Religion is supposed to be a bonding factor that promotes peace in the world. However, in today’s world and very especially in the Indian context, religion seems to be breaking our country into fragments; and violence in the name of religion is unleashed. As a response to these heart-breaking incidents in our country, Mr. Harsh Mander, former civil servant, Govt. of India, a deeply committed human rights activist in our country gave the general public a call to join him in his journey to the troubled areas of our country. These areas include the places affected by religious riots, caste and gender based violence, which can be generalized as anti-minority acts, chiefly promoted by fundamentalist groups. Vidyajyoti College swiftly responded to the call and readily offered to join the journey of atonement and love also known as Karwan-e-mohabbat. Under the guidance and motivation of Principal and seminar guide, Fr. P. R. John, seven students from Vidyajyoti College which includes 4 Jesuits namely, Sch. Arun Lucas (CCU), Sch. Santosh Minj (JAM), Sch. Pratap D (AND) and Sch. Antony Prabhu (AND) and 3 IMS brothers, all third year students, accompanied several journalists, social activists, columnists, photographers, a scientist, etc. However, we scholastics were also fondly called ‘singing priests’ by the co-pilgrims because of our ability to sing certain social-awakening songs during the public hearings and meetings.

The Karwan team journeyed across Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. We had public meetings, rallies, family visits and sharing by the victims. We carried mohabbat with us and thought of ourselves as the agents of love and peace. However, as we reached the place and interacted with people, we realised how they have tried to reconcile to the situation and how they are open to maintaining peace. Thus, the mohabbat journey is mutual in that we shared peace and love with them and in turn they taught us how to forgive people and accept situations. There have been many faces confused with what has happened to them in life. However, faith in God and faith in humanity have helped them to cope with life while a few have become desperate about life going through such traumatic experiences. Their language of pain could be answered only with our language of love.

We fondly look back at the threats posed to us by the enemies of peace and love. It was the first time for many of us to face enemies who were likely to injure us or even finish us off just because we said we want to show our solidarity with the pained ones and show our love towards them. However, those were the times when we felt not only the fear of what would happen to us but also the urge to have the deep spirit of courage to face whatever may come. We kept wondering whether we could really pay hatred back with love at all times. “What greatness would it be if I just love those who love me? Isn’t our life demanding us to try loving our enemies?” Sch. Arun Lucas represented Vidyajyoti at Porbandar on 2 October to mark the symbolic culmination of the Karwan and to discuss the prospects for the future.

The Karwan experience came to us as an opportunity to explore the minds and hearts of the victimized and to nudge the conscience of those who terrorize the innocent by violent attacks. The Karwan journey continues in our life as we continue to walk with the victims of injustice. These experiences will travel with us as we strive to make this world an ideal place for humanity.

We carry these experiences in our hearts as we meet people, in our minds as we listen to them, in our mouths as we speak to them and finally in our hands as we act for the weak and the oppressed. On 9 October, we had a Karwan gathering at Vidyajyoti where the Karwan students of Vidyajyoti shared their experiences and theological reflections followed by a panel discussion in which Mr. Harsh Mander, Mr. John Dayal and Mr. Amitabha Basu were the panel members. It was a fruitful day that enhanced the gathering of fruits gained during our Mohabbat journey.

• By Sch. Antony Prabhu SJ (AND)

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