On November 26th, we completed an exhilarating URI India National Assembly in India, held at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. The atmosphere was electric, with the emergence of a powerful approach for URI assemblies on full display, and it is an honor to share a few highlights with you:
All sessions were highly participatory. With 75 Cooperation Circles in attendance, CC members were given the opportunity to lead, share, and learn through interactive hands on exercises. I overheard one group of CC leaders remarking that the assembly felt like being part of a “community learning and growing together.”
A true display of teamwork from the Regional Team: all four Zonal Coordinators took turns exuberantly leading sessions, each bringing their unique gifts. Global Council Trustees were also highly active, co-facilitating sessions, and providing spiritual and intellectual leadership on matters of interfaith. The agenda was well rounded, covering such topics as practical steps for enhancing CC participation in the network to development of strategies for environmental protection for which interfaith cooperation is critical. There is much to say about each session, but here is just a brief recap:
- URI India National Coordinator and Regional Coordinator for URI Asia (East Zone) Biswadeb Chakraborty masterfully served as the assembly facilitator, keeping spirits high and moving the sessions seamlessly forward. He also expertly co-facilitated Energizing the Network sessions, fostering greater understanding among CCs about URI, the benefits of the network, and importance of communication among other topics.
- URI Asia (North Zone) Regional Coordinator Hira Paul Gangnegi and URI Global Council Trustee Vrajapati Das opened the assembly by teaming up to lead CCs in creating a URI India timeline, which grounded the gathering.
- URI Global Council Trustee Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam presented the history of the URI in Bangladesh, sharing an interesting story about his unprecedented engagement as a Muslim with only Sikh Gurudwara in Bangladesh.
- URI Asia (West Zone) Regional Coordinator Qutub Kidwai and Vrajapati led a session that familiarized CCs with the PPPs, and gave CCs an opportunity to provide concrete examples of how they put certain principles into practice in their daily work. It was inspiring to watch Vrajapati - as a trustee - facilitating by zig zagging and leaping through the audience to deliver the microphone to CCs wanting to share!
- Along with Qutub, youth leaders from India and Sri Lanka, including Isaac Thomas of Thirikkannamangal URI CC and Youth Ambassador Suchith Abeyewickreme, shared their ideas and aspirations for promoting greater youth engagement. The youth presenters were very dynamic, and by the end of the session the feeling among assembly participants that it is critical to immediately create opportunities for meaningful involvement of youth in CCs was palpable.
- URI Asia (South Zone) Regional Coordinator Abraham Karickam stimulated CC creativity in a session that challenged CCs to create a project concept that addresses an environmental issue through grassroots interfaith action. Participants voted on their favorite concepts, and prizes were awarded accompanied by a raucous round of applause.
Storytelling as the core communication method for sharing lessons and inspiring grassroots interfaith work. Abraham magnificently demonstrated both the art and effectiveness of storytelling as a communication medium that fuels the URI network, starting the lively training session with two illustrative stories containing powerful interfaith/intercultural lessons. After CC leaders shared and collected stories in small groups, everyone united on a beautiful large lawn outside the venue, forming the largest storytelling circle I've witnessed during my time with URI. Under the soft hue of the fall sun, CC leaders took turns telling stories that captured the imagination and hearts of the circle participants. One CC told of successfully intervening and brokering peace in a community on the brink of violence over a proposed interfaith marriage. Another CC shared tales of witnessing Hindus providing protection for Sikhs in their communities during the horrific anti-Sikh violence that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
