The Hindu : National : Peace icons in land of strife

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 01, 2005

National

National

Peace icons in land of strife

Special Correspondent

Exhibits feature rare moments in the lives of Gandhi, Ikeda The photographs illustrate how they translated their principles into action

GUWAHATI: An international photo exhibition on the lives of three men of peace — Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda — opened here on Saturday.

The exhibition, "Gandhi, King, Ikeda: a legacy of building peace," illustrates how the peace icons overcame adversity and persecution and used non-violence as a weapon to bring about a positive change in society.

Hailing from different backgrounds and nationalities, they chose to follow a common path, that of peace and non-violence, to achieve their goal. Gandhiji used non-violence to lead Indians in their struggle for freedom and Martin Luther King Jr. to fight racism in the United States. Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist thinker, author and educator, still strives for global peace.

The exhibition has been organised by Morehouse College in the United States and Bharat Soka Gakkai in cooperation with Gauhati University. Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organisation headed by Daisaku Ikeda, which he transformed into a great movement for peace, works to foster education about peaceful solutions to conflicts.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Akash Ouchi, Sokka Gakkai International's representative in India, said the exhibition was created with the hope that by examining the lives of these great figures people would find these lofty ideals and principles within the grasp of their own daily existence. "For it is within the mundane realm of daily living that M.K. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Daisaku Ikeda have sought to forge an existence filled with dignity, freedom and happiness for all people."

Litterateur and former president of Asam Sahitya Sabha Nagen Saikia inaugurated the exhibition at Pragjyoti ITA Centre for performing Arts.

The exhibits feature rare moments in the lives of the three men, inspiring quotes and information. The photographs also illustrate how they translated their principles into action.

The exhibition has travelled to many countries including the U.S., Germany, Japan, Jordan and Taiwan.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National