Gandhi 150 Peace and Nonviolence 6 Courtesy: Gujarat Vidyapith Question posed to Gandhi: Q: Mr. Gandhi, do you really think nonviolence would work in all situations? For example, against Hitler? A: Nonviolence does not mean appeasement. On the other hand, it means fighting bravely and sincerely for truth and doing what is just. Like all fights, there will be a terrible loss and pain. My success with civil disobedience in South Africa and India has not come easy. Many people sacrifice a great deal, including their lives while fighting for truth and justice. The doctrine of Satyagraha(insisting on truth) works on the principle that you make the so-called enemy see and realize the injustice being inflicted. As a Satyagrahi, I do believe that a nonviolence is a potent weapon against all evils. I warn you however, that the victory will not come easy – just like it will not come easy with violent methods such as fighting with weaponry. SHANTI FUND Dear PeaceSHANTI FUND, Promoters: a Long Island based charitable organization, is committed to the enlightenment and peace through education. Most of its members are Indian-Americans who reside in Nassau and Suffolk counties, collectively known as Long Island. After several informal events the very first Nonviolencecharitable act ofis Volunteers generally of Shanti Fundperceived (VOSF) was to raiseas funds not for theto victims commit of earthquake physical violencein Maharashtra, which India. is true. VOSF were However, able to raise $10,000 violence in less than has two rootsweeks and in a $10,000 mind and check was given to the Red Cross in 1993. For the next several years, monthly events were hosted mind toconveys build bridges betweenit through main stream SHANTIwords and newly arrivedand FUND immigrants. action. Therefore, one can say thereVolunteers are ofthree Shanti Fundtypes have promotedof violence: educational mental,exchanges on verbalLong Island andfor over physical. last SHANTI FUND, a Long Island based charitable organization, is committed to the enlightenment One needsthree decades to by planningcultivate breakfast and meetings train to which brain, speakers inrefrain many different from fields hurtingof exper- by tiseand were peace invited through to speak; education. having Most roundtable of its members discussions are Indian-Americanswhere prominent activists,who reside diplomats, in Nassau spokenandand electedwords Suffolk officials counties, and have collectively physicaldiscussed known on-going asactions. Long world Island. issues AfterViolence of concern; several informaland canby sponsoring events be the as avery teach benignfirst- erscharitable exchange act program of Volunteers between of India Shanti and Fund the (VOSF) USA. was to raise funds for the victims of earthquake as pinchingin Maharashtra, to horribleIndia. VOSF were killing able to raise and $10,000 mass in less killings than two weeks like and world a $10,000 wars checkOfficials was ofgiven Suffolk to theCounty Red Crossnoticed in the 1993. activities For the of nextthe Volunteersseveral years, of Shanti monthly Fund events and invitedwere hosted Vol- whereunteers tovictims build of bridgesShanti Fund betweenare to build strangersmain a streamGandhi andMemorial newlyand onarrived theunrelated. county immigrants. property. The GandhiSo, Statueviolence was is somethingbuilt by an Americanthat hurts sculptor infeelings, 1998 and is now physical at the Plaza Level body of the H.or Lee taking Dennison Building life of any in Hauppauge,Volunteers Newof Shanti York. FundFor the have last promoted several years, educational following exchanges the United on Nations Long Island declaration for over “To last livingPromote beingsthree decades a Culture be by planningof human Peace breakfast and Nonviolenceor meetingsanimal. 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For Their our New mission York. daily wasFor the tolife educatelast severalit peopleis years,essential in India following about the thatspread United andone Nations horrors trains declaration of AIDS andbrain “To to preventivePromote measures.a Culture ofDr. Peace Vivek Murthyand Nonviolence is now the firstAmong Indian Children,” American Volunteers Surgeon of General Shanti ofFund USA. have acceptbeen positive inviting children and from beneficial several area schools, thoughts Girl Scouts, Boyand Scouts, disregards and youngsters fromharmful thoughtsIndianVOSF and werecultural honored actions. organizations again to Once to host promote a gala brain Gandhian event tois values. recognize under Kwasi control, Enin with theone Exceptional can easily Education Excellence Award for being the first student in modern time to secure an admission to capableall eightVolunteers of Ivy transmittingLeague of Shanti colleges Fund in 2014.were positive instrumental inand laying beneficiala concrete foundation words to establish to the speak India Study Center at Stony Brook University in 1996. One of the educational/charitable activities and concurrentlyisVOSF, very tomemorable inculcate thatthe take value took placesystemsbefitting in 1997.of the VOSFpeace enrichingsupported leaders of second the world, actions.generation have reached of Indian out Americanto doz- ensstudents and dozens at Ivy of League schools colleges on Long under Island the to leadershipimplement ofunique the then and Chairmancreative ways Vivek to Murthy impart of peace Vision Shantieducation WorldFund –Wide. to ourhas Their youths beenmission from the was promoting first to educate grade to people the twelfth inpeace India grade. about throughOver spread the last and 15horrors variousyears ofthousands AIDS andmeans of preventivestudents have measures. participated Dr. Vivek in thisMurthy program is now and the nowfirst it Indian is one Americanof the signature Surgeon project General of Shantiof USA. of educationFund that require for year aroundthe efforts.last twenty years. One of them is Peace VOSF were honored again to host a gala event to recognize Kwasi Enin with the Exceptional Artwork.EducationHaving Every Gandhi Excellence yearstatue Award at student the for Suffolk being theCounty from first office student the provides infirst modern added timegrade advantage to secure to ofantwelfth celebratingadmission to grade Gandhiall eight birthday Ivy League (October colleges 2) every in 2014. year along with students’ peace activities. One of the daily submitactivities artwork of Gandhiji basedwas to have aon morning the and eveningpeace multi-religious theme. prayer Twelve services. To honorwinning VOSF, to inculcate the value systems of the peace leaders of the world, have reached out to doz- entriesthis are much madeneeded efforts part to promote of the peace Shanti and harmony Fund among thePeace diverse residents, Art Calendar. VOSF hosts We peaceens andprayer dozens services of schools on Gandhi on Long Punya Island Tithi to (January implement 30th unique – death and anniversary).creative ways Many to impart faiths peace of inviteLong studentseducation Island Multito our Faith ofyouths long Forum from and the Island firstother institutesgrade to to thesubmit participate twelfth grade. inartwork this Over prayer the servicelast through 15 everyyears year.thousands teacher, of students have participated in this program and now it is one of the signature project of Shanti art teacher,Fund that requireor school year around officials.efforts. This year theme is PEACE and NONVIOLENCE.Having GandhiEnlightement statue Subsequent at the Suffolk & CountyPeace pages office thru provides Education have added manyadvantage quotesof celebrating and Gandhi birthday (October 2) every year along with students’ peace activities. One of the daily photographsactivities of Gandhijito help was to havestudents a morning and to evening articulate multi-religious theirprayer services. thoughts To honor via artwork.this much needed efforts to promote peace and harmony among the diverse residents, VOSF hosts peace prayer services on Gandhi Punya Tithi (January 30th – death anniversary). Many faiths of Long Island Multi Faith Forum and other institutes participate in this prayer service every year. Enlightement & Peace thru Education SHANTI FUND We likeSHANTI to informFUND, a Long school