'From Columbia To Iran': 8 Times Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Brokered Peace In The World

New Delhi: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has been an epitome of peace and tranquility and has often emerged in a role of a peacemaker as according to him peace is not just the absence of conflict and bloodshed but it's a positive state that one needs to nurture within themselves.

Going by one of his quotes advocating for peace, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “War and conflict begin when communication breaks down. Peace is not just the absence of conflict and bloodshed, it’s a positive state that we all need to nurture within us. Outer peace cannot be achieved if every individual is not peaceful inside. World peace begins with inner peace, peaceful people make peaceful nations.”

His efforts have ranged from mediating between conflicting parties to spreading the message of peace and harmony through spirituality. Here are 8 remarkable instances where Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has played an instrumental role in advocating for global peace.

Mediation in Colombia’s Civil Conflict

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar played a pivotal role in ending Colombia's five-decade-long civil war between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016. His intervention created an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and reconciliation and eventually led to the signing of a historic peace agreement, offering former rebels tools for personal growth and reintegration into society.

At the historic press conference, the FARC leaders shared, “We will fulfil the promise we made to Gurudev and follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence. We are very grateful for the support given by Gurudev to achieve peace and reconciliation.”

Bridging Religious Divides in Iraq

In the war-torn regions of Iraq, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has worked extensively to heal the wounds caused by sectarian violence. He met with opposing religious leaders, including Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish leaders, to foster dialogue and reconciliation, and is known to be one of the few spiritual leaders to have successfully brought them together. He helped rehabilitate thousands of Yazidi women who had been victims of ISIS brutality, providing them with trauma relief and mental health support through the Art of Living’s spiritual techniques.

Resolution of the Ayodhya Dispute in India

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's efforts began years before he was even appointed as a member of the mediation committee. He quietly travelled the length and breadth of the country engaging with leaders of different communities. His approach was characterized by inclusivity and a deep understanding of the spiritual and cultural significance of the Ram Mandir for Hindus and the sensitivity it held for Muslims. Once appointed as part of the mediation committee, he convened dialogues that were instrumental in breaking down barriers and fostering trust among the parties. Though the Supreme Court eventually ruled on the case in 2019, Gurudev’s mediatory efforts helped create an atmosphere conducive to welcoming the verdict peacefully.

Advocacy for Peace in Sri Lanka

The civil war in Sri Lanka left deep scars between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities. Recognising the deep wounds caused by decades of conflict, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited the island national to foster peace through the dialogue between the then president and the LTTE. He met the top brass of the LTTE and went through the war zone to visit the refugees who were living in inhuman conditions, surrounded by Sri Lankan soldiers.

He visited the island nation to offer spiritual solace and promote peace between the two ethnic groups. He conducted trauma relief programs for war victims and stressed the importance of forgiveness and rebuilding lives. His initiative helped foster healing in a region ravaged by years of brutal conflict.

Promoting Peace in Kashmir

On November 10, 2017, the Art of Living Ashram in Bangalore hosted Paigam-e-Mohabbat, a groundbreaking reconciliation program that brought together 200 people affected by the violence in Kashmir. Among them were family members of slain terrorists, widows of martyred soldiers, and others who had lost loved ones to the conflict. This unique event provided a common platform for both the aggressors and victims, fostering a space of shared grief and healing. In a deeply moving and unprecedented moment, mothers of slain militants listened, through their tears, to the stories of widows of martyred soldiers. The event highlighted that even in the face of immense suffering, forgiveness and reconciliation are possible. Paigam-e-Mohabbat served as a powerful reminder that dialogue and compassion can pave the way for lasting peace.

Over the years, Gurudev has met with local leaders, separatists, and youth in Kashmir to encourage peaceful coexistence. His efforts toward de-radicalization and promoting non-violence among the youth of the region have been highly regarded.

Peace in India’s Northeast

By the end of The Art of Living training, a former recruiter and district organizer for ULFA, was left with tears. “I cried and cried. It dawned on me, during and after the training, what life was really meant to be,” he said, “This training should have come much longer before in my life.” Thousands of militants and naxals across the country’s most militancy-affected regions have lowered arms and returned to society to serve, thanks to the relentless efforts of Gurudev in healing the aggression.

“We will not rest till the last gun is laid down,” The spiritual leader said during his address at the first-of-its-kind conference organized by The Art of Living that brought 67 militant groups from the Northeast belonging to different ideologies together on a common platform to discuss issues in the region and find actionable ways to bring peace and stability to the region.

Under one such intervention, 68 militants surrendered in the presence of authorities, after a decade-long engagement of The Art of Living volunteers with militants in the area.

Helping women and war victims reclaim their lives in Kosovo

The Kosovan conflict between the Serbs and Albanians had claimed over 13,000 lives, displaced millions and inflicted trauma and fear on thousands of civilians who continued to stay.  

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited the region to speak to leaders on both sides to give peace and unity a chance. The healing started with The Art of Living trainers conducting Trauma Relief programs for hundreds of women and rape victims, medical professionals, injured victims of war and hundreds of displaced persons in the Plemetina refugee camps.

Flora Brovina, then Parliament Delegate and Director of Center for Mothers and Children said, “The Art of Living program helped the women alleviate the shame, guilt, numbness, disorientation, sense of isolation, distrust and disconnection.”

Seeing the impact of Gurudev’s work, the Ministry of Health recommended all the Mental Health Workers in Kosovo, who struggled to help thousands of men and women undergoing deep traumatic stress, fear, anxiety and depression daily,  participate in Art of Living workshops, and be trained to teach the Breath Water Sound Program, a workshop designed for victims of trauma.

The World Culture Festival: A Celebration of Global Unity

One of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's most important efforts to promote global peace was through the World Culture Festival, held in 2023 in Capitol Hill, Washington DC.

The World Culture Festival was a melting pot of cultures, traditions and arts, where 4.5 lakh people connected beyond limited identities of race, religion or nationality, in the spirit of One World Family. People from over 180 countries converged including people from Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan , and Afghanistan, among others. In a unique show of solidarity and camaraderie, people from countries undergoing conflicts kept aside their differences and came together to celebrate humanity and further Gurudev’s vision of peace.