's critical for India
it's critical for our world.
We've been able to lend our support to this
worthy course by committing as a national government
seven million Australian dollars
to support the establishment of this centre.
We're of course incredibly delighted about the support that
Minister Gillard has given this important initiative and
we hope that we won't let her expectations down.
The committment to the centre, not only by
the Australian and South Australian governments but also
by Nelson Mandela and former Prime Minister Hawke
and other world figures show it's already attracting attention.
In relation to this centre, Mr Hawke said
I believe we are at a unique point in human history
never before, he said, has mankind had the
technological capacity to deliver a decent life
to every human being and the paradox of course is that
never before have we had the capacity to
destroy civilisation as we know it.
The precondition of sensible policy
of decent attitude within society's knowledge
and understanding, the abolition of
predjudice and misinformation
and this is what we are going to be about here
To broaden and deepen understanding so that we will
have a situation where not only our leaders, but our people
will know that it is not only morally wrong to have
predjudice against people on the basis of
race, colour, gender and religion
but that it is counter productive.
As a nation and as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
we care passionately about understanding and transcending
the divide between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds
and that's why we're so welcoming of this initiative.
It's my very great pleasure to have the official responsibility
for declaring the International Centre
for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding
launched in India. Thank you for being with us for this event.
Imam Ilyasi, I wanted to know how you felt about today's event.
He first of all wants to congratulate the University of South Australia
for the wonderful work they've done in
setting in motion this great organisation.
He's also very happy that you've started the centre in India
which has the world's second largest population of Muslims.
If there was a message that you would
give to our researchers who are going to be
part of this centre, what would that be?
His message is that through this centre
we can promote the cause of peace
and global understanding.
- Excellent. Thank you very much Imam. - Thank you very much.
Me and Imam Ilyasi, who is the Imam of
hundreds and thousands of mosques in the country
and me being the leader of Hindu Mahasabha
we have travelled together, we have lived together
if I can understand him, if he can understand me
so we think everyone else can.
When you are successful in sending a message of tolerance
acceptance comes with it
and once you have accepted the other religion
I think our mission is achieved in the end.
I think India can contribute
conceptually and it has
it has been remarkably successful but I would say we have to do
a lot more on the ground to become a
real example which people will not put ifs and buts.
The Australians are doing the right thing
and they are doing it in the... starting it here, this...
institution at the right place
and India and particularly Indian Muslims
if they become, kind of come out
honestly on certain issues, they can make a great contribution
to this kind of, not just the Muslim non-Muslim
to how people can live together.
Naming a place for this kind of research, do you think that's important?
It does matter, yes it does matter
if you start it in the right place
it gives it, how should I say, the right genes as it were.
I always say one thing, remember what I'm saying
an idea will grow if it has got the right genes in it
and this idea, if they put the right genes
it will take off.