Inspired by Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolence, Jai Jagat (victory of the world) started a Global Peace March on 2 October 2019, in New Delhi, India, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Over 50 people from India are walking 10,000 miles, crossing 10 countries. Several thousand people from all over the world are expected to join the march and they will arrive in Geneva on 25 September.Jai Jagat is a movement initiated by Rajagopal PV, disciple of Gandhi’s nonviolent action. The mission of march is to promote peace, harmony, and nonviolence across the world, and address existential issues of land, water, forest, livelihood in the wake of climate change, and growing nationalism and religious fundamentalism.
Dr Ramesh Sharma, general secretary of Ekta Parishad, speaking at the Jai Jagat 2020 program at the Ecumenical Centre, on 3 March, said: “The one idea of the march is to change the world as one family.” He expressed that “one thing which is seriously missing in our education system is the subject of justice and peace.”
WCC deputy general secretary Prof Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri welcomed the “Jai Jagat 2020,” highlighting a number of significant similarities it shares with the WCC Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. “We are also pilgrims,” Phiri said, “and in the pilgrimage framework you will find people of good will from all faiths. We see here a great link with your work and we are ready to extend our hand and support you on this major task you are undertaking.”
“Jai Jagat 2020 is a great opportunity for WCC to strengthen its solidarity with the grassroots organisations, committed for peace and justice,” said Dinesh Suna, coordinator for the WCC Ecumenical Water Network. “I am particularly delighted that a ‘water walk’ will also join the Jai Jagat Global March. The walk will start from Marseille, the city that houses the World Water Council, and end in Geneva, the UN Water headquarters, and will symbolise the transfer of control over water from the corporations to the people.”
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.
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