Written piece
A Prayer for Peace
Nandita De nee Chatterjee
India
About this piece
As the world even in the second decade of 2000 is still pursuing war and not peace, as it turns a blind eye to the evils of destruction, as a citizen of conscience I plead for a concrete plan of action for establishing peace and humanity in our planet, which has space for all.
At this critical stage in global relations peace cannot be an impossible option, a far-fetched, implausible reality of our world. Peace is the only path to progress, the roadmap for living lives of dignity without fear or hatred. Diplomacy and dialogues cannot end without sustainable results. The future hinges on a complete change of mindsets. History books need to be inclusive of development and progress of civilizations, instead of battles waged and a chronicle of conquerors. The architects of civilizations, the teachers, engineers, scientists and philosophers, the architects of peace, inclusivity and progress, need to be the protagonists, the heroes to emulate, the ones relegated to specific subjects, science, technology, philosophy in high schools. Peace studies desperately need to be inculcated into the syllabi from junior school, through storytelling and playgroups. It needs to be a primary subject in every school and in higher studies universally. For if the morals are not set right from the inception, the priorities of generations will disintegrate. The future of our world is in dire straits. Advancement can never march forward amidst annihilation.
The voices of sanity everywhere are warning repeatedly. It's gone beyond the time of mere words and laments. Is it possible that our world leaders and intellectuals today are incapable of working on a plan of action? A plan to make the world survive?
Alongside a cross-section of common voices of humanity from across the world, I humbly make a plea to the people to wake up and stand upright for peace and preservation, conscience and character.