A HIMSA DAY

A HIMSA DAY

October 2, 2007, was declared as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’ by the United Nations, in commemoration of Gandhiji.
Isn’t that a bit absurd? An International day of non-violence? What are we supposed to do…. not harm anybody for an entire day? Twenty-four hours? Gosh! Now that’s asking too much!
Mothers’ day, Fathers’ day and now even daughters’ day I can live with, but a Non-violence day? This time the UN has just gone a bit overboard.
On a more serious note, the point I am driving home is this, is this what ever exalted doctrines have been reduced to? A mere twenty-four hours of ‘non-violence’, ‘peace’, boring speeches in the Assemble hall of the United Nations? Somehow, I am sure Gandhi never intended it that way.
One cannot deny that debate and deliberation on world issues is essential before any action can be taken, but isn’t this enough that there are people being bombed, military and civilians all over the world. Instead of a day of non-violence, why not have a day of ‘conflict resolution’, where representatives of all countries find constructive, ‘peaceful’ solutions to the problems at hand. Make that a week of conflict resolution! Wouldn’t this be the best way of showing our love and respect for the Mahatma?

But the scholarly diplomats, and leaders of the developed and ‘not-so-developed’ countries of the world didn’t think of this. Or is it all just hogwash to keep the spotlight off more relevant issues, to avoid any active discussion in the public sphere?

Russia, France, Germany, China, Afghanistan and among others, of course Britain sponsored this day as that of non-violence.
What is alarming is, that Russia is the world's top supplier of weapons, a spot it has held since 2001, accounting for around 30% of worldwide weapons sales. Russia is the principal weapons supplier of China and India, and provides weapons to Iran, Algeria, Venezuella and other countries. With 350 nuclear heads stockpiled France is the world's third largest nuclear power. Most of us are aware of the severe human rights violations in China and Afghanistan.

India introduced the resolution in the UN assembly. A nuclear power, vying to strengthen its relations with the United States, the most irresponsible nuclear power there is.

Non-violence.

Well, all we can hope for is that, every year on October 2, Russia wont be selling weapons, China and India wont be buying any, and maybe, after some million years, we could hope that nuclear weapons will be destroyed, that is, if they havent already destroyed us.

For those twenty-four hours every year atleast, let peace prevail.