Shanti

Arvind Vora, an Indian American, has been active in promoting peace and religious understanding through the Shanti Fund (shanti means peace) and the Multi-Faith forum on Long Island. They provide education in schools at every level and community groups. He has been recognized for his leadership in this field by the President Bill Clinton of the United States, Pope John Paul XXIII, the Indian President and international bodies. Mr. Vora's own religious background is Jainism and he is a Founding Member of the Jain Society of Long Island, the Federation of JAINA and Secretary of the Jain Center of America. He is also a founding Member of the India Association of Long Island and Executive director of the Federation of Indian Association , NY.

Lois and I met with him this morning at the Bagel Chalet in Commack and were pleased to learn of all the people we may meet through his contacts. And there may be people in Bombay, representing different religious backgrounds and educational institutions that he may connect us with.

As for his own feelings about Partition, he says his family was "far removed from any tragedy."

Lois and I wondered if this was because of their geographical location or the fact that as Jains their outlook was calmer and more accepting of the way things are.

I will send him a pamphlet from Lend a Hand, India as he is interested in learning about the group.

A very good start to the day and to our Partition Project.

Kick Off Meeting

Today Lois hosted Jimmy, Margaret, Gerard and me with a lovely Indian meal at her home. We talked about the trip, and hashed out dates and itinerary. We plan to leave for Mumbai on 10/8 and return from Delhi on 10/29. Along the way we will visit Nagpur, the site of the founding of the Church of India 40 years ago. Enos has invited us to attend the ceremony with him and the Archbishop of Canterbury!

From there we will go on to Agra and visit Etah from there. Hopefully attend a church service, meet with school people and see Villages, hospital, and whatever elswe they may think we should see. I hope we have a chance for some real talk about their vision for the Christian community there and for the schools. I would like for us to be able to make a contribution that will be meaningful. It may be that the support we send every year is the most meaningful thing we could possible do.

After Agra/Etah we will go to Delhi to reconnect with Enos and the Church of North India staff. We expect to stay at the Bhavan and to visit outreach projects of CNI. Then on to Kalimpong with Enos and Darjeeling before heading back to Delhi and home.

We talked today also about our project to explore with Indians we know and will meet their family history surrounding partition. This cataclysmic event informs so much of what we see today between India and Pakistan and effects their relationships with the US. And it has an impact on everyone on the subcontinent. Lois, Margaret and I are reading Freedom at Midnight, the story of the events immediately leading up to and following partition on August 15, 1947. I remember how upset my mother was about this and how she blamed Ali Jinnah for the bloodshed and horror that followed. And the fight rages on with Kashmir as the desired prize. We have some leads from Tom Goodhue of the Long Island Council of Churches of people we can talk to about this. Hopefully they will be able to feel some catharsis from talking to neutral parties (not really) and can help us to formulate a good way to go about having conversations with people we meet during our travels.

Our next meeting is not for another month, but in the meantime Jimmy will be speaking with Dave Hudson and Bill Edwards. Margaret suggested pursuing an end run around the Presbytery committee that did not fund our grant request. We are still seeking funds to cover her airfare and internal transportation costs. Hopefully that can come from the Peacemaking Committee, chaired by Rev. Bill Edwards, Pastor Emeritus of FPC Smithtown.