Acharya Tulsi
The United Nations Organisation has declared 1988 as the Year of Nuclear Disarmament. Even before the beginning of this year, on 8 December 1987, a historic agreement was reached at Washington between the American President, Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. According to this agreement, America and Soviet Russia will destroy all missiles with a range of 500- 5500 Km. Like the aurora at dawn before sunrise, this agreement came as a great relief to everyone.
The agreement came into force with effect from 1 June 1988. All the countries of the world welcomed this step jointly taken by America and Soviet Russia.
In another announcement made on 8 August 1988, the U.N.O. has claimed to end the 8-year old war between Iran and Iraq. August 20 was fixed for the cease fire. But according to the newspaper reports, immediately after the UNO’s announcement, there was observed a change in the aggressive postures of the two countries. Their military operations slackened. The war between Iran and lraq had started on 20 September 1980. From that date till now, during the eight years of open conflict, a million people are estimated to have been killed; one hundred thousand soldiers of both countries became prisoners of war. The outward conflict has ceased. But to end it on the psychological level, a meeting has been fixed between the two countries on 25 August at Geneva. The U.N.O. will play an important role at this meeting, it is said. '
All those countries who believe in human values, have welcomed this cease fire between Iran and Iraq. It is HOW becoming evident that no country really wants war, because war affects not only the present generation, but also the succeeding generations. The unforgettable incident of the dropping of atom bombs on two principal towns—Hiroshima and Nagasaki—of Japan, the country of the rising sun, is still fresh in people's mind.
It was the blackest day in the history of humanity, when many hundred thousand of people were done to death in a most horrifying manner. However, Japan which had suffered total disintegration at the end of the Second World War, has since registered a marvellous recovery, thanks to the dedicated hard work put in by its people. Japan has witnessed a tremendous industrial development, but those hundred-thousand of people who met with a cruel and premature death at Hiroshima and Nagasaki would never return.
Why does man take recourse to war every now and then, even after viewing and experiencing for himself the dreadful consequences of war? This is a perennial question. Whatever the causes—economic, social, geographical, cultural, religious or historical-war spells a way of destruction for the whole of the human race. There is no instance in history of war having solved any problem. Those intruding into another country’s territory might usurp a bit of land here and there, but they are purchasing for their country a torment which might last for several centuries. Only through the establishment of fundamental values like mutual trust, goodwill and co-existence, can man find peace.
This Year's Nehru Peace Prize was given to Perez di Kwaya, Secretary, and United Nations Organization. The award was given to him in appreciation of his service, past and present, for advancing the cause of peace and goodwill in the world. The world today is fed up with violence and war. That is why people readily join in supporting all peace efforts. No person involved in war or instigating war has ever been honoured with such a prize, because war means confusion, unrest, instability and destruction of life and property. To avoid such havoc, the whole world will have to go along the path of non-violence.
India stands among the countries blared to the creation of a world free from violence and nuclear weapons. Non-violence and many sided comprehensive approach ("This is true; that is also true") and brotherhood is a part of Indian culture. In a way of life, where non-violence and many sided-vision reign, violence can never prevail. Still, as long as causes of violence and unrest are present in the world, the possibility of a war cannot be denied. However, the very idea of a world war is most terrifying. lt is in the knowledge of all what harm even a limited civil war is doing to the country. lf man, alarmed by the horrors of war, returns to his fundamental nature, avoids unnecessary violence, and actively participates in the efforts for bringing about world peace, war—singed humanity may yet find salvation.
