After Colombia, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says he wouldn't mind resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict

'Art of Living' founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, on Wednesday, December 6, said it is his "nature to resolve conflict and bring peace" when asked if he would accept a chance to mediate and bring peace in West Asia.

His desire to establish harmony in the warzone comes after six years of his instrumental involvement in ending the 52-year-old Civil War in Colombia.

Since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel exactly two months ago, on October 7, both parties have been engaged in a deadly war in the Palestinian exclave of Gaza. According to the Associated Press, the war has so far claimed more than 16,200; with more than 42,000 wounded in Gaza. More than 1,200 have lost their lives in Israel so far.

What did Sri Sri say?

• On being asked about his involvement in peace and confidence-building initiatives globally, the 67-year-old spiritual leader told the Press Trust of India,

"I am always there whether someone invites me or not. I keep jumping into these situations. Sometimes, people even ask why you jump into all these situations when there is a conflict."

• Just like he had been involved in multiple peace negotiations in the past, talking to different stakeholders; be it Iraq, Venezuela, the Northeast and Kashmir; he also emphasises the role of people participation in attaining desirable goals.
• He said, "It's people's participation that makes anything successful."

• Lastly, he said, "In India, for ages, we have always considered nature as a mother, and it's part of our growth. Unless we care for the planet and care for the five elements of nature, we can not say that we are spiritual or we are progressing in our faith."

Involvement in Colombia

• Back in September 2016, after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government signed a peace pact, Colombian President Juan Manual Santos thanked the Indian spiritual leader for being "a great support and friend" of the pact.
• According to the Times of India, he met over 500 delegates from both sides and urged them to give peace a chance and was eventually invited by both parties to the signing ceremony.
• He was also a keynote speaker at the Reconciliation Colombia event in 2016.

Other peace initiatives

• In 2004, Ravi Shankar embarked on a goodwill mission to Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan, to reinforce his commitment to establish better relations and trust, five years after the Kargil War in 1999.
• Similarly, in Iraq, he engaged in diplomatic efforts by meeting political and religious leaders to address the dire conditions faced by Yazidis and non-Muslims.
• Recently, in 2019, he extended his peace-building efforts to Venezuela, while the country faced political and economic turmoil.
• The leader was also involved in efforts to bring peace to the Northeast and Kashmir in India, and later he was one of the three members of the mediation committee entrusted by the Supreme Court of India to settle the Ram Mandir Ayodhya dispute out of court.