Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Nov 10: “War is not the solution to any dispute; you need a political solution because war always brings more and more harassment and problems for people. War is the worst thing that can happen to the nation’s economy where we are hoping to bring up very very poor people,” said former chief of Indian Navy Admiral Ramdas while talking to IndiaTomorrow.net on the sidelines of an anti-warmongering event here on Wednesday.
On hysteria of war and nationalism, Admiral Ramdas, who served as Navy chief between 1990-93, said: “We survived with China for 7000 years without any nationalism. Today everything is sharpened as nationalism; I think we have to change our mindset. Remember that once upon a time we were one country. People should put pressures on their chosen political leaders and say – look, please don’t be irresponsible, rethink that war can solve all issues. We want peace and justice then only things move forward in a peaceful and positive way.”
A section of audience at anti-warmongering event at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 09 Nov 2016.
Some other eminent faces of the civil society also talked to IndiaTomorrow.net over the subject.
“War is not the solution to any of the problems that the world is facing today. We witnessed after World War II that every conflict has escalated into more conflicts instead of solving any problems. In India, we must oppose any kind of war mongering within the country because warmongering can lead to disastrous future,” said scientist and writer Gauhar Raza.
Raza, who has written several poems on war and peace, said people should protest against warmongering.
“An ordinary citizen can come and organize protest. If one can’t do that, write an article. If you can’t do that, write a poem. If you can write stories, write stories against war,” he emphasized.
Eminent social activist Medha Patkar, while speaking to IndiaTomorrow.net said, “It is unfortunate that the leadership of the country is making statements which are instigative and not really palliative and they are not worried about the relationship that needs to be established between the people of two neighborhood countries. When Mr. Modi suddenly decided to visit Nawaz Sharif with gifs and gifts, he should consider of giving a gift to the people of this country and that would be one of peace.”
“And there is solution when you are establishing a forum after forum beyond SAARC and BRICS and they talk about coming together. Why can’t India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and also China be together at South Asia level,” she asked.
Ramdas, Raza and Patkar besides several other eminent personalities also spoke at the event “Citizens’ Joint Action Against Warmongering” here at Jantar Mantar.
To express concern over the toxic climate of warmongering that has drawn India and Pakistan to eyeball to eyeball contact after the Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in September this year, over forty social groups jointly organized the program where hundreds of citizens including artists, scientists, women and civil rights activists participated. The program was the conclusion of the weeklong anti-war campaign launched by these organizations on 2nd November.
Speaking at the event, Admiral Ramdas said: “People generally think that a soldier is for fight but the fact is no soldier wants war as soldiers also have also their families and homes. When the governments fail on other platforms the situation of war emerges. War is totally a business now.”
Prof. Achin Vanaik
Prof. Achin Vanaik, Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) said, “The threat of nuclear war is upon us. Scientist C V Raman once said ‘scientists should go on hunger but should not support nuclear bombs. Youth has much responsibility to eradicate the threat of nuclear war.”
Human rights activist and senior journalist Dr. John Dayal said, “Most of the armymen are the children of farmers. We are against war no matter how small number we are in. Our presence is our response.”
Dr John Dayal
Jagmati Sangwan, national secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) said, “The politics of present government is based on fake nationalism. All this is for upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh to polarize Hindu and Muslims.”
Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Capt. Mandeep Singh who was killed during the Kargil War in 1999.
Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Capt. Mandeep Singh who was killed during the Kargil war in 1999, strongly criticized warmongering.
“Rather than war, we should improve infrastructure and quality of education. There should be more job opportunities, safety for all not just women. I am just 19 and I understand this. I hope people will understand this and come together,” said Kaur, student of Delhi University who was just two years old at the time of Kargil War.
Shehla Rashid, former Vice President of JNU Students Union said, “There can’t be a war against fascism, fascism itself a war. They want to divide us in the name of war and we should refuse it.”
Other speakers were Kavita Krishnan, general secretary, All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), human rights activist Shabnam Hashmi (ANHAD), Lalita Ramdas, and Aparna from All India Federation of Trade Unions (AIFTU).
Organizers of the event included AIDWA, All India Students Association (AISA), People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Citizen for Democracy and ANHAD.
