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human life as well as extending protection to the animal kingdom, the environment, and all of our Mother Earth. Guruji and his devotees also served as the fourth largest support group for the peace rally held in New York in 1982, an event that was attended by nearly one million individuals from around the world. Guruji successfully motivated the late Sikh leader Tara Singh to participate in an open and peaceful dialogue with the government. In 1986, the late Akali leader Sant Longowal and the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi attempted to solve the distressing problem plaguing Punjab. This accomplishment is largely attributed to Guruji who convinced the terrorist groups of Punjab to honor their compromise with the government. When Pope John Paul's visit to India was strongly opposed, Guruji warmly reminded his countrymen that India has a long-standing tradition of welcoming all individuals regardless of their denomination or belief. Guruji successfully organized a Cow Protection Rally in 1966. In August of 1989, Guruji was invited to inaugurate and preside over the World Hindu Conference in Britain. As Hindus regard him as one of their spiritual leaders, they enthusiastically embraced his notion of Ahimsa (nonviolence) and vowed to join him in propagating the virtues of meditation, vegetarianism, and unity. Also, in 1989, Guruji addressed the World Conference on Religions for Peace in Melbourne, Australia. He advocated the direct need to protect the animal kingdom and our natural environment. He explained that all living beings equally share the right to life. Guruji persuaded Muslim leaders to sit in negotiation with Hindu leaders until a consensus was reached in the Lord Rama's birth place (Janmabhumi) issue popularly known as Babri Masjid issue in 1990 to 1991 in India. In 1990, Guruji was an honored guest at the Global Conference for Human Survival in Moscow. More than 1200 individuals from 70 countries travelled to the USSR to take part in this historic gathering and were present to participate in Guruji's meditation and to hear his remarks on the need for nonviolence. At the conference he met with Mikhail Gorbachev and discussed the issues related to the establishment of world peace and global cooperation. In 1991 he travelled to Iran in an attempt to persuade Saddam Hussein to adopt a peaceful resolution to the Gulf Crisis. Although poor roads and the prevailing war conditions prevented him from entering Iraq, Guruji was widely recognized and appreciated for his valiant efforts to stop the Gulf war. In January 1992, the International Mahavir Jain Mission became affiliated with the United Nations as an NGO (non-governmental organization). Furthermore, the United Nations adopted the concept of Ahimsa for the first time in history at the Sacred Earth Summit in order to protect all forms of life existing in the world today. In June 1992, Guruji addressed the Global Earth Gathering and the Earth Summit, the largest ever international conference held by the United Nations took place at the Rio centre in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The World Movement of Nonviolence for Peace and Environment was launched in Rio with Guruji serving as the founder and president and Dr. Robert Muller its co-president. In 1993 Guruji was also invited to participate in the Global Forum in Kyoto, Japan, where the International Green Cross was launched with the support of more than 700 delegates from 88 countries. Here he met Mikhail Gorbachev a second time. Guruji was very encouraged by the former Soviet leader's warm response to his visionary of Ahimsa University (which became affiliated with the United Nations Peace University in Costa Rica in 1993) and the World Movement of Nonviolence for Peace and Environment. In September 1993, Guruji addressed the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. He addressed the need to embrace non-violence for all living beings.
