A day after the G20 Summit ended with a declaration of establishing peace and amity, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale launched the peace campaign ‘Mangal Maitri: Desh Mein, Videsh Mein’ from Babasaheb Ambedkar’s samadhi in Dadar, Mumbai on September 11. The campaign, led by peace activist and Chairman of the Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis Memorial Committee, Mumbai, Rajendra Jadhav, aims to spread the message of peace and harmony. The campaign will start by visiting five holy places of five different communities in India. It will later proceed to the resting places/samadhis of five globally-recognised human rights champions, including Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Kotnis, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King.

Speaking at the launch, Ramdas Athawale praised Rajendra Jadhav and stated, “We need Buddh (Gautam Buddha), not yudha (war).” Jadhav, who has been associated with the Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis Memorial Committee, expressed his dedication to spreading peace and described it as his life’s mission.

Jadhav plans to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, Varanasi, a holy city for Hindus, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer, a famous Muslim Sufi saint, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a holy place for Sikhs, and a well-known Church in Goa, a holy place for Christians. When asked about funding for the trips, he stated that money would not be a hindrance as there are supporters who will ensure his dreams of visiting these final resting places/samadhis of human rights champions will be fulfilled.

Rajendra Jadhav received the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award from Chinese President Xi Jinping on behalf of the Kotnis Memorial Committee in 2014. He mentioned that they will soon celebrate the 10th anniversary of receiving the award.

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