Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 30: A padyatra led by social reformer Sri M to promote inter-faith harmony reached Srinagar amid a renewed call for peaceful coexistence, concluding a 7,500-km journey that he took and met around 10 million people.The veteran spiritual guide undertook his pan-India team from Kanyakumari almost 16 months ago.
The 474-day ‘Walk of Hope’, which covered 11 states of the country since its start from the southern tip on January 12, 2015, was received with festive fervor in Srinagar, where the 67-year-old peacemaker addressed a gathering after a short-walk around the Dal lake, reiterating the need for working in unison for ensuring amity.
“The padyatra has been a significant success. We have been able to convey the message of peace and harmony to millions along the route,” said Kerala-born Sri M (born as Mumtaz Ali Khan), who led 70-plus core-group of volunteers in the journey during which he met people from various walks of life, besides leaders across the political spectrum and influential figures from different fields.
The Walk of Hope, he announced, will have a second edition. “The one we now completed did not include the eastern and northeastern parts of our nation. The next edition is envisaged to start from Kanyakumari and proceed along those areas,” he added.
The march by Sri M’s Manav Ekta Mission, which advocates that humanity is one transcending religious, racial, geographical, cultural and ideological differences, covered the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab before reaching Jammu and Kashmir.
Overall, it reached out to 11 million fellow Indians overall by interacting with local people and holding inter-faith prayers.
‘Walk of Hope’ had its Delhi leg in February reaching out personally to eminent figures such as President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari (who presented Sri M with the first Interfaith Harmony Award at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Temple of Understanding India).
Sri M while speaking exclusively to Excelsior said that youth across India want communal harmony, peace and brotherhood to prevail. He said that India is more tolerant than other countries.
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