Opening Address of Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director, IFPNP
Delivered during the Launch of the 5th International Online Fellowship Program on Nonviolence and Peace (2026–2027)
Respected Dr. Ogarit Younan, Cynthia Lukas, Prof. Michael Sonnleitner, Ashaben Bothra, Prof. Dorcas Ettang, Prof. John Chelladurai, and our dear friends, peace fellows, associates, and partners from across the globe. Good evening and a very warm welcome to you all. As we commence this program on the auspicious birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, maintaining strict punctuality is of the utmost importance. We are addressing you today from the historic premises of Mahatma Gandhi’s final ashram in Sevagram, Wardha, India, which was established by Gandhiji himself in the year 1936. This sacred space served as Gandhi’s living laboratory of nonviolence.
We are currently seated in a cottage near the iconic Bapu Kuti—the very hut where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for a quite long time. This specific cottage was used by Kishorlal Mashruwala, one of Gandhiji’s closest associates. Today, it is from this cottage that our ashram office functions. Both Dr. Michael Sonnleitner, who is presiding over this meeting, and Dr. Ogarit Younan, our keynote speaker who will be inaugurating this program, are familiar with this space from their past visits to the Sevagram Ashram. We are also truly blessed by the presence of Ashaben Bothra, our President, who guides the vast activities of the Ashram and is sitting right next to me.
Today marks the 157th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Since 2007, his birthday has been celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Nonviolence. He remains the ultimate universal synonym for peace and nonviolence. The Sevagram Ashram is deeply committed to the values and principles he stood for, which inspired us to launch an international online program on nonviolence and peace in 2022. Today, we are extremely happy to commence the fifth edition of the International Online Fellowship Program on Nonviolence and Peace for the year 2026–2027.
As we mark our fifth year, this initiative has evolved into a comprehensive four-month program. We have also introduced a new feature: an International Dialogue held throughout the year to keep our alumni and peace fellows actively energized and engaged. This specialized training is hosted by the Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, in collaboration with our esteemed global partners: Gandhi International in France, the Academic University College for Nonviolence and Human Rights in Lebanon, the International Centre of Nonviolence at the Durban University of Technology in South Africa, and Portland Community College in the USA.
This fellowship meaningfully bridges two of the most significant dates associated with Mahatma Gandhi: his birth and his martyrdom. Its core objective is to introduce the fundamentals of Gandhian nonviolence and peace. I trust that our newly inducted fellows have already reviewed the syllabus modules on our website. These cover critical areas including global sustainability challenges, the fundamentals of Gandhian nonviolence, global experiences in nonviolent action, and nonviolent methods of conflict resolution.
As in previous years, the global response to our course announcement has been extraordinary. Even with a highly strict selection process, our shortlist has already crossed 90 participants representing 22 countries across six continents. To give you a quick regional breakdown, we have candidates from Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, The Gambia, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and South Sudan. From South Asia, we welcome participants from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, while the Middle East & North Africa region is represented by Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and Turkey. Additionally, applications were shortlisted from North America, specifically the United States and Canada, from South America representing Brazil, and from Europe, representing France and Germany.
This overwhelming global response reflects a collective cry for peace in these troubled times. There is a growing conviction worldwide that nonviolence is the only path through which humanity can survive and sustain itself. This incredible interest is a direct result of the deep commitment shared by all our global partners—a commitment that has only intensified due to prolonged conflicts across different continents. As Dr. Ogarit Younan noted in one of our recent exchanges, the time has come for universities to focus more deeply than ever on nonviolence. Because applications are still flowing in, we expect to finalize our complete cohort by next week, ensuring a robust and diverse representation across all continents.
We are deeply honoured to have a stellar panel with us today. We welcome Prof. Dorcas Ettang, Associate Prof. and former Acting Director at the International Centre of Nonviolence of the Durban Institute of Technology, who also serves as the UNESCO Gandhi-Luther King Chair on Education for Peace and Transformative Society. We are also joined by Dr. Ogarit Younan, the Founder of AUNOHR and laureate of the Jamnalal Bajaj International Award 2022. A pioneering Lebanese activist, sociologist, and author, Dr. Younan is fully committed to nonviolence and human rights. Along with Dr. Walid Slaybi, she was the driving force behind the historic milestone to abolish the death penalty in Lebanon. I am certain she will reflect on this monumental achievement during her inaugural address.
Our Guest of Honour is Cynthia Lukas, joining us from Kansas, USA. A former college teacher and city councilwoman, Cynthia is an acclaimed producer, director, and writer of documentaries that inspire global audiences. She has produced a PBS film on the Sufi poet Rumi, two PBS films on Mahatma Gandhi, and the historic film, KASTURBA GANDHI: Accidental Activist. This groundbreaking first film on Kasturba has garnered 14 official selections and awards at international film festivals, and today, we will have a quick glance at an excerpt from this documentary.
Furthermore, we are privileged to have the valuable presence of Ashaben Bothra, President of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha, India, who has been highly active in the field of Sarvodaya for many decades, dedicating her life to the empowerment of women and the promotion of Gandhian action. We have also received a brief, reflective message sent for this special occasion by Louis Campana, President of Gandhi International. We are equally honored by the presence of Dr. Michael Sonnleitner, a prominent Gandhi and King scholar, dedicated nonviolent activist from the USA, and former trustee of Portland Community College, who remains the true guiding spirit of our program. Finally, and most importantly, we have in our midst Prof. John Chelladurai, Dean of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies at MGM University, India, who will share his concluding remarks, along with a number of collaborating associates.
I am certain that the insights shared by these distinguished personalities will set the tone for the course and provide a strong foundation for our collective reflection. On behalf of the entire organizing team, I would now like to request Prof. Dorcas Ettang to offer a brief welcome address to our fellows and dignitaries. Following her remarks, our President, Ashaben Bothra, will share her thoughts on the occasion and bless the program, right before we proceed to the official inaugural address. Prof. Dorcas, the floor is yours. Thank you.
