Kodaikanal Gandhi Prize 2021: Honourable Mention - Shatakshee Kar

The Kodaikanal Gandhi Prize 2021

Honourable mention

Shatakshee Kar 

Delhi Public School, Noida

Response to: Gandhi viewed non-violence as an active form of resistance. Looking at contemporary injustices, does non-violence work? 

Golden Suns Rise

The most powerful force of all, is the one that doesn't require arms at all.

Victory comes when valuable voices unite.

Believe in your principles, respect peace, move ahead with gumption and stand tall! Pleasant protests are certainly more worthy than a full-fledged fight. 

 

Making non-violence his legacy, Bapu took his each step;

those who continue to live by that virtue, often get their needs met.

It happened in America when for Floyd’s death, the Americans wept.

Pride parades worldwide echo that, ‘love is love’, is a message we must accept. 

 

Symbolic things like wearing a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness,

using #metoo to fight the injustices and devoting Fridays for the environment

creates for the future, better preparedness.

Words, symbols and simple actions are effective means that don’t demand you to be violent. 

 

Let peace and tranquility prevail,

In violence there is only pain.

Don’t kill at the border and leave families to wail,

don’t set a precedent that puts Mahatma’s teachings to shame. 

 

In the world where we live today, non-violence seems optional.

If we think about it, the same was the case in the Gandhian era as well. Even still, what he accomplished with the salt march was phenomenal. To garner support for our maxims, our souls we don’t have to sell. 

 

There is always another way,

A kinder one.

Let the bullies say what they wish to say.

The moment you stopped to pay heed, is the moment you won. 

 

In silence, there should be no sorrow.

By not attacking the other, you provide safety for all.

You ensure a better tomorrow.

In silence, you demonstrate the power of your character, you're not weak or small. 

 

Non-violence might be a choice, but we should adopt it like it’s a compulsion. 

Pressing issues like climate, poverty and women’s rights await.

To violence, if we show repulsion;

nothing can divide us and we can work for the greater good without hate. 

 

Let it not be you against me,

Let it be us against vehemence.

If eye-to-eye we try to see,

All problems that arise, can be less tense. 

 

Non-violence can still be the driving force of change,

discussions are better than daggers and demise

Let humanity celebrate, let fighting always seem strange.

The day we choose peace, we will thrive. For all our days left, only golden suns will rise.