The Samiti in association with Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd organized a book release function of Shri Anoop Swarup’s Book, “Give Non-Killing a Chance – Are Non Killing Societies Possible” in Gandhi Smriti on August 31, 2019. The Book was jointly released by Shri Sankar Kumar Sanyal, Member Executive Committee GSDS and President Harijan Sevak Sangh; Prof. N Radhakrishnan, Chairman Gandhi Peace Mission, Kerala and former Director GSDS; Dr. Y P Anand, former Director National Gandhi Mission; Dr. Anoop Swarup, author of the book; Dr. A K Merchant, National Trustee, Bahai House of Worship, Lotus Temple; Ms. Jiza Joy, Coordinator Editor, Konark Publishers.
Speakers at the book release function unanimously felt the importance of the book and its release at a time when the world is gripped with various forms of violence – from physical to psychological and structural.
Prof. Radhakrishnan reflected on the key principles that Gandhi advocated during his last 144 days in erst while Birla House, today Gandhi Smriti when he time and again called upon humanity not to hate each other, to respect each other, to support needy and other eternal messages, which is eluding the humanity today.
Dr. A K Merchant in his address stressed that civilization collapse when the moral and ethical concern collapses and therefore called upon the need to evaluate ourselves.
Shri Sankar Kumar Sanyal spoke on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi and the eternal ideas of peace and nonviolence and felt that the book will be a guiding force for the young generation.
Dr Y P Anand stressed upon the Gandhian ethics to improve human culture and called upon the need to initiate dialogue to resolve differences. He stressed on the Gandhian idea of compromise.
Earlier Director GSDS while talking about the book said that this book will be included as the reference book in the to-be-launched certificate program for the IAS officers. He hoped that the message of the book must reach the society for long term solutions and called upon the youth of the colleges to be the ambassadors of peace.
Speaking about the book before its release, Dr. Anoop Swarup spoke on engineering and said that it is the value for life. Terming the history of war which is very short, Shri Swarup said that non-killing engineering has to be imbibed in the society.
Later a delegation comprising Shri Sankar Kumar Sanyal, Prof. N Radhakrishnan, Dr. Anoop Swarup, Dr. A K Merchant met the former President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee at his residence and released the book there by presenting a copy to Shri Pranab Mukherjee.