Recognition for commitment to the value of forgiveness and reconciliation
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 21
Visasier Kevichüsa today received the Peace Award on behalf of the Kevichüsa family at Town Hall, Dimapur during the 11th Peace Knit Pest cum Peace Channel Foundation Day. The Peace awardee is the 10th recipient this year.
Conferring the award to the family, Dr Fr CP Anto, Director, Peace Channel said the award was given in recognition for their commitment to the value of forgiveness and reconciliation. The award was earlier recommended by Dr Niketu Iralu, Social Activist and former Peace Awardee.
Visasier Kevichüsa delivering the Peace Message received the award with “humanity and gratitude” and propounded that while peace is founded on justice and righteousness said it forms an inevitable part of humankind.
Sharing the family’s experience of the past, Visasier pondered on how the absence of peace in our lives becomes costly. To this he added that “the degree, with which we make ourselves peace makers, resembles our father in heaven who is a God of peace.”
Making a reference to Thomas Moore’s literary piece, Utopia which shows a repressive socio-political environment of the state in contrast to an ideal civilization, he said the idea of a society like Utopia continues to be a longing of the human heart.
Quoting his grandfather A. Kevichüsa’s speech on Peace Day which was delivered on September 6, 1964, he said, “let it not be said of us in the future that peace failed because we could not give our best.” Accepting the award on the family’s behalf, he said that is the hope of the family to pursue in the path of forgiveness and acceptance and live up to the ideal of what his grandfather spoke during that time adding “unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
Dr Fr CP Anto, Director, Peace Channel in his welcome address extolled that the ‘inter-religious gathering’ of all the communities was a reminder to live together as one in peace.
Sushil Kumar Patel, DC Dimapur in his address revered the celebration of peace and added that both inner and outer peace is equally important. Pointing that the history of humankind is remembered of many wars where violence and agitation were made imminent, he said that inner peace brings stability to oneself and sources the outer peace to usher in a progressive society.
Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, addressing as the Chairman greeted the conglomerate on the International day of Peace. The Rev lamented the absence of grants from the government to fund peace studies and promote societal peace, stating that such addition through governmental funding and commission will enable young people to stand for peace.
A brief slide show of the family and the video clip of Visasier’s ‘Story of forgiveness’ speech delivered during the 9th year of signing of the Covenant of Reconciliation (CoR) was also presented during the event. The award was received by Visasier and Kethoser Kevichüsa while other family members were also present at the award ceremony.
