Dr Park Jai Chang, President, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs,
Mr K John Cherian, National President of YMCA of India
Prof O J Oommen, Vice President of Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY)
Mr Vijay Sewag, President, New Delhi YMCA
Delegates from abroad, Young Friends
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dr Park Jai Chang, President, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs,
Mr K John Cherian, National President of YMCA of India
Prof O J Oommen, Vice President of Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY)
Mr Vijay Sewag, President, New Delhi YMCA
Delegates from abroad, Young Friends
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am delighted to be here to deliver the keynote address for the YMCA South Asia Peace Forum, to this gathering of people who are working towards achieving something which we all desire but sadly lack in large measure in many parts of the world. However, it is heartening to note that efforts to build peace and to achieve reconciliation, justice and sustainable livelihoods which would put us at peace with ourselves and with nature are not lacking and this gives us reason for hope rather than despair.
2. At the risk of sounding more formal than necessary, I would here like to highlight the important role that the YMCA movement has played all over the world not only in bringing together young people across the globe but also in serving as a forum for the expression of those precious human qualities which unite people of diverse cultures, ethnicities, religions, genders, and linguistic backgrounds. Although by name it is Christian organisation, we in India, have never seen the YMCA as only the preserve of our Christian brothers and sisters but as a body that belongs to every one of us. In fact, I know from personal experience that people of all regions and creeds actively participate in the activities and programmes of the YMCA. YMCA has become an integral part of the Indian ethos and the Indian way of life. It is not an exaggeration if I say that many of us have somehow and other been touched by YMCA in our lives, whether we have stayed in the YMCA hostel or undergone a training programme or honed our language skills in a YMCA institute, or, as in my case, made our first foray into local politics through a speech at a YMCA centre. This humanitarian and social work of YMCA has built enormous goodwill for the YMCA not only in India but all over the world.
3. In this context, when the message of peace-building and reconciliation comes from YMCA, it carries further and deeper and has greater resonance and relevance. For me, therefore, it is not surprising to see this initiative coming from the YMCA. I am also heartened by the tremendous response the YMCA Peace Forum has obtained, as reflected in the participation of so many delegates from India and abroad.
4. The notion of peace-building rests on an acknowledgement, particularly in post-conflict situations, that peace is not merely the absence of war and does not automatically follow at the end of war. To build peace, one must move from conflict and destruction to relief and rehabilitation, then to sustainable development, and to building democratic political institutions which will collectively help ensure that peace endures and the region does not lapse back into war.
5. With reference to our part of the world which is the focus of this meeting, I would say that as we are host to diverse communities, religions, ethnicities and ways of life, the message of this initiative is very important and relevant. South Asia is perhaps one of the most culturally diverse parts of the world. We are also the most populous and densely populated regions of the world with scarce natural resources. It follows from that we have the greatest requirement to live in harmony with each other and with nature. The mandate of the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCA of (i) global citizenship and social responsibility; (ii) peace with justice; and (iii) sustainability for life – the three pillars on which Asia Pacific Alliance proposes to work- will find tremendous room for application in our South Asian context.
6. For centuries, South Asia has been the home for the peaceful coexistence of various peoples in harmony with nature. People of many faiths have lived together for ages and our region has given birth to many religions, be it Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism or Jainism. There were practicing Christians on the Malabar coast before Christianity reached Europe. Our society has since times immemorial placed virtue on frugal ways and on extracting the very least from nature. It is not a coincidence that a large percentage of our people are vegetarian. It is because, over the years, people in our region have realised that vegetarianism is a lifestyle that demands less from our planet. For instance, vegetarians contribute far less to global warming than meat-eaters! This is one possible example of the ways and means that this initiative can pick from our region and take the message forward.
7. The approach to implementing peace initiatives in this sub-continent could be learned from ground realities while implementing best practices from around the world. I know that I am addressing experts and therefore would not expand more on this subject. I would only like to reiterate my message that this initiative is most welcome and I am confident the deliberations of this Forum will throw up imaginative ideas on peace building and reconciliation in the South Asian context. I wish you all the best. I have great pleasure in inaugurating this Forum.
Thank you.
YMCA, New Delhi
August 7, 2009