Bringing the Light of Peace to Guwahati in Assam, India

 A group of twenty selected teachers and school administrators from the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland took part in the Sports for Peace orientation program held at Guwahati, Assam on March 25, 2009.

 The gateway city of Guwahati is a commercial hub for the entire region--including the largest tea auction market in India--as it is situated on the southern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra river. Guwahati is also mentioned in the Great Indian Epic 'Mahabharata'. Before its current name, Guwahati was called 'Pragjyotispura' meaning the 'light of the East.' It is a principal center of socio-culture, political, industrial, trade and commerce of the entire region. It is only fitting that a city such as this be the location for the Sports for Peace seminar.

 Fr. Joseph Pulinthanath sdb was the resource person for the program. He introduced the novel concept of 'sports for peace' to that very keenly attentive audience of teachers and school administrators. The Sports for Peace orientation was incorporated as one of the segments of a two-day peace education seminar the group had come to attend. The participants of the orientations found the presentation and the whole idea of Sports for Peace very appealing and relevant, particularly as these school authorities were determined to introduce various peace activities into their school curriculum.

 There is no doubt the idea strikes a chord with everyone, and especially those involved with youth. Sports for Peace, if promoted, certainly has a significant role to contribute to the ongoing search for lasting peace and prosperity in the region.

 By Shine Jose