Ludhiana, February 8
“Youth who constitute one-third of world population cannot be ignored in order to bring any major change in the society. Their involvement in reshaping the world is must. They have the energy, stamina, ability and capacity to lead the world and should be empowered to shape the future of the world.” These views were expressed by Mr Narinder Singh Gujral, Chairman and Managing Director, Punjab and Sind Bank. He was addressing the students on the second day of the International Students’ Conference on Volunteering for Peace and Social Engineering, at Punjab Agricultural University ,today.
Quoting from Gurbani, Mr Gujral emphasised that answer to all problems confronting the modern society and love for peace lie in Gurbani and can lead us to universal brotherhood and peace. According to Gurbani the whole humanity is one brotherhood and we are all descendent of the same father. Thus discrimination on any ground has no room. He further said as per Sikhism the root cause of all human suffering is ‘ego’. It hampers understanding and
separates us from the path of reality and leads us to spiritual blindness.
When people are egoist and self centered, the power, status and money goes into their head. Truth and peace no longer prevail . Commenting on the importance of peace in today’s world, Mr Gujral said the preservation of peace is an abiding channel for the international community. Maintenance of peace required self discipline restraint, mutual trust and greater understanding of the pains and sufferings of others. This can be achieved by building trust and understanding between different nations, countries, communities and individuals. “Peace cannot be achieved at individual’s level. It is every body’s responsibility. We must join hands to achieve this gigantic mission by making sincere and serious efforts at all levels and at all times,” he remarked.
Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, presided over the session and he also said the teaching of Guru Nanak were very much relevant in today’s world.
Dr M.A. Zahir, former Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, PAU in his concluding remarks emphasised on building an overall personality of students in terms of higher values of honesty, compassion, quality, love and friendship. Youth will have to play a significant role in the ensuing years, he said.
Earlier, several students also expressed their views. These included Seema from Shivaji University, Kohlapur; Pooja Sharma from Ganga Nagar, Manjit Kaur from United Kingdom; Savita from Madhya Pradesh; Ms Chatunglowang from Arunachal Pradesh and Shabnam Walia from Ludhiana. Mr Sarabjit Singh, Prof. of Journalism, PAU, presented a paper on ‘Peace in Action.’
“Coming together of students from different
nationalities, religions, countries to meet on a common platform , under one banner, one theme -Peace, which is an international issue is a right start. It is a good beginning”, said Ms Manjit Kaur from Midland,
UK. She is a student of Masters course in Clinical Pharmacy. She has come specially to attend the International Students’ Conference on Volunteering for Peace and Social Engineering. The three-day seminar is being attended by 500 students. Fifty students are from Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, UK and Hongkong.
Manjit further said the issues of international peace and intoxicant-free society were the issues close to everyone’s heart. This conference has emphasised that individual should look for ways to improve their empowerment and go on to empower their community , then their nation and finally reach international levels. She said,” Intoxicants are not an answer to solving the problems of youth. We young people have to shun drugs and spread the message.”
“We are glad that finally the adults are addressing the issue that is paramount and concerns everybody in the universe i.e. peace. The seminar is going to target the grave need to save young people from intoxicants also.,” said Patrick S.O. Oloo, Patrick is studying in Regional College of Education, Kurukshetra and is enjoying participating in Inter-Faith Dialogue for Peace and Intoxicant Free Society.
He further said without global peace, no development is possible. “If the youth is not freed from the tentacles of intoxicants, the nations cannot progress. The youth of today is greatly affected by drug addiction, and it is good that the students are discussing , sharing their ideas on this important problem, and may be we can find a lasting solution. In Kenya, drug addiction has not reached alarming proportions thankfully.”
Linnet from Kenya, also studying in Kurukshetra, said “such conferences on peace that involve students are good as youth are going to take over the reins of power in
future. The students who are attending meeting here would convey the message of peace and a drug-free society to other students and hence a large number of students would become aware of these
issues. We see in our college that sometime students abstain themselves from college as they are under the influence of liquor. Youth is not to be wasted in such frivolous activities.”
Leonardo, who has travelled all the way from Mozambique to participate in the conference said,”It is a good opportunity for the students to join together with one objective to ensure a drug free society and work for world peace. I am going back to my country and tell my friends that we can bring peace by working with Indian and Kenyan students.”
Adam, Feysel Ismail Ahmed and Ahmed from Ethiopia had a little language problem but nonetheless conveyed that all problems can be solved by peaceful negotiation. We should adopt non-violence. The theme of conference is excellent, they said.
Ms Harjinder Kaur, ex-Mayor,
Chandigarh, a resource person, said the conference is the first attempt to provide a platform to students world wide to discuss major
issues. The students are the biggest force and the students will take the message of peace a long way.”
Nimrat, Navpreet , Paramjit and Reeta of PAU said the conference would surely inspire the students to free themselves from drug addiction. Actually, the conference is going to exercise a deep influence on residents of the city as the entire proceedings are being telecast live.
