BANGALORE: Spiritual guide and social reformer Sri M is lining up resources and volunteers for an 18-month-long padayatra aimed at spreading the essence of peace and harmony across the country. The ‘Walk of Hope’ is being undertaken under the banner of Manav Ekta Mission and is expected to cover 6,000 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
In an interview to Express, Sri M said his peace mission would pass through 13 states, bringing together citizens from all walks of life. The walk would be flagged off on January 12 next year -- the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
“Communal harmony is the key and I will start the walk from Gandhi Memorial Mandapam in Kanyakumari and conclude it in Srinagar. I hope to establish a connect with 10 million fellow Indians this way,” Sri M said.
“I am planning to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off the padayatra, which primarily seeks to explore the root cause of intolerance and divisiveness. It is an exercise to restore the innate spirituality of the nation, thereby rekindling true faith and rejuvenating the spirit of hope, love, peace, harmony and oneness,” said Sri M, also author of the bestseller ‘Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master - A Yogi’s Autobiography’.
He said the padayatra would cover 15-20 km every day and halt a planned venue en route. “While we are not walking, we will engage the local people in the area in dialogues and interfaith prayers. We will stay at the homes of villagers. If India needs to grow and be a power to reckon with by 2020 and beyond, we need to first build a nation that springs peace and harmony. The walk is aimed to free the society from fear and insecurity, thus igniting the formation of an inclusive and participative society where opportunity is given to all, where talent and effort are rewarded regardless of caste, religion, language, region or gender,” Sri M said.
Born into a Muslim family in 1948 in Thiruvananthapuram, Sri M’s life underwent a major spiritual transformation at a younger age and he started leading a yogi’s life. At the age of 19, he travelled to the Himalayas and had innumerable meetings with saints and sages.
“My spiritual fulfillment came under the guidance of Maheshwarnath Babaji,” he added. He is now settled at Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh, spearheading the Satsang Foundation and Manav Ekta Mission. Asked whether walks could bring about the desired change of mindset among people, Sri M said there is no harm in one making an attempt.