Twenty Years of Breaking Barriers

At Panchgani, 4,300 feet above the plains of Maharashtra, lies a wide volcanic plateau. In January people from many countries and 15 Indian states gathered in the Moral Re-Armament conference centre that nestles beneath the plateau amongst gardens, trees and crops.

The conference theme of 'rekindling hope' marked the 20th anniversary of the 'Asia Plateau' centre. For many the sight of so much greenery and modern buildings, where once lay barren land, itself symbolized hope.

Delegates began by reviewing Asia Plateau's past achievements. These included the building of the centre without paying a single bribe; the reconciliation between plains and tribal people of Assam which led to the peaceful creation of Meghalaya state in 1969; 13 years of industrial seminars attended by 5,000, leading to better industrial relations and productivity and a new industrial culture in many companies; and the breaking down of barriers between Hindus and Sikhs, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, Tibetans and Chinese and peoples of different castes.

Speakers gave evidence that people who start the process of change in their own lives rekindle hope in themselves and others. For example PK Roy, a Bengali, and HR Bhakta, a Bihari Harijan, had been bitter rivals within their trade union at the Tinplate Company, Jamshedpur, Bihar. But Bhakta had 'searched himself' and realized that his hatred of Bengalis was wrong. He apologized to the Bengalis in his office, including Roy. In the same spirit, Roy looked at his attitudes and overcame his caste pride. He now thinks of himself as a human being rather than 'a Hindu, a Bengali and a Brahmin'. He and Bhakta have begun visiting a nearby Harijan colony each week. After tea they put all the cups together and washed them - a radical break with Brahmin tradition.

People attended from such trouble-spots as Sri Lanka, the Punjab and North East India. A Sri Lankan Sinhalese said that he had always felt Tamil atrocities against Sinhalese more deeply than atrocities where Tamils were victims. 'I hope that one day I will truly become a Sri Lankan,' he said. 'If we are Tamils and Sinhalese before we are Sri Lankans how can we have a united Sri Lanka?' An Indian Tamil responded, 'I am ashamed that I have thought only of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The safety and prosperity of the Tamils lie in a united country and I want to play my part in that.'

Others spoke of reconciliation in racially divided cities, caste barriers breaking down, and running a business successfully without paying bribes.