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political life, it is imperative to promote peaceful coexistence, tolerance, equanimity, and spirit of give and take. World history is replete with instances of religious intolerance, which led to bloodbaths. Mahavir always preached that if the goal is peace and harmony, then the means to achieve the goal have also to be peaceful and non-violent.
Rapid stride in technology and scientific development has enabled Man to discover hidden secrets of nature and to reach hitherto inaccessible planets like the moon. He has been able to harness science for bringing about tremendous progress, and considerable increase in material and creature comforts. Science has increased speed, mobility and comfort and has contributed to underwent of increase in the standards of living of human beings all over the planet. Distances have shrunk and interaction with distant countries and people through travel or communication channel is easy and swift.
Yet fruits of this tremendous step forward have not been for strengthening and consolidating world peace, universal brotherhood, mutually responsive compassion, sympathy and kindness. Wars and conflicts, hatred and animosity, tensions and hostilities have continued on an ever-increasing scale spelling misery, disaster, unhappiness and discontent.
Fruits of science and technology instead of uniting human beings into more enduring bonds of love, understanding and cooperation are taking them on the path of destroying whatever their own creative urge had brought into being.
The appeal of non-violence has, therefore, in the first place to the minds and hearts of the human beings. Non-violence has an abiding relevance in the furthering of the civilizing values and traditions of the humanity. Humanity - rich or poor, strong or weak must realize that non-violence is a sine-qua-non of justice, equality and democracy. Without non-violent thought and behaviour, all these modern concepts would become devoid of any meaning and content. Exploitation - mental as well as physical, political as well as economic, social as well
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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