A Call for Peace from India

The world has once again been gripped by war fever. Turn on any TV channel or pick up any newspaper, everywhere there are news of war.

As a writer, I have consistently written and spoken about the idea of peace. I was born in India, the land of Mahatma Gautam Buddha, Bhagwan Vardhaman Mahavir, and Mahatma Gandhi. The Vedic literature, born on this soil five thousand years ago, gave the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family). My land belongs to non-violence. As a son of this land and the earth, I have always wished for peace to prevail in the world.

My book, ‘Haak Shantatesathi’ (A Call for Peace), published in 2024, strongly emphasizes this very idea of global peace. The National Book Trust, New Delhi, has accepted this book, originally written in the Marathi language, for translation, and it will soon be published in Hindi and 22 other Indian languages.

This book contains stories and reflections on various wars from the last 600 years, the atrocities committed during them, and the individuals who worked for humanity amidst the conflict.

The Government of Maharashtra, INDIA recently announced the literary awards for the best books of 2024. I am happy to share that the Government of Maharashtra has honored the book ‘Haak Shantatesathi’ with the ‘Tamhankar Sahitya Puraskar’ ( Tamhankar literary award ) and a cash prize of ₹50,000. I received this award two days ago from the eminent Marathi writer, Bhalchandra Nemade.

The joy of the book receiving this award did not last long, overshadowed by the war situation all around. As a writer and as a son of this earth, my prayer is that the message of peace should reach the whole world and that all wars in the world should cease completely one day.

Dr.Prithviraj Taur
Professor and Head
Department of Marathi
Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded. INDIA 431606