World Known Gandhian and
Padma Shri S.P. Varma (Jammu and Kashmir) is a social worker and a peace activist from Jammu and Kashmir who has made exemplary contribution by spreading the message of peace in trouble-torn areas of the Jammu and Kashmir .He met Nirmala Deshpande, an eminent Gandhian, at Jammu in 1990. Inspired by her work and dedication, he left his government job (Civil Engineer) and dedicated himself to Gandhism.
In an exclusive interview with the Heaven Mail, he talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
Tell us a bit about your starting Journey ?
Nirmala Deshpande , who was a noted Indian social activist who had embraced Gandhian philosophy and was known world wide had come to Kashmir in early 1990 when painful migration of Kashmiri pandits to Jammu had started. We met in a programme and she told me while Security forces and Government are doing jobs at their level, the civil society like us and believers in ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi should also do somethings for healing the wounds of masses . This motivated me to put my ideas into practice.
How did you construct an inspiring Gandhian network in Jammu and Kashmir?
As i got lot inspired by Nirmala Deshpande ,she advised me that you need to carry the like minded people forward in your Gandhian journey to ease sufferings in Jammu and Kashmir. I left my job as Government Civil Engineer and gave day and night and hard toil to put the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi into practice. Without any financial resources we stayed at homes of like minded people in Kashmir, who loved and adored Gandhi ji ideals very much. We were able to create a strong base for Gandhian values in Jammu and Kashmir. We had learnt through life of Mahatma Gandhi that he followed and put into practice teachings of Lord Rama, Lord Buddha, Guru Nanak, Prophet Muhammad, and Gandhi taught us that a human should be allowed to stay in his own born religion but humanity is a common factor binding us all and we should do everything to make it strong .
How do you feel peace would be restored ?
Peace is not something that can be bought or imposed,neither it is Chirag of Alladin . The peace as a process has thousands of components and each component should be minutely studied . We have to work hard on each and every component in order to bring peace .
Who have been your biggest inspirations?
My biggest inspiration firstly was Nirmala Deshpande whose peace teachings and Gandhian vision I put into practice. My family has been among my biggest inspiration, including my parents. I was born in Jandra a village in between Udhampur and Jammu, we had a family of social activists who always inspired me to do good. Mahatma Gandhi , Professor Ramnath , Martin Luther,Nelson Mandela, Mother Terresa like personalities too have inspired me a lot . All the freedom fighters of India have inspired me a lot.
How do you see global development and peace restoration efforts ?
It is an important question. The need of the hour is to understand that 17 Sustainable goals laid out by the United Nations back in 2016 and its ideas to transform world into positive place by 2030, all these Sustainable goals to be acheived have a fragrance of Gandhian thoughts envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi way back hundred years before. We in India be it the public at large, Government or opposition all are heirs of strong and full of vision Gandhian legacy and philosophy . We Indians are by logic peace promoters and don’t need any permission to spread message of peace and love globally.
We need to include Gandhian values in curriculam: S. P. Varma, World Known Gandhian
(Second Part )
Padma Shri S.P. Varma (Jammu and Kashmir) is a social worker and a peace activist from Jammu and Kashmir who has made exemplary contribution by spreading the message of peace in trouble-torn areas of the Jammu and Kashmir .He met Nirmala Deshpande, an eminent Gandhian, at Jammu in 1990. Inspired by her work and dedication, he left his government job (Civil Engineer) and dedicated himself to Gandhism.
In an exclusive interview with the Heaven Mail, he talks to Rameez Makhdoomi, in the second and last part of the interview.
How do you see global development and peace and restpration efforts ?
It is an important question. The need of the hour is to understand that 17 Sustainable goals laid out by the United Nations back in 2016 and its ideas to transform world into positive place by 2030, all these Sustainable goals to be acheived have a fragrance of Gandhian thoughts envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi way back hundred years before. We in India be it the public at large, Government or opposition all are heirs of strong and full of vision Gandhian legacy and philosophy . We Indians are by logic peace promoters and don’t need any permission to spread message of peace and love globally.
What is your take on including Gandhian values in curriculam?
It is the long pending demand of grasroot Gandhian activists that we need to include the Gandhian values in School and college Curriculum. The preaching of Gandhian values is needed to establish peace and prosperity and that can happen only when we include Gandhian teachings in Curriculum.
Pertinent to mention that we need to toil hard for establishing peace and for that we need to work on identifying real peace activists on one side and also seeing to who the elements are that are disturbing peace and harmony. We should dialogue with such persons if necessary.
What is your view on future of Jammu and Kashmir in backdrop of abrogation of article 370?
The article 370 was abrogated with full consent of Parliament by a support of overwhelming majority. Whether it was temporary or permanent my personal opinion is that there was need to have dialogue with all the stakeholders before its abrogation, there is certainly an atmosphere of uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir. But, we should not initiate any agitating thing in this uncertainty and understand that somethings are Supreme for example complete love,devotion and respect towards country and its great constitution. Our country has relevant platforms wherein we can put our dissenting views .
How do you see a section of Hindus not feeling satisfied with Gandhian thoughts and shifting towards views of Godse?
Actually, due to inactivity and lazy nature of many , today people of all religions like Hindus, Sikhs , Muslims, Christians etc are facing diverse problems and rise of extremism is one of them which is due to inactivity. Mahatma Gandhi championed the values of Hinduism and Santan Dharma and is widely adored by right mindset Hindus. In any religion or part of the world 97 percent people are generally very nice and peace loving . It is due to inactivity that 2 percent destructive forces get hype and these 2 percent forces have been destructive since inception of this world .
What is your take on need to have more Gandhian institutions in present era?
The Gandhian institutions will always be needed by the world. The matter of serious concern although is decline in standards of Gandhian institutions and it is mainly due to mushroom growth of Gandhian organizations and NGOs. We need to focus more on implementation of Gandhian values rather than just to make many organizations.
Your take on Padma Shri you bagged in the year 2012?
I am highly thankful to the Government of that time for bestowing me one of the highest honors of nation in year 2012 for my efforts in social work and Gandhian field. I worked hard to promote Gandhian values in Jammu and Kashmir, and other parts of the country. Often did long walks, slept in people’s homes and undergo lot of hardships to promote peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir through Gandhian values. Gandhian activists and workers have got highest awards of country like Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
