Lalita Ramdas (née Katari) born Calcutta February 4, 1940. Indian nonviolence advocate and peace activist. Chair of Greenpeace International, 2007-10. Promoted peace with Pakistan; opposed Pokhran nuclear weapons testing, 1998. Launched Greenpeace’s flagship Rainbow Warrior II, Gdansk, 2011.
"Building peace and talking peace takes much more courage than screaming aloud for war and revenge." (Aman ki Asha, Facebook, Jan. 20, 2013; photo greenpeace.org)
Renuka Ray born Calcutta, India January 4, 1904 (d. 1997). Lifelong nonviolent follower of Gandhi; UN delegate, 1949; member of Indian parliament, 1957-67.
"May Gandhian socialism be a practical contribution of this country to the world of man." (speech on Indian Constitution, Nov. 19, 1949; photo http://bit.ly/s45xA)
Fahmida Riaz born Meerut, British India July 28, 1946. Pakistani poet and feminist. Persecuted and exiled by military regime, 1981-88. Founded Women and Development Association WADA (“A Promise”), working for peace and women’s rights, 1994. Promoted friendship with India.
So it turned out you are just like us!
Where were you hiding all this time, buddy?
That stupidity, that ignorance
we wallowed in for a century—
look, it arrived at your shores too!
Many congratulations to you!
Raising the flag of religion,
. . .
I used to wonder with such deep sorrow.
And now, I laugh at the idea:
it turned out you were just like us!
We weren’t two nations after all!
(“We Are Just Like You!”, Shabana Mir translation; photo Youtube)
Arundhati Roy born Shillong, Kerala, India November 24, 1961. Indian author and activist; critic of wars in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Kashmir; opposed Indian nukes; recipient of Sydney Peace Prize for nonviolence, 2004.
"The bombing of Afghanistan is not revenge for New York and Washington. It is yet another act of terror against the people of the world." (The Guardian, Sept. 21, 2001; photo J-B Labrune Wiki)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
