ASIA/INDIA-An Archbishop will work with Gandhi’s granddaughter for peace and reconciliation

Guwahati (Fides Service) - An Archbishop will work for peace and reconciliation beside Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter and Vice President of the "Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti", an organization committed to promoting the values of non- violence and civil rights in India. His Excellency Thomas Menamparampil, Archbishop of Guwahati, known for his commitment to peace, has recently received the visit of Gandhi and the proposal, which was welcomed, to work together. Because of his skills as peacemaker and the results obtained in the complex context of northeast India - areas troubled by ethnic, tribal, territorial, religious, political tensions - the Archbishop has recently been proposed for nomination for the Prize Nobel Peace Prize (see Fides 06/06/2011). The initiative is finding supporters in the East and West, even outside the Catholic world, as Tara Gandhi.
As reported to Fides, the Archbishop said to Tara Gandhi: "All my work has been about small things. But I know that small things too count. And that small little things that we do in the right way at the right time, achieves great things in the cause of peace. The right way of dealing with people is important. That is why we fail most often".
Tara Gandhi was on a tour in Northeast India, to promote a non-violent approach to the solution of problems. The leader said: "We are living through times when instances of hatred and violence are growing and we have greater need of peacemakers than ever". The Archbishop described his approach to conflict, which is always dialogic and tries to overcome prejudices and conflicts: "Violence merely invites violence in return; aggressive language provokes aggressive language; And no solutions emerge. When we differ in ideas or interests what we need to do is to try out a pedagogy of persuasion". Tara Gandhi also expressed satisfaction, support and best wishes for the Archbishop's candidacy for the Nobel prize for peace. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/27/2011)