November 27, 2012: Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore, South India, has said
that rethinking religion is not an easy task. He was speaking during the 4th
International Conference on 'Rethinking Religion in India' held at the SDM College
in Mangalore. The prelate said that religion is the backbone of modern India. "Most
Indians are still deeply religious. Understanding the meaning and mystery of life
is the ultimate aim of all religions," he added.
The event is held under the
aegis of SDM Law College and Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research in Law,
Research Centre Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap of Ghent University in Belgium and
Centre for the Study of Local Cultures and PGD of Law, Kuvempu University in Karnataka
among other institutions.
Bishop D'Souza said that India has witnessed unprecedented
economic boost that it evoked envy even in the so-called developed nations. “India
started exporting not only commodities, but also brains to cater the needs of the
West. Economic prosperity made millions in the nation comfortable, but at the same
time, the gap between the rich and the poor went on widening. Meanwhile, rampant corruption
reported in political and in other spheres,” he said. S. N. Balagangadhara, director
of India Platform in Ghent University said Indians try to know India through the framework
of Western description. "Our knowledge on India is a European experience. India is
a land of many religions. An attempt needs to be made to understand and interrogate
the knowledge about India," he added.