by Masuo Nezu

These are personal reminiscences about the late founder Rev. Nikkyo Niwano from his former chief secretary, Masuo Nezu, now in retirement. During his years of service, the writer accompanied Rev. Niwano on dissemination tours, interreligious cooperation activities, and peace promotion work, both in Japan and overseas. This series recalls not only heartwarming episodes from the founder's everyday life, but also the spiritual insights derived from his words and deeds.

24

Changing Pessimists into Optimists--
Meeting with Mr. Varahagiri V. Giri

In April 1971, one year after the First World Assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) was convened in Kyoto, a meeting of its officers was held in the Indian capital of New Delhi. At that time, WCRP officers visited Mr. Varahagiri Venkata Giri, then president of India, at his official residence.

Rev. Nikkyo Niwano shook hands with President Varahagiri Venkata Giri of India (right), at his official residence after the meeting of the officers of the World Conference on Religion and Peace in New Delhi in April 1971.

The president smiled warmly when he met the visitors. Mr. Giri was not only a devoted follower of the Hindu faith, but also a deeply sincere humanist. From that standpoint, he evaluated the first assembly of the WCRP held in Kyoto highly and expressed his appreciation for the contributions of the Japanese hosts of the assembly.

"It is no longer a time for religions to compete for superiority over one another," Mr. Giri said. "Instead, it is the time for religions as a whole, mobilizing spiritual energy, to tackle the real problems of the world. In that sense, what the WCRP is doing is really excellent."

During his talk with Rev. Niwano, Mr. Giri might have felt something in common with him. He said that he was an optimist: "I have hope in the future of humankind. When I talk with pessimists, I always persuade them to change and become optimists."

For the president of a nation like India, with a population of several hundreds of millions of people, many of them suffering from economic deprivation, he was a very jovial person. He seemed to be enjoying the conversation, smiling throughout the meeting with the WCRP officers. Sitting comfortably in his chair with his legs crossed, he looked quite at ease.

In their own work, religious people also need to be optimists. They need to deal positively with their tasks and to turn on a bright light in the minds of others. If the circle of such people widens, society in general becomes brighter and contributes to the achievement of a peaceful world. Being an optimist himself, and usually considering things in a similar way, Rev. Niwano heartily agreed with Mr. Giri's views and shook hands enthusiastically with him.

This series of articles was originally published in Japanese in 2000 under the title Kaiso Zuimonki: Egao no Ushirosugata.