By Harsha Sharma
The Faiths Act Fellowship of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation brought together 34 young people of faith from around the world — creatively highlighting faith as a force for good. Over the course of one year, we mobilized faith groups to engage in sustainable interfaith social action within our local communities and the results were inspiring. As the Fellowship came to a close a few weeks ago, we have reflected deeply on the importance for us as an international cohort to continue our efforts wherever in the world we may be.
The recent events in Wisconsin highlight just why religious tolerance, coexistence and literacy are so imperative in today’s world.
In the wake of the tragic gurdwara shooting, a group of us across continents have come together — inspired by our time working with global Sikh communities.
It was Sunday lunchtime, here in London, that a Sikh friend was discussing the concept of Chardi Kala (a state of mind linked to rising spirits in all situations) with me. When I heard about the gurdwara shooting later that evening my first thoughts were of the families afflicted by this heinous act of terror. As a Hindu, I am deeply inspired by the unwavering state of Chardi Kala demonstrated by the families affected in Wisconsin and pray for their strength.
