It was a pleasure to see Google search icon present Abdul Sattar Edhi, the man who is the definition of unselfish love. This is the second unselfish Icon from the Subcontinent; the other one was Mother Teresa.

Both of them believed in God’s boundaries – our boundary is Planet earth and all that is in its gravity, they did not believe in artificial boundaries of race, religion or region. That is indeed the definition of Piety.  Piety is not worshiping God all day and observing all the rituals wearing the robes and reciting the holy scriptures or dispossessing materialism and going naked in Himalayas. Piety is practicing the ultimate,  to become God-like with prejudice towards none.

This Google Emblem will be noticed by at least 10 Billion people in one single day and I hope it inspires all of us to be like him. The world is better today because of men like Edhi, and women like Mother Teresa. Mr. Edhi was a genuine pluralist, he had not barrier between him and another soul. He cared for everyone, and per Islam he is Muslim the highest order – a pious one  who cared for all of God’s creation.

Indeed, he found a lost girl in a train station, and on the top of it she had speech impediment and could not speak.  Somehow, his wife identified her to be a Hindu Girl thru signs, so they decided to raise her as a Hindu girl in a Muslim environment in Pakistan by taking her to the Hindu Temple and providing her Hindu environment.  Several years later they found her parents in India, and the man safely returned their daughter to them.  That is a true human! There was an India movie made close to this story – in an opposite way – Bajrangi Bhaijan, it would be a movie we will be teaching Pluralism in our courses.

I am glad to see the big corporations taking the responsibility to promote diversity and value the people who have contributed to the well being and goodwill.

Many articles have been written and shared by me, but at this time, I am sharing the ones I could locate immediately where he is mentioned.

My Civil Heroes:
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-civil-heroes-and-president-obama.html

Muslim Role Models:
http://www.countercurrents.org/ghouse061213.htm

Pluralism is the way to go forward

By the end of 2020, there will not be a major city in America, and perhaps in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, interacting and marrying together.

This is bound to create social and personal conflicts harming the smooth functioning of your local community or the corporation. We need to prepare ourselves for those eventualities, and to prevent possible conflicts, lay a good foundation for nurturing goodwill and effective functioning of the societies.

Exclusive work places will become a thing of the past.  If you live amidst others, you must make an effort to know each other.

Each one of us tunes into a radio station called WIFM: “What’s In It For Me.”  Diversity is beneficial to any organization.

You are who you are, and I am who I am. As long as we don’t mess with each other’s space, sustenance and nurturence, and mind our own business, we all will do well.

All our problems emanate from not knowing each other and the inherent xenophobic attitudes.

The Center for Pluralism is committed to organize events to promote “knowing each other” effectively.  Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of the otherness of others.

What is the Big deal about Diversity?

Every organization is made up of people who are loyal and committed to the prosperity and profitability of the organization.  While a majority of the board members, associates and employees stick to the guidelines for a smooth sail, a few don’t and pull down the productivity of entire group.

The old fashioned method was to fire the ones who do not conform, and that turned out to be expensive proposition in keep replacing employees, the smart ones have figured out the answer:  Pluralism.

This purposeful workshop would be beneficial not only to the corporate executives, but also to the Ambassadors of many countries who are housed in Washington DC.  All of us want members of our family, fellow employees at our offices, nations, work places and places of worship to function cohesively and effectively.  An effective organization is most productive and a joy to work.

Mike Ghouse