Jain Spirit 2002 03 No 10

SR No.: 528990
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 62
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK_Jain Spirit, & UK
File Size: 15 MB

Page 25

LIFESTYLE
YOU TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Kishor Pokharna was disturbed by a local incident and rather than keep quiet, he decided to stand up and do something. The results were unprecedented
24
PG PUBLISHING COMPANY
"An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind." Kishor Pokharna addressing the peace rally in Pittsburgh
O
N 28TH APRIL 2000 RICHARD BAUMHAMMER, AGED 34, went around the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and shot five people dead. In the span of two hours he allegedly killed his Jewish neighbour, two workers at a Chinese restaurant, one African American at karate school, and one Indian, Anil Thakur, who was shopping at an Indian grocery store. Another 25 year old Indian, Sandeep Patel was shot and is now paralysed neck down.
Mr. Baumhammer was an immigration lawyer who came from a rich family. His father was an eminent doctor. This was a hate crime, the percentage of which is increasing in the US. In 1992 the percentage of hate crime against Indians (as compared with other minorities) was 19%, and in 1999 it went up to 47%. Day by day, the Indian population in the US is increasing, so these signs are disturbing.
UNITY STRENGT
With all this recrimination and fear, I was very upset about what happened in Pittsburgh. This city is very peaceful and is known as the most livable place in the US. It is medium-sized and the people are very friendly. I have lived in Pittsburgh for the last 14 years and never experienced hatred or racism. This was a very unusual and unfortunate incident, but I saw it as a wake up call for
Jain Spirit March May 2002
everyone to unite together.
After the incident I noticed that all these communities - Chinese, Jewish, Indians and Blacks performed their prayers for the victims in their own groups. Nothing was done together, as a whole, to show the unity and to keep our differences aside. We urgently needed to deal with this incident collectively and not individually. I talked with the local Indian community leaders and suggested we take the lead and organise a Peace Rally and unite everybody together. This was a unique opportunity to convey the message of ahimsa and educate everyone, especially our younger generation. I felt that we needed to teach people how to deal with this kind of violence peacefully to avoid more violence. Unfortunately, I got a very poor response from my own community for fear of the tension in the city after the event. In fact, I was advised not to do any such thing or I could get shot. I was very sad and upset by this. Fear divides and separates people to come forward and open the avenues of dialogue. I also felt that we often get too preoccupied with our own narrow concerns and politics, and do not accept that we are citizens in a bigger world. Citizenship has its rights but also carries big responsibilities.
I approached the Pittsburgh Rotary Club and shared my suggestion of organising the Peace Rally. I was surprised to receive a very positive and encouraging response. I started working on the project, got approval and support from the Mayor's office and more than 60 organisations participated in the Rally. Not for one moment did I stop to consider whether or not I had the time and energy. I simply acted on my Jain instincts. I felt very deeply that it was my duty to do something and not just stand aside and let things take their own course. Even the President's Aide flew from Washington DC for this event. Fortunately, we received a very good response from all the local communities. We had the Rally on 5 May 2000, at 4 pm on Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh. The County and other offices were closed by then to enable the employees to join in. It was being broadcast live on TV and became national news. This was a great experience for me to stand