The Hindu : New Delhi News : On the road to non-violence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

On the road to non-violence

Madhur Tankha

NEW DELHI: To bring peace, tolerance, compassion and end the race for acquiring nuclear weapons, citizens of nine countries are now in the Capital to undertake a “World March for Peace and Non-violence”.

The peace team comprising 19 men and women from the United States, Spain, New Zealand, France, Italy and Germany started out on October 2 – declared the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations -- in New Zealand. It has covered Australia, Philippines, Bangladesh and Nepal to reach Delhi over the weekend.

It will conclude in the Andes Mountains in Argentina on January 2, 2010.

Greeting the visitors at Tees January Marg here on Monday in a traditional and heart-warming way, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti vice-chairperson Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee said it was significant that the march was being undertaken at a time when conflicts, injustice, violence and terror are the reality of the world. “I want to think of this march as a reminiscent of the Mahatma’s historic Salt March which he undertook in 1930 and broke the salt law at Dandi in Gujarat. The Salt March was inseparable from his life of introspection and experiments with truth. The salt that he picked shook the system of British colonisation and stirred the entire nation. Similarly, this global march has to lead us in our search for truth and compassion. Let us hope that the march will go on beyond January 2, 2010, as it will be the beginning of a new journey towards the re-awakening of our spirit in harmony with our own truth and compassion.”

Ms. Bhattacharjee also presented angavastams to the team members.

Open to people

The March was initiated by World Without Wars, an international organisation that has been working for 15 years in the fields of pacifism. “This project is open to any person, organisation, group, political party and business house that shares the same aspiration and sensibility. In each city, the march visits local individuals and groups and organise forums, meetings, festivals and conferences. We want to denounce the dangerous world situation that is leading us closer to a nuclear war, which could be a dangerous catastrophe in human history – a dead end,” said Rafa Dela Rubia, the international coordinator of the march.

Marco Inglessis from Italy said the march was aimed at raising consciousness about non-violence. “There is another way to solve problems – personal and international. Non-violence is not a new concept but has to be stressed repeatedly. The five-points we are highlighting include dismantling of nuclear weapons. We’re having 25,000 nuclear weapons across the globe that can destroy the world many times over. Is’nt it crazy? Many countries officially and unofficially are possessing nuke weapons. Besides nuclear weapons, we also want countries to reduce conventional weapons. Ten per cent of the budget incurred in manufacturing weapons can be used for education and health.”

Juanita Mckenzia from New Zealand said October 2 was a special day for her as her Indian-born father shared his birthday with Bapu. “My father, a Gujarati, inculcated in me Gandhian values like peace and non-violence. He lived his life very much like Mahatma Gandhi. He passed away six years ago. My visit to India is an emotional journey to me,” says Juanita, who is working as a volunteer for peace building.

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

New Delhi