HT Correspondent
Varanasi, February 2
THE DEPUTY high commissioner of Canada in India, Kenneth Macartney said that equal participation of people from all sections was the core requirement of a successful pluralistic society.
He was delivering the inaugural address of a two-day seminar on ‘Challenges of a Pluralistic Society: India and Canada’ in Banaras Hindu University here on Friday. Canadian Studies Development Programme of Social Science Faculty, BHU had organised this seminar.
Macartney further said that equal participation of politicians, economists and educationists etc was a must for a successful pluralistic society.
He added that strengthening peoples’ capacity and redressing their grievances was a must for a peaceful co-existence.
“Diversity and multi-culturalism is the core principle of Canada. Canada’s future depends upon maintaining diversity,” he said, adding, “53 per cent population of Canada comprises of immigrants out of which 15 per cent belongs to Hindu whereas Buddhist and Sikh account for 5 per cent each of the population.”
Macartney also talked about multi-culturalism and diversity of India and laid stress over strengthening the Indo-Canadian relations. Rector of BHU, Prof S Lele presided over the function whereas Dr RK Dhawan of Delhi University was the guest of honour.
Director of Canadian Studies Development Programme (CSDP), Prof Rajni Ranjan Jha established the theme of the two-day seminar whereas dean of social science faculty, Prof PN Pandey welcomed the guests. Co-director of CSDP, Prof RC Mishra proposed the vote of thanks.
Later, director of Institute on Globalisation and the Human Condition at McMaster University (Canada), Prof William D Coleman delivered his key note address on ‘Globalisation, Multiculturalism and Canada.’ Prof Coleman in his address said, “Movement of people, increased diversity.
Moreover maintenance of cultural connections and transnational character of diasporas are directly related to globalisation and multiculturalism,’ he said.
“These several factors lead to multiple identities with the nation-state identity no longer being as dominant as in the past. Our identity refers to who we are and where we are coming from,” he said, adding, “It is the background against which out tastes and desires and opinions make sense.”