good morning it’s a real honor to be giving this TEDx talk at the Cody
giving this TEDx talk at the Cody
giving this TEDx talk at the Cody International School challenges they
International School challenges they
International School challenges they come in all shapes and forms there
come in all shapes and forms there
come in all shapes and forms there various different sizes and most often
various different sizes and most often
various different sizes and most often they are set by other people you want to
they are set by other people you want to
they are set by other people you want to do something your parents don’t like it
do something your parents don’t like it
do something your parents don’t like it they think it won’t get you a job or
they think it won’t get you a job or
they think it won’t get you a job or your friends think you live in la-la
your friends think you live in la-la
your friends think you live in la-la land
land
land or your teachers say that you aren’t
or your teachers say that you aren’t
or your teachers say that you aren’t focused those the challenges that are
focused those the challenges that are
focused those the challenges that are part of daily life and that we all
part of daily life and that we all
part of daily life and that we all experience in one way or another but
experience in one way or another but
experience in one way or another but when I started researching for this
when I started researching for this
when I started researching for this particular talk I discovered something
particular talk I discovered something
particular talk I discovered something that surprised me every great man or
that surprised me every great man or
that surprised me every great man or woman has set his own challenge or her
woman has set his own challenge or her
woman has set his own challenge or her own challenge it’s not other people’s
own challenge it’s not other people’s
own challenge it’s not other people’s challenges that matter to them it was
challenges that matter to them it was
challenges that matter to them it was the challenge that they asked of
the challenge that they asked of
the challenge that they asked of themselves take Mary calm people used to
themselves take Mary calm people used to
themselves take Mary calm people used to say that boxing is for men and not for
say that boxing is for men and not for
say that boxing is for men and not for women and I thought I will show them
women and I thought I will show them
women and I thought I will show them someday I promised myself she said and I
someday I promised myself she said and I
someday I promised myself she said and I proved myself it’s not often that we get
proved myself it’s not often that we get
proved myself it’s not often that we get to say words like that and when someone
to say words like that and when someone
to say words like that and when someone does achieve it we can only be delighted
does achieve it we can only be delighted
does achieve it we can only be delighted for them and hope for ourselves that we
for them and hope for ourselves that we
for them and hope for ourselves that we can do as well another time my own
can do as well another time my own
can do as well another time my own challenge came in terms of confronting
challenge came in terms of confronting
challenge came in terms of confronting violence and seeing whether there were
violence and seeing whether there were
violence and seeing whether there were ways the we in our own lives and in the
ways the we in our own lives and in the
ways the we in our own lives and in the worlds that we live in in our country
worlds that we live in in our country
worlds that we live in in our country could help make peace it was 1984 the
could help make peace it was 1984 the
could help make peace it was 1984 the year that in Oregon he was assassinated
year that in Oregon he was assassinated
year that in Oregon he was assassinated and most of you won’t know this but her
and most of you won’t know this but her
and most of you won’t know this but her assassination was immediately followed
assassination was immediately followed
assassination was immediately followed by a pogrom against the Sikh
by a pogrom against the Sikh
by a pogrom against the Sikh in New Delhi and in some other cities in
in New Delhi and in some other cities in
in New Delhi and in some other cities in India in the matter of three days more
India in the matter of three days more
India in the matter of three days more than 3000 people were really brutally
than 3000 people were really brutally
than 3000 people were really brutally killed and it wasn’t just the killing
killed and it wasn’t just the killing
killed and it wasn’t just the killing it was the humiliation men was seized
it was the humiliation men was seized
it was the humiliation men was seized and their beards were torn off people
and their beards were torn off people
and their beards were torn off people were set on fire with burning tires
were set on fire with burning tires
were set on fire with burning tires around their necks and as the news came
around their necks and as the news came
around their necks and as the news came out hundreds and hundreds of citizens of
out hundreds and hundreds of citizens of
out hundreds and hundreds of citizens of Delhi including myself poured out of our
Delhi including myself poured out of our
Delhi including myself poured out of our houses to go and stop the killing we
houses to go and stop the killing we
houses to go and stop the killing we went into the bye lanes of East Delhi of
went into the bye lanes of East Delhi of
went into the bye lanes of East Delhi of North Delhi of paths we had never seen
North Delhi of paths we had never seen
North Delhi of paths we had never seen before I had to help wounded families
before I had to help wounded families
before I had to help wounded families scrape the bones of their loved ones of
scrape the bones of their loved ones of
scrape the bones of their loved ones of the streets as you can imagine it was a
the streets as you can imagine it was a
the streets as you can imagine it was a horribly formative experience for me but
horribly formative experience for me but
horribly formative experience for me but it was an incredibly important
it was an incredibly important
it was an incredibly important experience for me because I learned that
experience for me because I learned that
experience for me because I learned that as a citizen of my city I could not sit
as a citizen of my city I could not sit
as a citizen of my city I could not sit there and watch other people killing the
there and watch other people killing the
there and watch other people killing the soul of this city and I also learnt that
soul of this city and I also learnt that
soul of this city and I also learnt that it only took one it took one phone call
it only took one it took one phone call
it only took one it took one phone call to me to bring me out
to me to bring me out
to me to bring me out it took one phone call for me to bring
it took one phone call for me to bring
it took one phone call for me to bring my friends out and if in three hours
my friends out and if in three hours
my friends out and if in three hours more than a thousand people could gather
more than a thousand people could gather
more than a thousand people could gather and commit themselves to rescuing people
and commit themselves to rescuing people
and commit themselves to rescuing people from burning houses and streets to
from burning houses and streets to
from burning houses and streets to setting up shelters for them to looking
setting up shelters for them to looking
setting up shelters for them to looking not only to their rescue and their
not only to their rescue and their
not only to their rescue and their survival for those few horrible days but
survival for those few horrible days but
survival for those few horrible days but working with them for the next months
working with them for the next months
working with them for the next months and years to ensure that they could have
and years to ensure that they could have
and years to ensure that they could have new homes and new livelihoods well then
new homes and new livelihoods well then
new homes and new livelihoods well then there was huge hope for my city and
there was huge hope for my city and
there was huge hope for my city and there was huge hope for my country as
there was huge hope for my country as
there was huge hope for my country as well that was a lesson I didn’t forget
well that was a lesson I didn’t forget
well that was a lesson I didn’t forget at
at
at over time my life went into dealing with
over time my life went into dealing with
over time my life went into dealing with other conflicts and seeing other ways in
other conflicts and seeing other ways in
other conflicts and seeing other ways in which people sort citizens sought to
which people sort citizens sought to
which people sort citizens sought to make peace in their world my next
make peace in their world my next
make peace in their world my next challenge game very much later when the
challenge game very much later when the
challenge game very much later when the government of India asked me to work as
government of India asked me to work as
government of India asked me to work as an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir
an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir
an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir and I discovered something that perhaps
and I discovered something that perhaps
and I discovered something that perhaps I had forgotten over the years the most
I had forgotten over the years the most
I had forgotten over the years the most difficult thing of all is to deal with
difficult thing of all is to deal with
difficult thing of all is to deal with the suffering of other people your own
the suffering of other people your own
the suffering of other people your own suffering you can somehow find a way to
suffering you can somehow find a way to
suffering you can somehow find a way to cope with if you’re lucky you’ll have
cope with if you’re lucky you’ll have
cope with if you’re lucky you’ll have family and friends to help you you might
family and friends to help you you might
family and friends to help you you might have mentors but other people suffering
have mentors but other people suffering
have mentors but other people suffering how do you deal with that I sometimes
how do you deal with that I sometimes
how do you deal with that I sometimes felt in that one year that I acted as an
felt in that one year that I acted as an
felt in that one year that I acted as an interlocutor in Kashmir that my sole
interlocutor in Kashmir that my sole
interlocutor in Kashmir that my sole task was to be a sponge for the anger
task was to be a sponge for the anger
task was to be a sponge for the anger and pain that I heard everyday every
and pain that I heard everyday every
and pain that I heard everyday every hour the phone calls would start at 7:00
hour the phone calls would start at 7:00
hour the phone calls would start at 7:00 in the morning they would end at
in the morning they would end at
in the morning they would end at midnight I opened a Facebook page only
midnight I opened a Facebook page only
midnight I opened a Facebook page only to reach out within days it was full I
to reach out within days it was full I
to reach out within days it was full I had 15,000 people writing to me every
had 15,000 people writing to me every
had 15,000 people writing to me every day and 99.9% of the messages I caught
day and 99.9% of the messages I caught
day and 99.9% of the messages I caught were messages of anger and hate and I
were messages of anger and hate and I
were messages of anger and hate and I had to read them and I had to reply and
had to read them and I had to reply and
had to read them and I had to reply and I had to find some way every time of
I had to find some way every time of
I had to find some way every time of creating a space where people could come
creating a space where people could come
creating a space where people could come down from that high of rage and hatred
down from that high of rage and hatred
down from that high of rage and hatred and start to listen a little and to
and start to listen a little and to
and start to listen a little and to think a little but again what was the
think a little but again what was the
think a little but again what was the most hopeful thing for me was to find
most hopeful thing for me was to find
most hopeful thing for me was to find that actually it could be done people
that actually it could be done people
that actually it could be done people did come down from their high of rage
did come down from their high of rage
did come down from their high of rage and their hatred people did start to
and their hatred people did start to
and their hatred people did start to listen to each other what are the most
listen to each other what are the most
listen to each other what are the most moving things for me was to see
the wife of one of the dissidents in the
the wife of one of the dissidents in the Kashmir Valley we did some role-playing
Kashmir Valley we did some role-playing
Kashmir Valley we did some role-playing exercises in the university and one of
exercises in the university and one of
exercises in the university and one of the scenarios we looked at was the
the scenarios we looked at was the
the scenarios we looked at was the horrible war in Bosnia Herzegovina which
horrible war in Bosnia Herzegovina which
horrible war in Bosnia Herzegovina which was a war of different communities and
was a war of different communities and
was a war of different communities and different religions as well as obviously
different religions as well as obviously
different religions as well as obviously international geopolitical circumstances
international geopolitical circumstances
international geopolitical circumstances that accompanied the end of the Cold War
that accompanied the end of the Cold War
that accompanied the end of the Cold War and this young lady volunteered to act
and this young lady volunteered to act
and this young lady volunteered to act the role of a Bosnian Serb at a time
the role of a Bosnian Serb at a time
the role of a Bosnian Serb at a time when they were most hated across the
when they were most hated across the
when they were most hated across the world as people who had launched a war
world as people who had launched a war
world as people who had launched a war of aggression upon fellow citizens of
of aggression upon fellow citizens of
of aggression upon fellow citizens of different faiths and communities equally
different faiths and communities equally
different faiths and communities equally moving was to see the young lady who had
moving was to see the young lady who had
moving was to see the young lady who had to play the role of one of the
to play the role of one of the
to play the role of one of the persecuted communities in Bosnia
persecuted communities in Bosnia
persecuted communities in Bosnia Herzegovina that was expelled in a war
Herzegovina that was expelled in a war
Herzegovina that was expelled in a war of ethnic what what grew to be called
of ethnic what what grew to be called
of ethnic what what grew to be called ethnic cleansing now in Kashmir you had
ethnic cleansing now in Kashmir you had
ethnic cleansing now in Kashmir you had had the pundits community that had been
had the pundits community that had been
had the pundits community that had been expelled over the years of conflict from
expelled over the years of conflict from
expelled over the years of conflict from the 1990s on this young lady was one of
the 1990s on this young lady was one of
the 1990s on this young lady was one of the Muslims who was not given the
the Muslims who was not given the
the Muslims who was not given the opportunity to leave the conflict area
opportunity to leave the conflict area
opportunity to leave the conflict area and again you can imagine that in a
and again you can imagine that in a
and again you can imagine that in a situation of conflict people everybody
situation of conflict people everybody
situation of conflict people everybody is a victim it doesn’t matter which
is a victim it doesn’t matter which
is a victim it doesn’t matter which faith or which community it doesn’t
faith or which community it doesn’t
faith or which community it doesn’t matter that you might be a majority or
matter that you might be a majority or
matter that you might be a majority or you might be a minority you’re all
you might be a minority you’re all
you might be a minority you’re all equally victims of war and aggression
equally victims of war and aggression
equally victims of war and aggression and violence but because a minority is
and violence but because a minority is
and violence but because a minority is more vulnerable quite often it’s
more vulnerable quite often it’s
more vulnerable quite often it’s impossible for the minority to
impossible for the minority to
impossible for the minority to understand that members of the majority
understand that members of the majority
understand that members of the majority are also victims
are also victims
are also victims and equally often when it is a majority
and equally often when it is a majority
and equally often when it is a majority that has not been able to prevent ethnic
that has not been able to prevent ethnic
that has not been able to prevent ethnic cleansing there is a sense of guilt and
cleansing there is a sense of guilt and
cleansing there is a sense of guilt and culpability which leads to defensiveness
culpability which leads to defensiveness
culpability which leads to defensiveness and the statement that I didn’t do it it
and the statement that I didn’t do it it
and the statement that I didn’t do it it was me which leads you then to say there
was me which leads you then to say there
was me which leads you then to say there must be something wrong with those
must be something wrong with those
must be something wrong with those people who allowed themselves to be
people who allowed themselves to be
people who allowed themselves to be ethnically cleansed
ethnically cleansed
ethnically cleansed that’s the way you justify the fact that
that’s the way you justify the fact that
that’s the way you justify the fact that you still continue to exist it’s
you still continue to exist it’s
you still continue to exist it’s understandable even if we cannot excuse
understandable even if we cannot excuse
understandable even if we cannot excuse it it’s still an understandable
it it’s still an understandable
it it’s still an understandable sentiment and to see in this role play
sentiment and to see in this role play
sentiment and to see in this role play both people from minority and from
both people from minority and from
both people from minority and from majority communities beginning to
majority communities beginning to
majority communities beginning to understand that neither self
understand that neither self
understand that neither self justification was adequate that each had
justification was adequate that each had
justification was adequate that each had to sympathize with the sacrifices and
to sympathize with the sacrifices and
to sympathize with the sacrifices and the suffering of the other was truly not
the suffering of the other was truly not
the suffering of the other was truly not only moving but empowering so then came
only moving but empowering so then came
only moving but empowering so then came the other question if citizens are
the other question if citizens are
the other question if citizens are capable of change and are capable of
capable of change and are capable of
capable of change and are capable of taking perhaps the biggest challenge of
taking perhaps the biggest challenge of
taking perhaps the biggest challenge of all which is the loss of somebody you
all which is the loss of somebody you
all which is the loss of somebody you love very much and being able to move
love very much and being able to move
love very much and being able to move towards forgiveness then why is it or
towards forgiveness then why is it or
towards forgiveness then why is it or how is it that we can translate that
how is it that we can translate that
how is it that we can translate that into a political process a political
into a political process a political
into a political process a political process which will allow you to come to
process which will allow you to come to
process which will allow you to come to an actual resolution of the conflict an
an actual resolution of the conflict an
an actual resolution of the conflict an actual moment of peace now in our
actual moment of peace now in our
actual moment of peace now in our country we tend to think that
country we tend to think that
country we tend to think that peacemaking is easy it’s an attitude
peacemaking is easy it’s an attitude
peacemaking is easy it’s an attitude it’s an it’s it’s a kind of little bit
it’s an it’s it’s a kind of little bit
it’s an it’s it’s a kind of little bit of will that you have to show if you’re
of will that you have to show if you’re
of will that you have to show if you’re a nice person it really should not be
a nice person it really should not be
a nice person it really should not be difficult to make peace well think about
difficult to make peace well think about
difficult to make peace well think about it the other way what if you’re a very
it the other way what if you’re a very
it the other way what if you’re a very nice person but your father has been
nice person but your father has been
nice person but your father has been killed in front of your own eyes
killed in front of your own eyes
killed in front of your own eyes your mother has been raped your sister
your mother has been raped your sister
your mother has been raped your sister has had to run away your other brother
has had to run away your other brother
has had to run away your other brother has perhaps been killed by yet another
has perhaps been killed by yet another
has perhaps been killed by yet another opposing force is it so easy to make
opposing force is it so easy to make
opposing force is it so easy to make peace with the person who has who you
peace with the person who has who you
peace with the person who has who you think has been responsible for all this
think has been responsible for all this
think has been responsible for all this suffering in your life if you look at
suffering in your life if you look at
suffering in your life if you look at any conflict situation there is loss on
any conflict situation there is loss on
any conflict situation there is loss on every single side some of us say we
every single side some of us say we
every single side some of us say we don’t want to hear about the loss of
don’t want to hear about the loss of
don’t want to hear about the loss of Kashmiri Kashmiri militants or young
Kashmiri Kashmiri militants or young
Kashmiri Kashmiri militants or young people who’ve taken up the gun they are
people who’ve taken up the gun they are
people who’ve taken up the gun they are terrorists we only want to look at the
terrorists we only want to look at the
terrorists we only want to look at the losses that are brave Jevons who had to
losses that are brave Jevons who had to
losses that are brave Jevons who had to face that our civil servants have had to
face that our civil servants have had to
face that our civil servants have had to face who have been targeted that our
face who have been targeted that our
face who have been targeted that our police who have been targeted have had
police who have been targeted have had
police who have been targeted have had to face there’s certainly a great deal
to face there’s certainly a great deal
to face there’s certainly a great deal of loss there but what about the loss on
of loss there but what about the loss on
of loss there but what about the loss on the other side equally those who support
the other side equally those who support
the other side equally those who support the boys who take up the guns will say
the boys who take up the guns will say
the boys who take up the guns will say we don’t want to think about the loss of
we don’t want to think about the loss of
we don’t want to think about the loss of the Jevons or other administrators or of
the Jevons or other administrators or of
the Jevons or other administrators or of the police they are the people who are
the police they are the people who are
the police they are the people who are oppressing us well so here’s the first
oppressing us well so here’s the first
oppressing us well so here’s the first challenge of peacemaking both have to
challenge of peacemaking both have to
challenge of peacemaking both have to recognize that the other has suffered
recognize that the other has suffered
recognize that the other has suffered loss both have to recognize that the
loss both have to recognize that the
loss both have to recognize that the other has some reason on their side
other has some reason on their side
other has some reason on their side whether you agree with that reason or
whether you agree with that reason or
whether you agree with that reason or not is actually completely unimportant
not is actually completely unimportant
not is actually completely unimportant your task is not to agree your task is
your task is not to agree your task is
your task is not to agree your task is to recognize that that person feels
to recognize that that person feels
to recognize that that person feels justified in what they are doing every
justified in what they are doing every
justified in what they are doing every single one of the people who are part of
single one of the people who are part of
single one of the people who are part of that violence are also part of the
that violence are also part of the
that violence are also part of the suffering they’re also part of the
suffering they’re also part of the
suffering they’re also part of the compensation and they have to be a part
compensation and they have to be a part
compensation and they have to be a part of the solution so at the end of the day
of the solution so at the end of the day
of the solution so at the end of the day what is it the challenge
what is it the challenge
what is it the challenge for peacemaking the challenge for
for peacemaking the challenge for
for peacemaking the challenge for peacemaking
peacemaking
peacemaking is to first create those moments of
is to first create those moments of
is to first create those moments of recognition and awareness and then to
recognition and awareness and then to
recognition and awareness and then to see how can you translate that into a
see how can you translate that into a
see how can you translate that into a political act how can you make it a part
political act how can you make it a part
political act how can you make it a part of a policy that will lead to the end of
of a policy that will lead to the end of
of a policy that will lead to the end of a conflict sometimes it seems as if it
a conflict sometimes it seems as if it
a conflict sometimes it seems as if it can’t be done it looks as if the
can’t be done it looks as if the
can’t be done it looks as if the suffering has been so very great that
suffering has been so very great that
suffering has been so very great that it’s not going to be possible for people
it’s not going to be possible for people
it’s not going to be possible for people to forget and to lay the past behind
to forget and to lay the past behind
to forget and to lay the past behind them and to move forward yet it is a
them and to move forward yet it is a
them and to move forward yet it is a fact that it has been done it has been
fact that it has been done it has been
fact that it has been done it has been done by statesmen who have found a way
done by statesmen who have found a way
done by statesmen who have found a way to take that little little awareness and
to take that little little awareness and
to take that little little awareness and turn it into a political advantage
turn it into a political advantage
turn it into a political advantage they’ve been able to sell to their
they’ve been able to sell to their
they’ve been able to sell to their publics that the sacrifice has paved the
publics that the sacrifice has paved the
publics that the sacrifice has paved the way for the resolution and the
way for the resolution and the
way for the resolution and the resolution is always a compromise so you
resolution is always a compromise so you
resolution is always a compromise so you can imagine what a huge political task
can imagine what a huge political task
can imagine what a huge political task it is to sell a compromise as a
it is to sell a compromise as a
it is to sell a compromise as a victorious sacrifice yet it is so that
victorious sacrifice yet it is so that
victorious sacrifice yet it is so that it does happen it has happened and
it does happen it has happened and
it does happen it has happened and though unfortunately in our own mission
though unfortunately in our own mission
though unfortunately in our own mission in Kashmir it did not happen
in Kashmir it did not happen
in Kashmir it did not happen we were not able to achieve those goals
we were not able to achieve those goals
we were not able to achieve those goals that we had set for ourselves the truth
that we had set for ourselves the truth
that we had set for ourselves the truth is also that every peace process takes
is also that every peace process takes
is also that every peace process takes years decades and generally decades of
years decades and generally decades of
years decades and generally decades of sustained effort if you have effort for
sustained effort if you have effort for
sustained effort if you have effort for five years and then a break and then
five years and then a break and then
five years and then a break and then again an effort for another five years
again an effort for another five years
again an effort for another five years and then again a break all you do is
and then again a break all you do is
and then again a break all you do is prolong the suffering and you prolong
prolong the suffering and you prolong
prolong the suffering and you prolong the time before you can reach a
the time before you can reach a
the time before you can reach a conclusion if you can sustain a peace
conclusion if you can sustain a peace
conclusion if you can sustain a peace process for 10 years or more then your
process for 10 years or more then your
process for 10 years or more then your chances of arriving at a real
chances of arriving at a real
chances of arriving at a real sustainable settlement are just that
sustainable settlement are just that
sustainable settlement are just that much higher and that’s something I know
much higher and that’s something I know
much higher and that’s something I know is an
is an
is an demmick activist because unfortunately
demmick activist because unfortunately
demmick activist because unfortunately thus far in my personal life I haven’t
thus far in my personal life I haven’t
thus far in my personal life I haven’t seen it a few more words for those of
seen it a few more words for those of
seen it a few more words for those of you who might want to engage in the task
you who might want to engage in the task
you who might want to engage in the task of peacemaking in our country you tend
of peacemaking in our country you tend
of peacemaking in our country you tend to be mocked and you tend to be scorned
to be mocked and you tend to be scorned
to be mocked and you tend to be scorned somehow in modern India we seem to think
somehow in modern India we seem to think
somehow in modern India we seem to think that peacemaking
that peacemaking
that peacemaking is for the weak not for the strong
is for the weak not for the strong
is for the weak not for the strong somehow we seem to think that the strong
somehow we seem to think that the strong
somehow we seem to think that the strong can dominate and force their way through
can dominate and force their way through
can dominate and force their way through well of course that is not the case
well of course that is not the case
well of course that is not the case everybody has enough strength in them to
everybody has enough strength in them to
everybody has enough strength in them to resist efforts at forceful conviction
Gandhiji once said first they ignore you
Gandhiji once said first they ignore you then they laugh at you then they fight
then they laugh at you then they fight
then they laugh at you then they fight you and then you win I think that’s a
you and then you win I think that’s a
you and then you win I think that’s a very good statement of how things work
very good statement of how things work
very good statement of how things work in this country of course I’m only 64
in this country of course I’m only 64
in this country of course I’m only 64 now so I hope by the time I’m 80 I would
now so I hope by the time I’m 80 I would
now so I hope by the time I’m 80 I would have won and I don’t think that that’s
have won and I don’t think that that’s
have won and I don’t think that that’s an unfair hope I think it’s quite
an unfair hope I think it’s quite
an unfair hope I think it’s quite realistic why should I not win at the
realistic why should I not win at the
realistic why should I not win at the age of 80 we all should finally let me
age of 80 we all should finally let me
age of 80 we all should finally let me remind you of something else everyone
remind you of something else everyone
remind you of something else everyone believes that some goals are not
believes that some goals are not
believes that some goals are not achievable we say to ourselves we have a
achievable we say to ourselves we have a
achievable we say to ourselves we have a 5,000 year old civilization we are a
5,000 year old civilization we are a
5,000 year old civilization we are a very mature and sophisticated country
very mature and sophisticated country
very mature and sophisticated country and then we turn around and we have our
and then we turn around and we have our
and then we turn around and we have our nice young anchors on television all
nice young anchors on television all
nice young anchors on television all yelling and shouting at their guests as
yelling and shouting at their guests as
yelling and shouting at their guests as if their sole purpose and function in
if their sole purpose and function in
if their sole purpose and function in life is to browbeat everybody else into
life is to browbeat everybody else into
life is to browbeat everybody else into submission great achievement for a 5,000
submission great achievement for a 5,000
submission great achievement for a 5,000 year old civilization let’s see maybe
year old civilization let’s see maybe
year old civilization let’s see maybe our young men and women will grow up a
our young men and women will grow up a
our young men and women will grow up a little bit perhaps when they are 40 they
little bit perhaps when they are 40 they
little bit perhaps when they are 40 they we’ll be a different type of an anchor
we’ll be a different type of an anchor
we’ll be a different type of an anchor perhaps there will be anchors who will
perhaps there will be anchors who will
perhaps there will be anchors who will actually bring people together into a
actually bring people together into a
actually bring people together into a dialogue rather than into a
dialogue rather than into a
dialogue rather than into a confrontation is it that we create
confrontation is it that we create
confrontation is it that we create confrontations in order to forget the
confrontations in order to forget the
confrontations in order to forget the greater more harder elements of life
greater more harder elements of life
greater more harder elements of life that we have to deal with one of our
that we have to deal with one of our
that we have to deal with one of our favorite phrases in our country is give
favorite phrases in our country is give
favorite phrases in our country is give me a little merged masala and we really
me a little merged masala and we really
me a little merged masala and we really especially like mirch masala in
especially like mirch masala in
especially like mirch masala in television debates yet there is a really
television debates yet there is a really
television debates yet there is a really serious element over here the merge
serious element over here the merge
serious element over here the merge masala that we hear day in and day out
masala that we hear day in and day out
masala that we hear day in and day out on our electronic and social media has
on our electronic and social media has
on our electronic and social media has impacted us as a polity in the gravest
impacted us as a polity in the gravest
impacted us as a polity in the gravest and most ugly of ways we seem to be
and most ugly of ways we seem to be
and most ugly of ways we seem to be becoming a people who do not want to
becoming a people who do not want to
becoming a people who do not want to listen to each other if we continue in
listen to each other if we continue in
listen to each other if we continue in that way we will never be able to live
that way we will never be able to live
that way we will never be able to live at peace and we are a country of 1.3
at peace and we are a country of 1.3
at peace and we are a country of 1.3 billion people we need peace more than
billion people we need peace more than
billion people we need peace more than most people do so I hope I hope that we
most people do so I hope I hope that we
most people do so I hope I hope that we can go back to what we learnt from our
can go back to what we learnt from our
can go back to what we learnt from our great ones that you must persist but
great ones that you must persist but
great ones that you must persist but more important than that is the dream
more important than that is the dream
more important than that is the dream that you have the imagination that you
that you have the imagination that you
that you have the imagination that you let free imagine the world that John
let free imagine the world that John
let free imagine the world that John Lennon told us about imagine the world
Lennon told us about imagine the world
Lennon told us about imagine the world that we read in the Bhagavad Gita or in
that we read in the Bhagavad Gita or in
that we read in the Bhagavad Gita or in the Ramayana or in the Mahabharata
the Ramayana or in the Mahabharata
the Ramayana or in the Mahabharata we can imagine great and glorious worlds
we can imagine great and glorious worlds
we can imagine great and glorious worlds for ourselves and as Mandela said it
for ourselves and as Mandela said it
for ourselves and as Mandela said it seems impossible until it’s done and
seems impossible until it’s done and
seems impossible until it’s done and then it’s not impossible at all thank
then it’s not impossible at all thank
then it’s not impossible at all thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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