Mosaic of religions makes India an oasis of communal harmony: President Mukherjee

Emphasizing on India's communal vibrancy, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that the fabric of the society would remain strong when every individual irrespective of caste or religion can live without fear and prejudice.

The President made his address after inaugurating the closing ceremony of the Bicentenary Celebrations of the Diocese of Calcutta today in Kolkata.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said every religion preaches the fundamental values of humanity and that several major religions have thrived in India due to its assimilative character that has come to define our civilization over the centuries.

The President said it is the mosaic of being multi-religious that makes our nation an oasis of peaceful co-existence and communal harmony.

"It is here that the Christian community is looked upon with respect for their peaceful and humanitarian nature and for their magnanimous contributions to nation building. The fabric of our society would remain strong when every individual irrespective of caste, creed, language, region and religion can live and partake in progress without fear and prejudice," the President said.

The President congratulated the Diocese of Calcutta on completing two hundred years of its fruitful journey of service and commitment to the city of Kolkata and society at large.

He said it has shown the way through its respectful conduct of multifarious humanitarian activities and set an example for others to follow. He urged the Diocesan Family of Kolkata to keep up the good work and continue making a difference to the lives of citizens.