All need to volunteer for peace: Dr Kiran Bedi

South Asian Youth Peace Meet organised by SIMC, Pune saw many dignitaries including Dr Kiran Bedi and youth icon Imran Khan speaking on communal harmony and peace. Dr Bedi said that all should volunteer for peace to foster communal harmony.

CJ: Sumit Sinha

Wed, Sep 23, 2009 16:52:59 IST

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“EVERYBODY IN the country and the world needs to volunteer for peace to foster communal harmony”, said Dr Kiran Bedi in South Asia Youth Peace Meet (SAYPM), a unique initiative by Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication. Her views were equally supported by actor Imran Khan who said in his first live speech that cinema plays a crucial role in bringing peace to the society and it also instigates a positive thought process among people.

Organised in the Lavale campus of SIMC, a constituent of Symbiosis International University from September 21 to 23, SAYPM not only tries to promote harmonious relationship among different countries but also endeavours to stimulate young thoughts towards broader concept of peaceful growth.

The former IPS officer also described the meaning of peace in great detail. “We understand the importance of food when we are hungry, we understand the role of energy when we become old, now is the time when we have understood the value of peace and communal harmony when almost all countries of the world is fighting against some kind of violence”, she said. Dr Bedi, who also features in one of the most popular TV programme Aap Ki Kachahari, iterated that peace does not mean lack of war rather it is a juxtaposition of human and humane.

She also said that there is a greater need to handle greed and need at the same time. Talking on the 26/11 Mumbai attack, Dr Bedi told that there were several things that got exposed because of the terrorist attack and it also put a question mark on the role of government, police, media and every associated thing.

The charming actor Imran Khan discussed peace and harmony vis-a-vis films. Better known as a nephew of Aamir Khan in the film fraternity, he said that the industry should try to make films which create a legacy behind it. Discussing the example of Rang De Basanti, this youth icon said that violence is never the solution of seeking peace. Although actors in the film got involved in the violent activities but they did repent as well at the end which is the primary message of the film.

The event was inaugurated by Rajlakshmi Bhosale, honourable Mayor of Pune on the first day and it saw presence of many dignitaries on the dice which includes Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, principal director of Symbiosis International University, Dr Vishwanath Karad, founder director of MIT University and Dr Chandra Krishnamurthy, vice- chancellor of Mumbai University.

The theme of the first day, also celebrated as UN international Peace Day across the world, was Communal harmony and peace.

“My Eid is where there is peace”, said Dr Ashgar Ali engineer, chairperson, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism on the auspicious occasion of Eid. He said that no religion in this world promotes violence rather it is people’s greed of reaching onto the top lead to violent activities. He also made a point that South Asian countries comprise a big lot of population so there is an urgency of peace and harmony in this part of the continent.

Romesh Bhandari, former foreign secretary and former fovernor, Uttar Pradesh, talked about the importance of education for bringing in peace. He also discussed media role in great detail which provide free flow of information across various countries and continents. The senior bureaucrat said, “Today’s youth are not useless rather they are used less.”

Suresh Kopade, special inspector general, Mumbai police iterated the role of police in times of violence. Discussing the successful example of Bhiwandi experiment and Mohalla committee, he said that although it is true that the role of police is very much criticised at times of violence yet it plays the most vital role in disseminating accurate information and maintaining harmony in the society. Dr Nawal Paswan, professor, JNU and Jyoti Punwani, independent journalist also addressed the gathering on communal harmony and peace.

The second day of the meet saw panellists discussing the theme 'Youth Affairs and Politics'. Sudheendra Kulkarni, political journalist defined journalism as afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. The formal political advisor to the Bhartiya Janta Party said that there should be zero tolerance level for any terrorist or violent activities. Kulkarni also said that since major chunk of population reside in South Asia, so there is a need of free flow of information. He also supported ‘no visa’ for moving around in South Asian countries.

Dushyant Singh, member of parliament, Rajasthan, talked on the prospect of tourism and its prospects in South Asia. Santosh Shah, president of Today’s Youth Asia, Nepal discussed the relation of Nepal vis-a-vis India and other countries. He is one of the pioneers in championing the cause of journalism in one of the most politically unstable countries.

Then two former SIMCians discussed on two entirely different things but they both are contributing in bringing in peace in their own way. Vijay Pamarithi, founder of India First explained as how he intends to channelise the nation building capacity of Indian youth. Pamarithi has been immensely praised for his Jaago Re campaign. He said that the youth residing in South Asian countries will play in shaping up the socio- political scenario of the world in the near future. Maneck Kotwal, director, Commonwealth Games Village, talked about the passion in sports in relation to the philosophy of Commonwealth Games- humanity, equality and destiny. Actively involved in sports management, he also said that major sponsors are slowly but steadily taking interest in sports other than cricket. He also talked as how sports contribute to peace irrespective of caste, creed and community.

The last day of the event again saw dignitaries like Sanjay Upadhyay, advocate, Supreme Court of India, Chintamani Mahapatra, professor, JNU and many others discussing on 'Environment Sustainability and Energy Efficiency'.

The event also comprises of 'Model United Nations' which is an academic simulation of United Nations. The most important youth centric points of the final resolution would be included in the SIMC Youth Peace Charter and would be later pitched to the UN organisations at UN proceedings.

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Posted comments (2)

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	\| 23 September 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse