Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrives in Guwahati, kindles hope for peace

GUWAHATI: The founder of the Art of Living and Spiritual Guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, arrived here on Tuesday to attend the North East Indigenous People’s Conference to bring together former rebel leaders and civil society groups in a bid to find peace.
“I will interact with all sections of society. Various leaders from all NE states are coming. We have to bring a new light, an atmosphere of peace to ensure fast development of the region.This can only be possible with the participation of all sections of society,” he said soon after landing at the Guwahati airport.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is on a special visit to interact with people from all sections of society to seek a shared vision for addressing the problems plaguing the region in non-violent and democratic way. He will deliver his keynote address at the conference on Thursday.
Christened ‘Strength in Diversity: North East Indigenous People’s Conference’, the event will bring leaders from all walks of life, including those who had taken up arms earlier, on a common platform to debate, discuss and bridge the gap among various stakeholders in the peace processes and reduce the trust deficit that exists. Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia is among the conveners of the event. Other prominent names include former leader of Tripura National Volunteers Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl and Dilip Nunisa of Dima Halam Daogah, the Assambased outfit which had laid down arms in 2013. Apart from the organizers, the conference will also see participation from Naga leaders, including former ‘army chief ’ of NSCN(IM) VS Atem and Wangtin Naga of NSCN (R). Top civil society leaders from Manipur, including the president of United Committee Manipur Elangbam Johnson and president of All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation Ph Debananda Sharma, will also attend the conference.