ASIA/INDIA-The Word of God is the engine of the mission: the new Bible in kashmiri has been presented

Srinagar (Agenzia Fides) – To render the Word of God the engine of the mission; renew the efforts for dialogue and cooperation with the Muslim majority: in this spirit and with these intentions the small Christian community in Kashmir welcomed the publication and the official presentation of the New Bible in Kashmiri language, in a celebration presided by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio in India. As sources of Fides in the Indian Church refer, Archbishop Pennacchio traveled to Kashmir in early October, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar, he met the civil, ecclesiastical and academic authorities in the troubled state, ferments path of a conflict that seems dormant but, given the presence of terrorist groups, it is feared could re-explode.
The work of the Bible translation is the work of Joseph K. Predhuman Dhar, educator, journalist and writer who has worked in Jammu for 16 years. The work was published by the Biblical Society of India, Bangalore. Archbishop Pennacchio awarded the author, a former Brahmin who converted to Catholicism, with a gold medal, praising the great dedication. The celebration was also attended by Fr. Jim Borst, a missionary from Mill Hill and coordinator of the translation project of the Bible, and Mgr. Peter Celestine Elampassery, Bishop of Jammu-Srinagar.
Fides sources note that currently in Kashmir the local authorities and religious leaders try to promote a climate of peaceful coexistence between the Muslim majority and Christian and Hindu minorities. The government of Jammu and Kashmir contributed to the reconstruction of the Christian school attacked and burned on September 13, 2010 in the city of Phulwama and many local Muslim volunteers and are helping with the reconstruction of the school building: a sign of good will that helps to build dialogue and friendship . In Kashmir there are about four million Muslims and a small minority of 5,000 Christians. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2011)