(a transnational center for peace and nonviolent action associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations)
Acharya Mahapragya Embarks on Ahimsa Yatra
Yatra or a journey on foot with a purpose is not new in the nonviolent Jain tradition. Lord Mahavira - the 24th Tirthankar who asserted that all jivas were equal walked all his life to alleviate human misery. The Jain ascetics are supposed to be on the move till they breathe their last. The main aim of their lifelong vow to keep walking till the end of their life is to carry the message of peace and nonviolence far and wide and inspire the masses to live a good life.
Like other Jain ascetics Acharya Mahapragya too has been walking on foot ever since the day he became a Jain monk at the age of ten years. ‘Then how is his present ‘yatra’ different?’ ask the people not familiar with the Jain tradition. The answer lies in the meaningful focus of his yatra. It aims at bringing the problems of all forms of violence into sharp focus. Acharya Tulsi, the founder of the Anuvrat Movement also traveled extensively on foot, covering more than sixty thousand kilometers, but then the focus was on ridding the Indian society of the moral filth that had gripped it soon after independence. Acharya Mahapragya also traveled with him wherever he went, thus imbibing strength and courage.
What is an Ahimsa Yatra? It is an endeavour to awaken a new faith in the infinite power of ahimsa (nonviolence) in the harts of the people. It involves a lot of people and inspires them to think positively in unison with one another. As a result the cosmic energy system becomes active percolating through the minds of lakhs of people and unleashes a torrent of spiritual vibrations washing away the negative thoughts of the masses. This spiritual power was amply demonstrated in Gandhi’s Dandi March which went a long way in electrifying the nation. Acharya Mahapragya says, ‘Negative thoughts cause violence and positive thoughts help the natural evolution of the process of ahimsa. The negative ones are anger, arrogance, greed, hatred, fear, communal enmity and feelings of caste supremacy. Tolerance, politeness, dispassionate attitude, love, fearlessness communal harmony and human solidarity are positive thoughts. Ahimsa Yatra aims at imparting training in the strategies to transform the negative thoughts into positive ones.’
The advent of the new millennium brought unprecedented turmoil and unrest adding to the woes of the people who were already in miserable conditions. Worldwide terrorist attacks, communal and ethnic clashes, conflicts arising from globalization, poverty, exploitation and the increasing lust for power and wealth among people have made social life insecure and vulnerable. This pathetic situation touched Acharya Mahapragya deeply. He meditated on its causes and came to the conclusion that the problems that afflict the civil society today cannot be solved unless an intensive campaign is launched for mass psychological and attitudinal transformation. With this end in view, he has formulated a constructive programme to educate and train children and youths in compulsory military training in many countries, he suggests that training in nonviolence should be made compulsory in all schools and colleges.
He embarked on Ahimsa Yatra on December 5, 2001 at Sujangarh (Rajasthan) and generated tremendous enthusiasm among the people. Thousands joined the yatra and experienced the joy and happiness arising out of their awakened state of higher consciousness. When he decided to take his Ahimsa Yatra to Gujrat he was warned and strongly advised not to go, but he declared firmly, ‘Come what may but I will go’ and he went. As the Yatra entered the state of Gujarat which was aflame with communal passions, the environment began to change. Extinguishing the flames of anger and hatred the Ahimsa Yatra led by Acharya Mahapragya generated a sense of confidence in the victims and the perpetrators had a real change of heart. The response was undoubtedly positive. Addressing a gathering at a village in Gujrat Acharya Shri said, ‘Only that country becomes strong whose citizens know the way to control their emotions. No country can emerge powerful without peaceful coexistence, and it is impossible for a country to ensure peaceful co-existence of its people without restraint and discipline. Some people are educated into communal and caste frenzy. The frenzied state of their minds gives rise to an anti-social environment. The government tries to resist it through its might, but it is the duty of the citizens to see that the hooligans do not convert it into communal frenzy. People have to resist such tendencies nonviolently by arousing their consciousness. ‘The yatra was a boon to the strife-torn people of Gujrat. Those who indulged in rioting and bloodshed realized that violence would cause more violence taking a heavy toll of innocent lives. The very glimpse of the Acharya disarmed them. They eschewed violence and pledged to refrain from killing innocent creatures. They persuaded others of join the Acharya’s mission of regenerating human society.
Acharya Shri said at another meeting, ‘Ahimsa Yatra’s main objective is to create ahimsa awareness among the people. The moment an individual’s attention is riveted on ahimsa, a fountain of peace springs within which not only makes him happy but al others in the area become happy.’ The worst affected place in Gujrat was Ahmedabad where hundreds of innocent children, women and men were massacred only because they belonged to a different community. Condemning the riots the Acharya said, ‘whatever happened in Ahmedabad and other areas of Gujrat was most shameful. It has tarnished the fair name of our country. The people of Gujrat must not forget that it is the place where Mahatma Gandhi was born. It is the place where he made his experiments with truth.’ What is heartening is that the people listened to him. Ahimsa Yatra has transformed Ahmedabad and there is peace all around. Acharya Mahapragya is spending his Chaturmas at Preksha Vishva Bharati, Koba which is now the cynosure of all eyes. Political leaders, social workers and spiritual leaders flock to him for advice. Thousands come just for a glimpse of this new avatar of ahimsa while others come to listen to him. Prior to his coming to this place the Acharya’s Ahimsa Yatra, passed through all the places in Ahmedabad which some months ago were the ghastliest scenes of horror. Seized by bestial instincts the people who lived together as neighbours for years killed each another. Turning his wheel of dharma the Acharya showered compassion and blessings on everyone and healed their wounds. Though he is in the Ashram at present, his wheels of dharma continue turning in all parts of Gujarat. His message of ahimsa has pervaded every nook and corner. This peace achieved by the healing touch of ahimsa is durable. It is worth-mentioning what a taxi driver said, ‘we see in Acharya Mahapragya the real God. Had he not come here we would have all died long ago from starvation and neglect. He is our Messiah of Peace and Happiness. He has charmed the people of Gujrat with his limitless compassion. The very glimpse of this great man fills our hearts with joy and calmness. There is no fear now. We can go wherever we like and are earning our bread.’
Acharya Mahapragya’s Ahimsa Yatra will continue till peace prevails everywhere. Maybe it crosses the frontiers to give solace to the people of the other parts of the world who are suffering from the scourge of fanaticism and ethnic conflicts. Let thousand come forward to participate in his sacred project of ushering in an era of perpetual peace. We bow in reverence before this nonviolent crusader for peace. We salute him.