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"After Allah, the second highest word that appears in the Quran is ilm (knowledge)," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Describing "knowledge" as the focal point of all religions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said South Asian region will be left behind if it does not embrace modernity.
Modi said it was the good fortune of people living in India that they have the opportunity to follow, understand and learn so many different religions and strands of thought at one place.
He was addressing a gathering of scholars, historians and diplomats at the launch of a book titled ‘Education of Muslims: An Islamic Perspective of Knowledge and Education -- Indian Context’, an official release said. “In our country every community considers knowledge to be of primary importance. Knowledge offers light and encouragement,” he said.
“After Allah, the second highest word that appears in the Quran is 'ilm' (knowledge). We have this information but we forget it,” he added.
The PM said education can become the strength of the entire SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region while noting that if the region does not embrace modernity, it will be left behind as the rest of the world progresses.
Modi said India is free of the disease of polio and it was ready to assume responsibility for eradicating it from the entire SAARC region.
In this context, the PM also spoke about India's SAARC satellite which will work for the benefit of the entire SAARC region.
Modi said the book "can help us in our efforts towards "understanding each other" -- understanding different points of view. He also complimented the book's editor J S Rajput.
With inputs from PTI