London: Symbolising the growing influence of Hindus in the UK, a prestigious British college has appointed an Indian for the first time to impart religious teaching.

Head of the Hindu Academy and Education Director for the Hindu Council in UK, Jay Lakhani will provide pastoral support and religious teaching to Hindu boys at Eton college and contribute to its inter-faith activities.

As religion plays an important role at Eton, all boys are expected to take part in week-day chapel services.

For many years, Jewish boys have been able to take instruction from a Jewish Tutor during Sunday Chapel and for Muslim boys, the college has a Muslim Tutor to offer the same service.

With appointment of Lakhani, the Hindu boys will now be offered the same choice.

"I see this as an exciting opportunity to explore a broader vision of spirituality with the boys at Eton College, particularly how the Hindu idea of spiritual humanism manages to reconcile differences between religious and secular world-views.

Religious pluralism offers the best prescription for making religions once again the cohesive force in our society. It is wonderful to see Eton College embracing these wider aspects of personal and spiritual development."

Lakhani will hold his first session at Eton on April 20.
Source : PTI