NEW DELHI, Aug 20:
Flagging the ongoing unrest in Kashmir and the recent instances of caste atrocities, senior Congress leader Karan Singh has underlined the “devastating” effects of violence.
Speaking at the launch of a book on non violence last night, he said, “If you still have societies which preach their children hatred for other nations or other religions how can you expect to grow them in a non-violent situation?”
In the face of “endemic” violence across the world, the question that confronts human race today is one of its survival, he said.
In his speech, Karan Singh, the son of the last king of Kashmir Hari Singh, also highlighted the ongoing unrest in Kashmir and the recent instances of caste atrocities in the country.
“We have ended up the discovering the ultimate weapon of destruction. Whether the human race will survive or not is still an open question as one of the two major threats, international terrorism or climate change is enough to wipe it out,” Karan Singh said.
He made the remarks during the launch of a book last evening, that was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhian activist Neelakanta Radhakrishnan, whose journey the book charts, saw a discussion on the continuing relevance of non-violence.
“Could Hitler have been defeated by non-violence? Can ISIS be defeated by non-violence? We have to face the realities that surround us. We will have to structure our programmes and consciousness so as to take cognisance of these factors,” Karan Singh said.
The book ‘Give Nonviolence a Chance’, Manmohan Singh said, depicts the “extraordinary” peacemaking initiatives of Radhakrishnan and his efforts to promote Gandhian philosophy in areas characterised by conflicts across the country. (PTI)