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Nonviolence Training: Message from India
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Progressive Portal
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Sep 24, 2001 12:05 PDT
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I received the following from a leader of the nonviolence movement in
India. Some of his ideas may seem lofty (though attainable in the long
run). But the idea that we, the peace community, could undergo some
abbreviated version of nonviolence training in the short run is very
practical. If you know of individuals or organizations doing such
training in the U.S., please let me know and I will be pleased to
promote that information.
-- Steve Freedkin
[------ Original Message Follows ------]
From: "Anuvrat vishwa Bharti" <anuv-@datainfosys.net>
Subject: Training in Nonviolence
September 24, 2001
Dear friend,
The 11th September catastrophic terrorist attack on the twin towers of
the World Trade Centre at New York and on the Pentagon at Washington DC
which put an abrupt end to the lives of thousands of innocent workers
reveals the most barbaric and vicious face of terrorism on this planet.
While we mourn and pray to bring solace to the bereaved families on the
eve of this ghastly tragedy and condemn it in the harshest possible
words, we must sit quietly and introspect as to who really are
responsible for this most heinous and savage act.
Americans are apparently most hurt and so are the peace-loving people
all around the world. Osama Bin Laden is at present the most sought
after terrorist and he is being held as the prime suspect in this case.
But are we really sincere to see this world free from hatred and war? If
so, then we must go deeper into the roots of terrorism.
Earlier the motivating factors behind terrorist attacks in different
parts were political, ethnic, monetary, racial, caste and chauvinistic
considerations but it is the religious terrorism that has been calling
the shots for the last two decades. It is the most dreadful dimension of
terrorism which needs to be rooted out before it is too late.
Bin Laden's doctrine that the entire planet belongs to Allah so only
Allah's rule must prevail is the most dangerous proposition. Though this
doctrine is basically contradictory to what ISLAM stands for, the
teenagers and youths in the Muslim community are being carried away. In
the name of Allah they are ready to strike anywhere even at the cost of
their lives. By the rule of Allah they mean conversion of the entire
humanity to Islam.
Thousands of schools imparting this devastatingly despicable doctrine
have mushroomed all over the world. The way children are being educated
by religious fundamentalists will give rise to Bin Ladens everywhere. It
is this religious fundamentalism that has swept Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Chechnya, Kashmir, East Timor, Algeria etc. It has also invaded certain
areas of all major countries.
It is high time influential political and religious leaders sat together
to devise strategies to prevent the further growth of this dreaded
monster. This infectious germ is percolating into social fabrics of all
countries stealthily and is spreading by mouth to mouth propaganda. It
is wrong to blame the entire Muslim Community for it. Majority of
Muslims are opposed to violence and hatred in the name of Allah.
There is no doubt that thousands of peace studies units, research cells
and conflict resolution and analysis institutes have come into existence
during the last three decades but sadly their focus is on the collection
of data and statistics as to the types of conflicts and the number of
missiles and nuclear heads possessed by various countries and their
capabilities of destruction. Very few organizations are training
children and youths in the culture of peace.
I firmly believe that military strikes by America will not yield the
desired result and will only boomerang on them. It is most unfortunate
that 88% of the people of America want war with an enemy who is hidden
oblivious of the bitter reality that only the poor, aged and ailing
people will pay the price and the real terrorists will be able to escape
unhurt. The only way this menace can be fought is by bringing about
drastic changes in school and university curricula throughout the world
and making the culture of peace and nonviolence an integral part of
various education systems.
In order to prevent the advent of future Bin Ladens the only option left
with political leaders of the world is to concentrate on the evolution
of strategies for the effective impartation of value based education in
schools and colleges right from the beginning.
It bodes ill if the people of a nation compel its government to go to
war. Instead they should ask the American government to launch a war
against roots of terrorism and bring about mass psychological
transformation. Training in nonviolence is an imperative and there ought
to be a global campaign to educate children in the cult of ahimsa as
preached by Buddha, Mahavira, Christ and M.K. Gandhi. Gandhi's
nonviolence alone can save this humanity from annihilation.
American Military strikes will only sow the seeds of vengeance giving
rise to a chain of reactions accompanied by bloodshed and destruction of
innocent lives.
UNO has declared the decade from 2001 to 2010 as the decade of the
culture of peace and nonviolence for children and UNESCO has been
entrusted with the responsibility of its implementation. I would urge
American Government to give financial grants to NGOs and institutes who
participate in the global campaign to promote culture of peace and
nonviolence and join the UN sponsored programme of popularizing it among
the teenagers. It is the most difficult time for the people of America
and I can imagine the magnitude of their suffering but I warn them
against being carried away by emotions and request them to ponder over
the roots of this national tragedy.
Let us hope sanity and wisdom will prevail and the people of America
will realize that the enemy this time is radically different and it is
not possible for the military might to defeat it. The monster of
terrorism can be defeated only by collective wisdom and a constructive
programme like a global campaign for training in nonviolence.
Fortunately we have in our midst a great saint and visionary who is
deeply concerned about the galloping trend of violence and who wants to
see this world free from this menace altogether. His name is Acharya
Mahapragya. He has launched AHIMSA SAMVAY for training children, youths
and adults in nonviolence. Already hundreds of teachers and students
have been trained in nonviolence by him.
According to him religion is a personal ethic. Its institutionalization
generates discord. Humanism is the core of all faith traditions. He
advises the followers of all religious traditions to pledge themselves
to observe Anuvrat Code of Conduct embedded in ahimsa to create a world
without violence.
I invite all of you to join hands with him and make his universal
programme of training in nonviolence a great success.
Yours truly,
(Dr. S.L. Gandhi)
Secretary General, ANUVIBHA
& Coordinator, International Affairs
B-29, Anita Colony, Bajaj Nagar
JAIPUR-302015 (India)
Phone (r)-141-510347
Fax: 141-510118
Email: anuv-@datainfosys.net
[------ End Of Original Message -------]
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