January 30: Today to more strongly emphasize religious & ethnic harmony, national unity a ‘1 INDIA’ campaign was launched with organization of a HARMONY WALK covering a Church, a Gurudwara, Temple & Mosque. The programme was jointly organized by JAI (Jurists & Associates International), State Cell-NSS, Chandigarh Administration, CSCA (Chandigarh Sr. Citizen’s Association), EFSO, FOSWAC & Yuvsatta. In which over 700 students, NSS volunteers, prominent citizens of the city participated.
In the morning the ‘Harmony Walk’ was first flagged-off from Christ the King Cathedral Church, Sector 19B, by Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court. Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Mr. Justice Surya Kant, SK Setia, Jt. Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, Anmol Rattan Sidhu, Assistant Solicitor General of India, Ninette Vas Sharma, DS Grewal, President, Chandigarh Senior Citizen’s Association, PC Sanghi, Chairman, FOSWAC, Upkar Krishan Sharma, President, GGD SD College Managing Committee, Bikram Singh Rana, State Liaison Officer-NSS, Saroj Mittal, Dy. Director, School Education, Sr. Advocate Atul Lakhanpal, Anuradha Saupin, Director, Saupins School, Jitender Bhatia, Ex-councilor & Aruna Bhardwaj, Principal, Gurukul Global School.
Addressing the gathering at Church before the event Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul stated that moral values had gone down in our society and institutions must take the onus to restore the values system in the society. As because of lack of moral education we see all kinds of ills and communal issues in our nation. Emphasizing on gandhian thought of ‘Be the Change’, he further added that peaceful coexistence is only possible if we have peace within which can transcend to our family, friends and surrounding even to environment and all living beings.
The participants of Harmony Walk which started from Christ the King Cathedral Church, Sector 19, proceeded first to Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha, Sector 19D, later marched to Sree Kaushlendra Sita Ram Mandir, Sector 19D and the programme culminated at Jama Masjid, Sector 20A, Chandigarh, where HC Kalyan, Mayor, Municipal Corporation also addressed the gathering. At each stop of Gurudwara, Church, Temple, Mosque special brief lectures on their religion and unity of mankind was arranged by the organizers. At Church Father Ambrose D’Souza, the Parish Priest addressed on theme of ‘Christianity, Peace & Unity of mankind’. At Gurudwara it was by S. Gurbir Singh, Director, Sikh Missionary College, Chandigarh who explained the thought of ‘Ek Noor Te Sab Jag Upjaya’. At temple Prof. Shyam Sunder, Ex-principal, Post Graduate Government College, Chandigarh spoke on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -whole world is one family’. And at Jama Masjid, Moulana Mohd. Ajmal Khan, Imam told participants about how Islam prepares oneself to achieve peace within & around.
Appreciating the efforts and participation of young students in large numbers in the launching of ‘1 INDIA’ campaign Justice Surya Kant stressed that it’s time to ‘WALK THE TALK’. And Schools and Colleges instead of holding symbolic activities must strive to inculcate good virtues of unity, compassion and patriotism in young minds.
Bikram Singh Rana, State Liaison Officer of NSS added that today’s event is just a beginning and in days to come they’ll take this programme of national integration to all nooks and corners of the city & beyond.
Thanking volunteers of NSS and participating Schools and Colleges in the event Pramod Sharma, Coordinator of Yuvsatta and main organizer of the event shared that it’s time for all Indians to think, act and stand as ONE. Once we all get united INDIA & INDIANS can realize their full potential.