GANDERBAL: The Department of Religious Studies (DRS), Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Tuesday organized an international webinar on “Talking about Environment Ethics in Pandemic Times” at Green Campus here.
The event began with recitation of verses of the Holy Qur’an by Ishtiyaq Ahmad Wagay, Research Scholar, DRS.
In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir lauded the Department for organizing innovative lectures having far-researching implications. He emphasized the importance of environment and ethics and said the current pandemic has given many lessons to mankind. “We are responsible for air and water pollution. But pandemic has healed the environment,” he said and congratulated the department for organizing the webinar.
Earlier, in his address, Head, DRS Prof. Hamidullah Marazi, welcomed all the guests and participants and also introduced key-note speaker, Prof. Ibarhim Ozdemir. Uskudar University Turkey. He discussed the objectives of the webinar and thanked the Vice-Chancellor for reposing trust and encouraging the department for all such initiatives. He also thanked Prof. Ibrahim Ozdemir for accepting the request.
Prof. Marazi informed the participants that environmental ethics go hand to hand with justice. He quoted various Quranic verses wherein the importance of conservation of environment is emphasized. He impressed upon the participants that all religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, Christianity, etc lay emphasis on the conservation of the environment.
The event was attended by Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Director, Research and Development, Prof. Abdu Gani, Dean, Social Sciences, Prof. G.M. Bhat, and the participants included professionals, research scholars and students all across the globe.
In his keynote address, Prof. Ibrahim comprehensively covered various dimensions of environment and ethics. He outlined the basis of the Islamic environmental ethics and said that Islam lays emphasis on maintaining justice and balance on the earth.
Speaking on the occasion, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said the Covid-19 has adversely affected our normal life and functioning. He said the nature is getting healed due to lockdown and the air and waterbodies are getting cleaner.
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Javed Mussarat, while commenting on the theme said that though Covid-19 is slowing down, but in India it is increasing every day. “This pandemic gave us an opportunity to preserve our nature. Post Covid-19 we should contribute to protect and restore the natural habitat,” he said.
Mohammed Ahmed Raza, Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, proposed the vote of thanks where as Dr. Nazir Ahmad Zargar, Coordinator of the webinar conducted the event proceedings.