Kannur: On October 2, members of the World March from Costa Rica arrived in Kannur, Kerala, to promote peace and non-violence. Events were organized at the Kannur Municipal Corporation, the university, and the Mahatma Mandir.
Reception at Mahatma Mandir
The General Secretary of the Kannur District Gandhi Centenary Memorial Society, C. Sunil Kumar, along with Vice President Rajan Thayyareth and other committee members, welcomed World March leader Rafael de la Rubia and his team at Mahatma Mandir. After offering a floral tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, they entered the Mandir. The team expressed joy at being able to visit the Mahatma Mandir, a significant center dedicated to the globally revered Mahatma Gandhi.
Reception at the Municipal Corporation
During the civic reception held by the municipal corporation, Mayor Muslih Muthal presided over the event. The Chairman of the Standing Committee, Suresh Babu Elayavoor, along with members Shameem Teacher, Shahin Moithin, Secretary T.G. Ajesh, and Additional Secretary Jayakumar, spoke at the gathering. A key statement raised during the reception was, “All human beings are equal. We must cultivate a global culture based on peace and non-violence.”
World March Leader Rafael de la Rubia’s Remarks
World March leader Rafael de la Rubia emphasized the importance of women’s participation in society, stating, “In Europe and America, women’s involvement in social issues is significantly higher. However, here, women primarily handle personal and family matters. By publicly taking on social responsibilities, they can guide comprehensive changes from conflict and violence towards peace.”
Reception at the University
At Kannur University, Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) K. K. Saju and senior officials welcomed the World March team. A discussion took place on the topic of “Training for a Zero Violence Mindset” to maintain peace and non-violence.
The World March promotes the idea of “A world without war, a society without violence” for peace and non-violence. It is clear that training, education, and public cooperation are essential for realizing this goal. The significance of initiating “Peace Studies” in schools and universities was also discussed during this occasion.
Participants
At all reception venues, team leader Rafael de la Rubia, Diego Montalbán, Miss Tulasi Maya Sigdel, Miss Utsaha Adhikari, Adv. A. Meiyappan, and B.S. Bhasy delivered speeches. The district promotion team members, including K. P. Ravindran, T. P. R. Nath, Pradeepan Mathathil, P. K. Premarajan, P. Satheesh Kumar, Mohanan Ponnampat, Ranjith Sirkar, artist Shashikala, and Dr. Vijayan Chalod, accompanied the World March team.
This gathering shared insights on how to work deeply in efforts that embrace the community, promote women’s participation, and lead our society towards new cultural goals.
