Indians and others march for global peace in Norway
Oslo, Apr 10 {PTI} Hundreds of people, including many Indians, braved the chilly winds and rain for a symbolic march to the Nobel Peace Centre here today to highlight the cause of global peace and amity.
Holding huge placards with messages for harmony, the participants in the march organised by a major Indian humanitarian organisation, drew a lot of attention as they walked through the lanes of the downtown in the capital of the nation which is often accredited with maximum peace initiatives by any country.
''We may be far from India, where the problem of Naxalism is growing, or from Sri Lanka where a three decade war is still on, but we feel the need for global peace is maximum today and therefore, wherever possible, it has to be highlighted,'' Pragyan, a member of The Art of Living Foundation, which organised the march said.
Beginning from Youngstorget, the marchers held candles in their hands and carried on a silent 3 km walk across major markets where many of the onlookers joined them.
''I know about the problems many of the South Asian countries are going through. I feel Norway should involve itself more actively there,'' said Kearre Bernard, a local who was among the marchers. He insisted that Oslo must also try and play a major part in resolution of Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, which has been ''a major problem for the last 60 years, and has led to three wars.''
Swami Sadyojatah, who led the march, emphasised that spirituality could play a great role in dealing with the armed conflict situations around the world.
''While political solutions can be searched for, spirituality can really influence people at individual levels, making the possibility of peace more likely", he said.
The marchers eventually assembled at the Nobel Peace Centre and placed the candles at its gate, resolving to pursue the cause and spread awareness about it.
The march was organised as a prelude to a two~day conference on Peace and reconciliation in South Asia, which will begin later in the day. Many Indian leaders including MDMK chief Vaiko, Chhattigarh Home Minister Ramvichar Netam and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would take part in the conference, which would also have senior ministers from Sri Lanka expressing their views on the ethnic problem. PTI GD
Holding huge placards with messages for harmony, the participants in the march organised by a major Indian humanitarian organisation, drew a lot of attention as they walked through the lanes of the downtown in the capital of the nation which is often accredited with maximum peace initiatives by any country.
''We may be far from India, where the problem of Naxalism is growing, or from Sri Lanka where a three decade war is still on, but we feel the need for global peace is maximum today and therefore, wherever possible, it has to be highlighted,'' Pragyan, a member of The Art of Living Foundation, which organised the march said.
Beginning from Youngstorget, the marchers held candles in their hands and carried on a silent 3 km walk across major markets where many of the onlookers joined them.
''I know about the problems many of the South Asian countries are going through. I feel Norway should involve itself more actively there,'' said Kearre Bernard, a local who was among the marchers. He insisted that Oslo must also try and play a major part in resolution of Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, which has been ''a major problem for the last 60 years, and has led to three wars.''
Swami Sadyojatah, who led the march, emphasised that spirituality could play a great role in dealing with the armed conflict situations around the world.
''While political solutions can be searched for, spirituality can really influence people at individual levels, making the possibility of peace more likely", he said.
The marchers eventually assembled at the Nobel Peace Centre and placed the candles at its gate, resolving to pursue the cause and spread awareness about it.
The march was organised as a prelude to a two~day conference on Peace and reconciliation in South Asia, which will begin later in the day. Many Indian leaders including MDMK chief Vaiko, Chhattigarh Home Minister Ramvichar Netam and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would take part in the conference, which would also have senior ministers from Sri Lanka expressing their views on the ethnic problem. PTI GD
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