Church's role in field of education immense, says Home Minister

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has lauded the contribution of Christian churches in India in the field of education, claiming that ever since the advent of Christianity in India in the first century, it has been guiding and helping people of all classes with its basic tenet of "love and service" for humanity as preached by Jesus Christ.

The Central government is committed to protecting the rights of all religions to run educational institutions, he said in his address during the golden jubilee celebrations of the Archbishop of Thrissur Catholic Archdiocese, Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy.

According to Patil, the UPA government's policy is to respect and protect all educational institutions without discrimination.

Referring to Kerala's contributions to philosophy, he said it was Adi Sankara, as a reformer of Hinduism, who propounded the importance of "oneness" and the unity between god and humanity.

If the principle of service to humanity was not understood properly, the world would be beset with conflicts, terrorism and wars.

If that principle is properly followed, the world will be free from all man–made calamities, he said.