We all want peace. All religions talk of promoting a culture of peace. But peace is eluding us. On the contrary, violence is rampant in the contemporary society; reason is not far to see. Only a generation consisting of righteous and responsible citizens can bring peace to the world.
Prominent Gandhian activists and cultural leaders met at Gandhi Bhavan Ernakulam (Kerala) in 2002 to discuss the Issue. They came to the conclusion that creating a generation committed to ethical and social values is important to bring about permanent peace. Consensus emerged in the meeting was that an organisation with the avowed objectives be formed. This was the genesis for the formation of Kerala Shanti Samithi – a peace organisation.
The Samithi focused on two important activities. First, the Samithi decided to rush to the places, wherever a religiously or politically motivated violence emerges and make all efforts to bring back peace through reconciliation. Secondly, the Samithi decided to conduct awareness programmes among student population for promotion of moral values like truth, non-violence, peace and harmony. The Samithi made it a point to share the Messages of Peace that Mahatma Gandhi gave us along with shared ethical and moral values common to all religions, with an intention to help the new generation elude from the ill effects of drugs and alcohol. The Samithi later initiated Shanti Clubs (Peace Clubs) in Schools. It could create a good number of youngsters who vowed to dedicate their time and energy for establishing the objectives of Shanti Samithi.
A recent study on the social life of the present student population in Kerala has brought out awful stories of victims of drugs and alcohol. Parents have been found to be unaware of the involvement of their dear children in anti-social activities. When the truth reaches their notice, it becomes difficult for them to save their children from the trap. I feel that serious and concerted works have to be done among students to liberate the coming generation from the evil clutches of drugs and alcohol.
