An Open Letter to the Honourable Leaders of India,
The tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam has left our nation grieving. Twenty-six precious lives have been lost - lives of our brave sons, our fellow Indians. Their sacrifice leaves behind not only a trail of sorrow and tears, but also a deep-seated anger in every citizen’s heart.
We are pained. We are angry. And yes, as a proud and sovereign nation, we must respond.
But the question remains: Do we really need a war?
And more importantly: What will we gain?
War may feel like an answer - swift, strong, and decisive. Yet history teaches us otherwise. The path of war is never simple. It comes wrapped in devastation - for soldiers, for civilians, for the economy, and for the generations that follow.
A war between two nuclear-armed nations will not just be a headline; it will be a humanitarian crisis.
We risk:
Mass civilian casualties - people who have no part in the politics or the violence.
Destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, pushing communities into poverty and trauma.
Displacement of families and a refugee crisis in our own borders.
Economic collapse, where funds meant for education, healthcare, and development are diverted to arms and ammunition.
Psychological scars that will haunt our youth and children, fueling further hate and cycles of revenge.
Do we want to see our cities under curfew? Our borders burning? Our dreams buried in the rubble?
Let us not allow terrorism to drag our nation into darkness. Let us not let a few evil hands decide the fate of 1.4 billion people.
Yes, we must answer them. But let us answer with:
International diplomatic pressure and strategic isolation of terror-supporting regimes.
Intelligent, targeted counter-terrorism efforts that neutralise threats without civilian harm.
Strengthening our defence and intelligence, ensuring no such attack ever repeats.
Building national unity and resilience, rather than succumbing to rage and destruction.
Strengthening our defence and intelligence, ensuring no such attack ever repeats.
Building national unity and resilience, rather than succumbing to rage and destruction.
Honourable leaders, we plead with you to act not out of anger, but with the wisdom of a nation that values life, democracy, and peace.
Let history remember India not for its wars, but for its courage to choose peace in the face of provocation.
We stand united in grief. But let us also stand united in vision - a vision for a future where justice triumphs, but not at the cost of our humanity.
Please, avoid a war.
Yes father. No war can bring peace.
ReplyDeleteHearty congratulations dear Fr Renjith for your courage to speak against war. 👍👍👍
ReplyDeleteYes only sober minds and calm souls can keep this nation strong and peaceful. But do we have such leaders of the calibre of Gandhi, Nehru, Tilak, Gokhale, Tagore etc. Perhaps not . Even if there are , will they be allowed to 🤔🤔
ReplyDeleteYes , India should be remembered for its resilience. That's our tradition. The great Mahatma Gandhiji taught us non violence. He ousted the British empire through non violence. The civil society needs to be awakened to the occasion to demand and demonstrate peaceful solutions. The wisdom of a nation that respects, fraternity and dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation.
ReplyDeleteA million dollar question brother dear.
ReplyDeleteThe ruling party seems to be losing ground, so divert the attention from the crucial issues of unemployment, rising inflation, poverty and several others, it could be a strategy used to keep the game going but at who's expense? We have seen the agonizing sighs of the victims of war that's still on in Palestine and Israel, Ukraine and Russia but still build momentum for war mongering.