We are thrilled to announce the upcoming Gandhi-MLK Peace Pilgrimage, a journey dedicated to promoting nonviolence, global peace and harmony across the USA, Canada, and the UK.
Founder and Chief Initiator: VishwaMitra Yogesh (Yogesh Mathuria), a Global Peace Promoter & Wellness Coach, is the visionary behind this pilgrimage. With over 30 years in the IT Services industry and extensive travels across 25 countries, Yogesh’s journey took a transformative turn in 2005 towards advocating for global peace. Since then, he has completed 21,000 kms of Peace Pilgrimages, embodying the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the whole world is one family).
Co-Pilgrims: Joining VishwaMitra Yogesh are our dedicated co-pilgrims:
Nitin S: Age 33, Gandhi Peace Walker, Engineer and Social Activist from Pune India. At the age of 25, he embarked on a global peace movement, cycling through 20 countries and covering 25,000 km, and walking 20,000 km across 30 countries in Asia, North and South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. His mission was to promote the message of non-violence championed by Mahatma Gandhi, Gautama Buddha, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Known worldwide as the Gandhi Peace Walker, he engaged in peace dialogues with over a hundred thousand youths.
Ikeda Kanshin: A 45-year-old peace walker and Buddhist monk from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order in Tokyo, Japan, is a devoted follower of Rev. Nichidatu Fujii Guruji, known as the “Gandhi of Japan,” was the founder of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist sect and dedicated his life to international peace, significantly contributing to Mahatma Gandhi’s independence movement in India and globally. Inspired by Rev. Fujii Guruji, Rev. Kanshin Ikeda has embarked on peace walks across 25 countries, chanting the mantra “Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo” and beating the peace drum to pray for the well-being of all living and nonliving beings. He has undertaken several notable peace walks, including from Tokyo to Hiroshima Nagasaki for nuclear disarmament, and has walked in India, Armenia, the UK, the USA, South Africa, Kenya, and many other countries.Itinerary:
● The pilgrimage will commence from Pune on Monday, 22nd July. We depart for New York, USA on 23rd July (late night), arriving late evening on 23rd July. The first phase in the USA (East Coast) will start from 28th July from the United Nations office in New York at 9.00 am, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and will be concluded in Dallas, Texas on 3rd Sept.
● After completing the East Coast route, we will fly from Dallas, Texas to Halifax, Canada on 4th September for international peace program.
● Returning to the USA, we will continue the second phase (West Coast) from 23rd September to 31st October, starting from Seattle, Washington to Oregon and California.
● Our journey continues with a flight to Manchester, UK on 1st November, followed by a Peace Pilgrimage starting from Liverpool on 2nd November, reaching Birmingham, and concluding at the Gandhi Statue, Parliament Square, London on 15th November.
● Finally, we fly back to New Delhi on 16th November, with possibilities of hosting for lunch or dinner, or for prayers or gathering like-hearted group for a general exchange on Sunday, 17th November @ Harijan Sevak Sangh.
Quotes:
VishwaMitra Yogesh: “This pilgrimage is a journey of the heart, inspired by the teachings of Gandhi and MLK. We walk to spread the message of Non-violence, Peace, and Harmony across the borders.”
Nitin Sonawane: “Walking for peace has taught me the power of non-violence and the importance of sustainability. It’s an honor to be part of this global mission.”
Ikeda Kanshin: “Peace prayers have the power to transform communities. Through this pilgrimage, we aim to touch lives and promote harmony.”
Call to Action: We seek your support for possible hosting the pilgrims for lunch, or dinner. Also for prayers together, or gathering like-hearted fellow souls for possible sharings and co-discoveries. Local people are welcome to join Peace Pilgrimage for whatever time they wish. Your support can make a significant difference in spreading the message of peace and harmony across citizens. Any financial blessings for fuel, toll and car rental are most welcome.
Media Coverage on our past Peace Pilgrimages are :
Times of India
Daily Excelsior
The Logical Indian
Our Basic Approach: The vision of the ‘Gandhi-Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Pilgrimage’ is rooted in the belief that transformative change begins with individuals committed to non-violence. The pilgrimage seeks to inspire communities, nations, and the world at large to embrace peaceful solutions, fostering understanding, dialogue, and unity. The objectives include cultural exchange, education on non-violence, and collaborative projects aimed at addressing global challenges. Inspired by Gandhi’s all religion prayers and satyagraha, we plan to hold daily prayer meetings at local / state / national institutions, state legislatures, and the US Congress.
In essence, Martin Luther King Jr.’s integration of Gandhi’s non-violent philosophy into the Civil Rights Movement not only advanced the cause of racial equality but also set a precedent for peaceful protest as a powerful force for change. His background, influenced by faith and the teachings of Gandhi, laid the groundwork for a movement that transformed the social and political landscape of America.
Mahatma Gandhi, known for his strong beliefs in non-violence, peace, and harmony, introduced the concept of ‘All Religion Prayer’. This was a unique practice where prayers and readings from various religions were included in a single gathering. The idea was to promote mutual respect and understanding among different faiths. Gandhi’s All Religions Prayer typically included texts and hymns from major world religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and others. For instance, a typical All Religions Prayer session started by Gandhi about 100 years back.
Gandhi believed that such a practice would encourage a spirit of tolerance and understanding, and help bridge the gaps between different communities. It was a reflection of his principle that the essence of all religions is fundamentally the same, and that each has its own unique value and contribution to the spiritual growth of humanity. This practice was a part of Gandhi’s broader efforts to foster communal harmony and peace in a diverse India. Additionally, the Peace Pilgrimage journey aims not only to cover physical distances but also to traverse cultural and philosophical landscapes defining the East and West, the ancient and the modern, the blood-sweat-toil that has made our civilization. In the USA, prayers and a walk reach out to state legislatures and the US Congress, Universities, the White House, the United Nations, Pentagon, and NASA offices. The final leg of the Peace Pilgrimage shall conclude in the UK. This shall be a symbolic walk up to The Gandhi Statue in London.
Supporters of Our Peace Pilgrimage:
Satish Kumar: An Indian-British activist and former Jain monk, founder of Schumacher College.
Nipun Mehta: Founder of ServiceSpace, promoting volunteerism and gift-economy.
Jayesh Patel: Head of Gandhi Ashram Sabarmati and founder of Seva Cafe, Ahmedabad
Rajagopal P.V. and Jill Carr-Harris: Founders of Ekta Parishad and International Peace Specialists.
Krishnammal Jagannathan: Gandhian activist honored with the Right Livelihood Award and Padma Bhushan.
Bhadra Butala: Founder of the Gandhian Society in the USA
Shoonyo: CEO of Shoonyo CEO Coaching, blending spiritual teachings with contemporary leadership.
Mastek Ltd: Global digital transformation services provider and our Key sponsor.
Madhur Bajaj: Also a strong supporter for our initiative of Peace Pilgrimage for spreading Gandhian Values globally.
And hundreds of fellow humans who have hosted us, walked with us, prayed with us, funded us, spread word about the work, and have been doing their sincere bit towards global peace.