Fethullah Gülen’s dialogue and tolerance discourse parallels Gandhi’s


Date posted: December 8, 2013

Sudheendra Kulkarni, the head of the India-based Mumbai Research Foundation, has said there are parallels between the views of Mahatma Gandhi and Fethullah Gülen.

Speaking at the program organized jointly by the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV) Intercultural Dialogue Platform (KADİP) and Marmara University Theology Faculty, Kulkarni explained that Indian’s national hero Gandhi and Gülen have similar views about tolerance and dialogue and this mentality may lead to “considerable moderation” among the practitioners of diverse religions and faiths.

Kulkarni talked to students from the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University, discrediting the misconception that Gandhi was against technology. Kulkarni described his new book, “Music of The Spinning Wheel,” and obscured characteristics of Gandhi as the protagonist of his book.

Point out that dialogue with other religions and faiths is extremely important, Kulkarni indicated Gandhi developed a good dialogue especially with Muslims and lent support to Muslims at the time of distress, and, for this reason, he was killed by a fanatic Hindu.

Kulkarni drew attention to the similarity between Gandhi, who said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world,” and Gülen, who said, “Those who want to reform the world must first reform themselves. If they want to lead others to a better world, they must purify their inner worlds of hatred and jealousy, and adorn their outer worlds with virtue.”

Kulkarni pointed out that Gülen’s views, featuring great semblance to those of Gandhi, have driven a strong movement of tolerance and dialogue, effecting a considerable moderation among the practitioners of diverse religions and faiths around the world.

At the end of the program, moderated by Associate Professor İsmail Taşpınar, a lecturer from the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University, Kulkarni answered questions from participants.

Who is Sudheendra Kulkarni?

Sudheendra Kulkarni is the president of the Mumbai Research Foundation. Being a leading socio-political activist in India, Kulkarni writes columns at several papers and attend TV programs. Having worked at India’s the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 16 years, he left the party for ideological differences.

He conducts interfaith dialogue work and, in this context, attends various intercultural dialogue events in India and around the globe.

Source: Intercultural Dialogue Platform , December 8, 2013


Related News

Turkish Martyrs Day: Rumi Forum marks heroics of Turk soldiers

Pakistan and Turkey are two time-tested brotherly countries and the history of Turks is of great pride to Pakistanis. These were the remarks of Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum at an event regarding 101st commemoration of Turkish Martyrs Day and Canakkale Victory.

Coup plotter or moderate religious leader? Finnish State TV Yle meets Turkey’s most wanted man

“The future is in God’s hands. People who believe in our cause will continue our work. The world feels sympathy for our movement,” says Gulen.

Fuat Avni claims Gülen-inspired schools to be closed due to fabricated auditing standards

A government whistleblower who tweets under the pseudonym Fuat Avni has claimed a new wave of police raids will be conducted on private and prep schools intended to shut them down temporarily or permanently based on fabricated auditing standards before the Nov. 1 snap election.

Bangladeshi scholar publishes book on Gülen

İBRAHIM SAĞIR, DHAKA A ceremony celebrating the publication of a book called “Introducing Fethullah Gülen to the Bengal and Beyond” by Professor Maimul Ahsan Khan was held at the Turkish Cultural Center in Dhaka on Saturday. Focused on the life, ideas and work of Gülen, who was selected as the world’s top intellectual by the […]

Message to the conservative intellect on the Armenian issue

Even the thought of an Ottoman massacre, lead them to a knee jerk reaction, as it contradicts with everything the conservative intellect is built upon. Although they believe that they’re defending their identity and history, just on contrary they’re defending a minority, which fought with this history and identity. So the conservative intellect better think about the fundamentals of the issue.

German view of Hizmet Movement (1)

I remember the late, right-minded orientalist Annemarie Schimmel’s words saying, “The most attacked and least understood religion in the West is Islam.” Today, we come across a similar statement in a recently published scholarly report too. I’m referring to the report titled, “Überdehnt sich die Bewegung von Fethullah Gülen?” by Stiftung für Wissenschaftund Politik (SWP), which put the Hizmet Movement under a scholarly microscope.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Journalists and Writers Foundation gathers all colors of Turkey at iftar

Panel on Middle East perspectives held at Ishik University

New Turkish School launched in Chad

Twitter users protest plan to close prep schools in Turkey

Turkish govt begins massive deportation of Nigerian students

Sarıgül’s first election promise: to protect İstanbul’s historic skyline

The Turkey I no longer know

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News