Kanpur (23rd April): The citizens of Kanpur came out on the streets on 22nd April to appeal for world peace and a permanent solution to the hostilities in the Gulf region. About 100 prominent citizens walked 2 kms along the arterial Mall Road from Bada Chauraha to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Phoolbagh.
This silent march was organized by the Kanpur Nagrik Manch (Citizen’s Forum) and the Gandhi Peace Foundation. The marchers carried placards in Hindi that read: “Mahatma Gandhi ka sandesh, Ahimsa hai vishesh” (Gandhiji’s message is of non-violence); “Bus karo tel ka khel, Lagao yudh par nakel” (Stop the game over oil, and stop the war); “Jang se sara vishwa tang, Kahan hai sanyukt rashtra sangh?” (The world is troubled by war, where is the UN?), “Yudh samasya ka hal nahin, Aisa raha to kal nahin” (War does not solve problems, if this continues there will be no tomoorow), “Hame chahiye prem bhaichara, Le lo varta ka sahara” (We need love and brotherhood, have recourse to dialogue).
These slogans struck a chord with the participants as also the onlookers. This march was timed with the expiry of the tenuous cease fire between the USA and Iran. It took the form of a meeting at Phoolbagh. Speakers were from all faiths – Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Buddhist. They were unanimous in their opinion that the USA was the aggressor and also expressed appreciation for the resilience and sacrifice shown by the Iranian people.
The march was led by chhotebhai, Convenor of the Manch and the meeting was conducted by Deepak Malviya, President of the Foundation. Speakers included Dr Khan Ahmed Farooq, Sardar Harvinder Singh Lard, Dhanirao Bodh, Jagdambabhai and Meenakshi Martin. chhotebhai proposed that in view of the abject failure of the UN and the lack of credibility of Pakistan to be an honest broker, it was imperative that neutral countries like India, Japan, Brazil and South Africa form a consortium to pressurize the warring parties to come to the table, cease hostilities and find a permanent solution by including the UN resolution on two nations – Palestine and Israel.
Others who played an important role in the programme were Madan Lal Bhatia, Pratap Sahni, Sharad Agrawal, Dr Faiz Abdullah, Cornelius Kujur and Suresh Gupta. The meeting ended with the lighting of candles in memory of those who had lost their lives in this senseless and uncalled for carnage. The march received wide media coverage.
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