Dr John Mohan Razu
In recent times people use a few terms, concepts or the vocabularies such as peace, justice, and non-violence in a violent-ridden world. Why all of a sudden, these terms have occupied the center-stage? Invariably the majority of global humanity and the nations of the world are caught-up in conflicts and wars. Whether internal or external aggression, the state use weapons as it is given the complete authority to reign those forces that attacks the governments in place. And so, the state is given a free hand to use power to quell the uprisings.
In the name of security and safety the State can unleash violence in such ways to subdue those resisting for justice. In the pretext of subduing and containing the growing unrest and demonstrations the State is equipping with more modern equipment and weapons. How much of force a state can use, when to use, and what to use though clearly and explicitly prescribed the State can overrule them and can go ahead. Kill people be it small or big group and can resort to genocide as well as slaughtering.
Throughout the world armed conflicts happening within the countries and across. Armed groups are supported by the nation-states for their vested interests and in the bargain the innocent people get killed or maimed. Most of them tend to flee from their domiciles and eventually become refugees. In Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America we find millions of refugees who have been living in miserable conditions for decades. The nation-states push their people out in one pretext or other, and sees that they don’t get-in or come back.
We live in such a toxic volatile violent world that revolves around violence and hatred. Decades ago, violence would have to be countered by violent means. Be it the power of the State or the insurgents or those who wage armed resistance against the State for varied reason relied mostly on violent means. Countering the very thought there was another movement that surged powerfully was non-violence or pacifism. Outcome of all those who believed and propagated military hardware’s show the phenomenal growth and profits for Corporations involved.
In opposition to the growing phenomenon non-violence as a counter-tool and concept picked-up the momentum within the political and intellectual domains. Recognising it October 2ndis celebrated Day of Non-violence being MK Ganthi’s birthday who stood in his political involvement used non-violence as means and method. Based on it across the world took a pledge ‘the universal relevance of the principle of nonviolence and the goal “to establish a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding, and non-violence.’ It is believed that non-violence is the principle and a counter-weapon that could match the growing violence in societies.
In reality, non-violence is considered to have immense moral value for human beings to adhere. This is why all religion promotes non-violence as a virtue and thus shuns violence. For instance, the sacred text in religions such as Mahabharata, Quran, and the Bible prescribes non-violence as a way of life and living. In the past when violence became a regular pattern and practice, the philosophy and praxis of non-violence gave the counter balancing power to people like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Those who shun violence say non-violence promotes stability, removes fear, suppresses creativity, and closes the door to development and growth. In this context, Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler writes that human being alone posses the ability to “turn a minus into a plus”. Gandhi’s one of the famous dictums is “Where there is tolerance, peace prevails, where there is intolerance war and chaos follow.” Francis of Assisi on similar vein said: “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”
Jesus Christ for me is the embodiment of non-violent Messiah who throughout life practised non-violence and strived for peace (shalom). The passage titled ‘Sermon on the Mount’ is Jesus’ most well-known teaching and on of the history’s revibrating speeches ever. Though Jesus delivered this sermon 2,000 years ago, its implications are still relevant and meaningful. Jesus encourages his followers to love their enemies, to forgive other, and to care for the poor and the marginalised. Along these he stressed humility, and not to give too much importance for material possessions our outward appearance and live a life of righteousness and integrity.
What Jesus said for some look like wild ideas such as “blessed are the peacemakers” and “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you.” Seem to be far-fetched and utopian ideals, but have more relevance in a world of power, strength, and hatred. On similar lines, in the OT prophet Isiah 2.4, states that nations will “beat their swords into ploughshares”, which means that “their spears into pruning hooks.” It is a grand picture that signifies a future time of universal peace where war and conflict cease.
This prophecy describes God’s judgment to a world where disputes and conflicts are peacefully settled peacefully, and thus all nations learn not to prepare for war any more. God is the sole agency of peace (shalom). If this is attribute of God, then God shall be the judge between all nations and shall arbitrate for all nations and all people. If this is the case, then they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. A beautiful imagery that compels all the leaders and people to think before they take iron wares and believe in Iron Dombs. God is thus the Judge, and no one has right to wage wars using guns and swords to slaughter people.
Military power is not going to solve the problems, but only diplomacy and negotiation. Nations of the world should comply to the principles of non-violence and restrain from using weapons of mass destruction. Nation-states should reinforce non-violence and peace before resorting to violence. Every nation is spending huge percentage of GNP on procuring defence materials by spending huge sums of money, by not spending or investing on health care, education, and social and sustainable developments the needs of the hour.
