In an unprecedented peace initiative for Kashmir by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living hosted Paigam-e-Mohabbat, a reconciliation program for the family members of martyred security personnel, victims of cross-firing and slain militants on Nov. 10th, 2017.
The program brought together 200 families that had lost their loved ones to violence in the Valley on one platform to heal their hearts and give peace a chance.
Overview of our work in J&K
“I was a district commander of a military outfit. I used to carry a gun with me all the time. Sleep would come hard, so engulfed was I with worries and guilt. I had to resort to taking sleeping pills. After I underwent The Art of Living program, I realized the futility of what I was doing and gave up the path of violence. My life has changed.”
Timeline
Peace Efforts
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has taken his message of harmony and unity to members of different political and religious groups in Jammu and Kashmir since 2004. In that year, he met with leaders and the youth and offered prayers at the Islamic Hazratbal shrine for restoring peace, harmony, and unity in the Valley. The Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Army Chief, and the Governor discussed insurgency and militancy-related problems with Gurudev.
In June 2005, Gurudev Sri Sri visited Srinagar where he was greeted by over 500 Muslim youth. The Art of Living initiated a conference on ‘Human Values and Non-violence’ for leaders of opposing factions, such as the Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Kashmiri Pandits. The historic meeting marked the first time where leaders from different factions came together. The consensus among people who attended the conference was to work towards achieving peace and progress in Kashmir. Gurudev also held talks with a number of separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the-then-chief of the undivided Hurriyat Conference.
“We supported militancy and suffered a lot. We now really realize that if we had educated them (the militants), we would not have suffered so much. Thanks to Gurudev, we now have the tools to transform Kashmir and bring back peace.”
- Asif Bhatt, Jammu and Kashmir
“We are with Gurudev in his efforts to revive and develop human values. We will tread his path, leaving politics aside and extend all our support to his initiatives,”
- Zafar Akbar Bhat, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement
Gurudev also visited Jammu in 2007. On his three-day visit, he met convicted militants and others under trial in the high-security Kothalwal Jail, which houses more than 300 foreign and local militants. He also visited refugee camps in the city.