A 349018

Peace CultureAmidst

Power ConflictsCaste, Class, Race, State Tensions

Acharya K.K. Chandy

CHRISTAVASHRAM/ ISPCK, Delhi2000

Contents

Foreword—Rev. Dr. Richard Deats xxvPrologue And Acknowledgements xxviii

PART ONE

AHIMSA AND AGAPE—LOVE, IN PERSONAL,SOCIAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS

Chapter 1 The New Nation and the Nation States 3

1. The Churchfs's Calling as a 'Holy Nation'— 3How is it different from other nations? 3

2. Nature of the Nation States 43. Jesus' Struggle in the Wilderness and the 5

Sanction of the New Nation4. The New Nation takes Shape 6

(i) It's Manifesto 6(ii) The first Republic of the New Nation— 7

the Jerusalem Community5. Agape—Nonviolence was the Master-mark of the 8

New Nation6. Questions against the Pacifist Stand 97. The tragic Compromise and Canonisation 12

of the Sword8. Killings in War and Death Penalty Banned 149. Christ and Caesar 1610. "Just War", and Liberation Theologians 1911. The Non-sense of 'Deterrence' 20

(viii)

Chapter II The New Nation and an Unjust Social Order—Causes and Remedies

1. Colonialism 222. Race problem 233. Property System 26

(a) Jewish tradition ' 26(b) Christian tradition 27

4. The'Mammon'of money and the Cult of 28the 'Sword'

5. Slavery and the Church 296. Capitalism and the Law of Love, I'll Go Together 307. The world order and the New Nation 328. How to bring about a Just and Peaceful Social 33

• Order9. Ends and means 3510. Towards a Nonviolent Socialist International 3711. The Ballot Box, Press and Freedom 3812. Decentralisation and 'Swadesi' 3913. The Sanctity of the Social Order—A Concern to 40

Heal it14. Agape-Nonviolence, the Dynamic for Social 43

Change

Chapter III The 'New Commandment' and the 'New Species'

1. Christ's'New Commandment'—Agape (love) 442. Hellenism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Agape 443. The Hebrew Conception of Love and Agape 474. Gandhian 'Ahimsa', and Agape of the 49

Fellowship of Reconciliation5. Agape and the Basis of the Fellowship of __ 53

Reconciliation (India)6. Agape and 'Caritas' 547. Agape and 'Amor Amiciatiae' 558. The Reformation and Agape 559. Agape and Reinhold Neibuhr's "Impossible 56

possibility"

(ix)

10. The New man—the New Species 5811. Love, the Law of the New Species is Perfect 60

Biology12: Love is Fearless and Seeks to Create Fellowship, 61

where it seems Impossible13. Agape and Anxiety 6314. Agape in the Face of Aggression and Injustice 6515. Can Agape lie or be violent to Save Life? 6616. Agape and Justice 6717. Agape is for All and not the 'Vocation for a Few' 68

Chapter IV The New Nation and Peace Culture—Power Culture, Its Disintegration

1. Man Deified and Science Idolised 712. Science Appeals to Religion 713. Debasement of Values and Sanctity of the 73

Human Person4. 'Liberal Democracy'—Acquisitiveness and 73

Worship of Arms5. 'Dharma Chakkra' replaced Militarism in 75

Ashoka's India6. Nehru on Building up the Defence Apparatus 767. Gandhi's'Hour of Trial' 778. Military Training Develops War Robots 799. Education for Peace 7910. Bhoodan, Gramdan Movements, and Vinoba 81

Bhave—(Gifts of land and villages) 8411. 'Shanti Sena', an Organ of Peace Culture 8612. Personal Level Reconciliation Work 8713. A'Martyr Nation' 8814. The'Community Movement'and Peace Culture 9015. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1 to 11) 9116. Why the'Communism'of the Early Church 92

was Shortlived?17. Peace-culture through Medieval Communities 93

and Guilds

(x)

18. Modern 'Communities' and Peace Culture 94(a) The Priest Workman Movement (Europe) 94(b) The Jesus Family Community (China) 95(c) The Bruderhof International Community 98

(Britain, U.S.A., Australia)

PART TWO

PEACE CULTURE TOURS IN TENSION AREASAROUND THE WORLD — PEACE MOVEMENTS,MESSAGE, AND JUSTICE-PEACE STALWARTS

Chapter 1. Christagraha—A Nation-wide Gospel Tourand Bharat Darshan

(a) N.M.S. Sponsored Tour 110(b) Kanyakumari: Harmony Marred by Wall 110

of Partition(c) How to Break These Walls of Partition? 111(d) The Starting from Madras—Without 'Scrip' 112(e) Punjab : Miss Sircar and the Bethlehem Centre 112(f) U.P. : Dr. E.Stanley Jones's Sat-Tal 113

(Himalayan) Ashram, and the S.C.M. Camp(g) The Ecumenical Team in'Swadeshi'Garb 113

Receives Hearty Welcome(h) Mahatma Gandhi, Keshub Chandra Sen, N.V. 114

Tilak, K.Natarajan, Sunder Singh and VinobaBhave—on the Road towards Christagraha

Chapter 2. India's Constitution : Representation 117against Conscription—Trip to Delhi

Independence Day at Cawnpore - - 120

Chapter 3. Research Study and Tours— "Christianity,Communism and Nonviolence"

a. Britain and Woodbrooke College : 121(1) Meeting V.K. Krishna Menon, and Arrival 123

at Woodbrooke

(xi)

a) Contacting 'the Red' Dean Hewlet 125Johnson

b) Visit to High Gate where Marx Lies 127Buried

(2) Woodbrooke Opens up Friendships 128Around the World

b.._ Geneva : W.C.C. Round table 'Conference of 130Christian Politicians'—The Christian Attitudein the Conflict between Democracy andCommunism

c. Finland : Peace Conference—Dialogue on East- 133West Tension(i) India through Finnish Eyes 134(ii) Finland through Indian Eyes 136(iii) Meeting with Defence Minister Kallinen 137(iv) Meeting with Minister Mrs. Kusinen 139

Chapter 4 The F.O.R.I. and the Message of 141Reconciliation—A Tour of North andSouth India

The World Pacifist Conference at Shanti 142Niketan (Bengal), and Sevagram (M.P.):FORI tours by K.K. Chandy and Muriel Lester

Chapter 5 Peace Culture amidst Race and Class Conflicts

(a) R.T.P. Peace Foundation Lecture Tour—U.S.A. 144(b) Consultation with President Rajendra Prasad, 147

Dr. Radhakrishnan and Vinoba Bhave(c) The R.T.P. Peace Foundation Lectures, and 149

Programme(1) Dialogue with Legionaries 150(2) At the Washington Forum—'Speaking 151

Truth to Power'(3) The Episcopal Pacifist Fellowship 154

Conference—Connecticut •(4) Positive Pacifism in a Disintegrating 155

Society-Ohio F.O.R. Conference

(xii)

(5) The Tennesee Valley Authority (T.V.A.) 155(6) Communism, a'Red Rag' 156(7) Black Culture Centres—Tuskagee Institute, 157

Howard University & Moore House College 158Boys Town, Nebraska 158

(8) "How keep the Orient from going 158Communist?" A Television Appearance

(9) MaCarthysm and 'Jim Crow' 160(10) Sino—American Tension:F.O.R. message 160

to the people of China(11) Aparthied in the U.S.A.—Some Personal 162

Confrontations(12) The American Indians (Red Indians) and 166

Visit to the Cook's Institute, Arizona(13) The Union Seminary and New York 166

(d) 'Stop Press'—Letter from Robert Greenwood 167(1) The U.S. Tour—Some General Impressions 168(2) Letter by the author to :

(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President of India) 170(b) Dr. Radhakrishnan (Vice-President) 172

Chapter 6 Mexico : A Flow of Hearts and Souls— 174Striking Cultural Roots with India

Chapter 7 Europe : France Alive; Rome and the Pope;Greece and Athens

(1) France : F.O.R.—Andre Trocme, Henry Roser; 178Abbe Pierre and 'Emmaus Community'; PriestWorkmen, Boimandau and other IndustrialCommunities of Work

(2) RomerValdensian Seminary, Priscilla Catacomb, 182Vatican and 'Darshan' of the Pope

(3) Greece : Athens 185(a) The Athenian Forum, Acropolis and 186

Areopagus Hills—(Indian impress)(b) . Church of Daphne on site of the temple 187

of Daphne

(xiii)

(c) Elleniko : College Students, Querry on, 187'Inner life-springs'

(d) Yoga and F.O.R. Group 187

Chapter 8 Israel-Arab Tension—A Tour of the Middle East

A. (1) The Zionist State and the P.L.O.— (2) Dialogue with Leaders—Religious

B.C.D.

E.F.

G.

and Political(3) Tel Aviv : Oriental Society(4) Kibbutz : Daganyah and Kiriath

Anavim CommunitiesTrans-Jordan : Barbed wire and 'No man's land'Syria : Some Cultural Ties with IndiaLebanon : Armenian Seminary and BishopKasparianEgypt Afire—General NeguibPalestinians and Refugee Problem(1) P.L.O. in the offing(2) Israel-Arab tension : Dialogue with

Dr. FischlFurther Word on Tours

189189

190191

193194195

197

197199

203

Chapter 9 Peace Tours in India Again

(a) Theological Colleges and Seminaries 204(b) War Resisters International Conference (W.R.I.) 206

and A World Peace Brigade, Gandhigram(c) Visit of Bhoodan Centres; Sino-Indian and 209

Indo-Pakistan ConflictsMeetings with National Leaders 211

Chapter 10 A Round the World Peace Pilgrimage : PeaceAction Groups, Invitation from the U.S., F.O.R.,and Topics of Addresses

A. Britain : Muriel Lester, Philip Eastman, 218Devi Prasad

B. U.S.A. : Message—Agape-Nonviolence and 218Community, the Only Way of Survival

(xiv)

(1) Some Peace-Culture Groups : In 221Seminaries, Universities etc.(a) The Church Peace Mission (C.P.M.), 222

and Churches visited(b) "Courage in both hands" : Dr. Allen 225

Hunter and the Mount HollywoodCongregational Church

(c) Reba Place Community : A Justice- 227Peace Centre

(2) A Change of Attitude in U.S.A. towards 230India and the USSR; Justice-PeaceStalwarts; and a Resurgence to theNonviolence of the Cross(a) Change in the U.S. image of India 230(b) Change in U.S. attitude to U.S.S.R. 230(c) The way of the Cross and the Non- 231

violence of the Brave—a ResurgingC. Canada:Message—'Nonviolence and Community',

the Way to Survival 233(a) Toronto:Bruce Robertson; the Community 233

of the Brethren; Kitchener and Nelson Centres(b) Vancouver : Mildred Fahrni, Amiya 237

Chakravarthy and Canadian F.O.R.D. Japan : Hiroshima, Tokyo and Other Capital 239

Cities (Tour with Paul M. Sekiya)(1) Hiroshima—'Survivors Envy the Dead' 243(2) The Six Day Prayer Group and the 245

World Friendship Centre(3) Nagoya and the Buddha Jayanti Day 246(4) Kobe and the Toyohiko Kagawa Family 247

E. Hong Kong (China): Sino-Indian Tension and 248Peace Sentiments among the Chinese—AndrewRoy, Chung Chi College and Open Meetings

F. Australia ' 249(1) Sydney (New South Wales); 250(2) Brisbane (Queensland); 252

(XV)

(3) Canberra (Capital Territory); 254(4) Melbourne (Victoria); 254(5) Hobart (Tasmania); 255(6) Adelaide (South Australia)—Jean Russel; 256(7) Perth (Western Australia)— , 258

Lauri Wilkinson, M.P., Rev. F. BayatAn Ecumenical Clergy Conference 258

G. Some letters from countries visited 259Australia(a) Jean Russel, Convener, K.K. Chandy 259

Tour Committee(b) Rev. Frank F.Byatt, O.B.E., B.C.E.. 260U.S.A. and Canada 261(c) Rev. A.J. Muste, Secretary, U.S., F.O.R. 261(d) Mrs. Charles T. Estes, Secretary, the Co- 262

operative Forum of (Heads of U.S. StateDepartment including Army, Navy andAir Force)

(e) Milred Fahrni, Secretary, Canadian F.O.R." 262(f) Dr. John Oliver Nelson, Yale University 263

Divinity SchoolH. A look back on this world tour 263I. An Open Letter to President Nixon of the 264

U.S.A.—Promote Rapport with CommunistChina; Stop flow of arms to Pakistan and savethe India sub-continent from being a Vietnam

Chapter 11 Delhi to Peking Peace March

(1) The Context: Letters from Jayaprakash 267, Narayan, and to A.J. Muste; My Joining

the March(2) At Gauhati (Assam); Dr. M.Aram, fellow 271

marcher joins F.O.R.; Contacting Christianleaders and centres Si;•...

(3) A.J. Muste gives peace message to an 272Ecumenical Service at the United Church,Gauhati

(xvi)

(4) March Suspended : Indian Government's refusal 273of permission to cross the boundary to China,Burma and East Pakistan Goverment'srefusal of transit

(5) Jayaprakash Denounced by Chinese Papers as 274"Lion in Sheep Skin"

(6) An Evaluation 275

Chapter 12 A Tour of the Bruderhof InternationalCommunities —A Growing Awareness of theFutility of Violence in the West

A. Britain :(1) Darwell Bruderhof (near London) 277(2) Kingsley Hall Community Centre 278

(Founded by Muriel Lester); Gandhi, anInmate during the Round Table Conference(on India's Freedom)

(3) Woodbrooke College Community, Selly 279Oak, Birmingham

(4) Scotland; Edinburgh with Prof. Roy and 279Eona Macnicol—Open meetings under'Justice and Peace Committee' auspices;St. Gile's Cathedral, 'Greenham CommonMarch' against Weapons, at the CruiseMissile Base

B. U.S.A. : At New York—reception and 280programme(1) With the Church of the Brethren, and 280

'Brethren Peace Makers'(2) Yale University; Quaker, Methodist and 281

F.O.R. Centres(3) The Bruderhof Communities—A Great 282

Inspiration(a) Childrens' Peace-toys as Against 283

War-toys(b) Industries Scientifically Organised 283

and Surplus Socially Distributed

(xvii)

(c) %tBu( is not the Bruderhofs. a 283retreating from the worid?"'—No

(4) The Influence of 'Gandhi ' Film on the 284Western World--A Growing Awarenessof the Futility of Violence

Chapter 13 Nilakkal : Temple-Church Clash, 286"~ and Reconciliation

Chapter 14 Timely Divine Deliverances during 291Peace-tours : "Be Assured, I am WithYou Always"

(1) A. During the First F.O.R. Tour of Northern 291India

B. During Paine Foundation Peace lour 293C. During the Round of the World Peace 294

Pilgrimage(2) Reconciliation in a broken family (through 296

alcoholism) wrought by prayer

PART THREE

PEACE CULTURE AND AGAPE NON-VIOLENCE-PROGRAMMES AND ACTION

I Peace Culture and Agape Non-violence—Programmes and Action(a) "Man is at the End of his Tether" : 301

Survivors Envy the Dead—a HiroshimaVictim's Experience

(b) "There is Nothing that Love Cannot Overcome" 302(c) Agape-Nonviolence, Creates Fellowship where 302

Fellowship Seems Impossible(d) Ahimsa and Dharma Yuddha (Nonviolence and 303

'Just war')(e) Was Gandhi's Nonviolence Situational or 304

Absolute?(0 Did Gandhi Support World War II, and 305

Kashmir Military Action? —No

(xviii)

(g) Is Non-violence as Expediency', Permissible? 306—No

(h) Is Non-violence Practicable to Nations as to 307Individuals? Yes, says Gandhi—'Nonviolenceis power'

(i) Is Nonviolence Adequate to Meet Brutish 308Aggressors, and Nuclear Air Attacks?

(j) Is Nonviolence Adequate to Run a State? 309(k) Did Jesus Use or Sanction Violence in His 310

Action in the Cleansing of the Temple?

Did Jesus Permit violence when he replied, 310"enough" when, the disciples said " here aretwo Swords?"

(1) "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and 312unto God what is God's"

(m) Urgency of Peace Education and Spiritual 313Regeneration

(n) "Take up God's Armour" for Dharma Yuddha 314(Just War)

II. Housing for the Needy—A Peace Culture Programmein Kerala

(1) The Problem stated in the World Context (1971) 315(2) Kerala—Facts and Figures 315(3) The Problems of Land and Housing Vitally 316

Connected(4) Attitude to Property^-Vinoba's Call to Practice 317

'Communism of Love'(5) Kerala Churches and Shelter for the Shelterless

(1) Kerala Bishop's Ecumenical Call for a 318Programme of Housing for the Needy"

(2) The Seminar on Land Housing for 319the Needy

(3) Consultation on Transformation of 320Society in Kerala

(xix)

III. The Church in India, Ecumenical Movement andPeace Culture—Nehru on St. Thomas in India : 'A Tradition thatTranscends History'

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

The Emergence of the Church ofSouth India 'The Roman Catholic Church in Inter-church RelationsOther Movements towards Ecumenism,including InstitutionsThe First Ecumenical Pastoral Letter

321

324

325

326

328

IV. From Dialogue to Action — Plea to Marxists andChristians to be truly Revolutionary

(a) Revolution—Christian and Marxist 329(b) Revolution and the Church 332(c) Revolution Without Violence:Possibilities 334(d) Call to Revolution, truly Revolutionary 335

V. (a) Kashmir : Indo-Pakistan tension 335—Consultation with.Horace Alexander,Nehru, Radhakrishnan and Morarji Desai,(see also Part Four, item 4(a) "Kashmirand Indo-Pak Tension.")

(b) Sino-Indian Border Tension—An Appeal 339for Reconciliation'

VI. Unilateral Disarmament

(1) Who will heed-Gandhian India or 342Christian West?

(2) There is no other way 345

VII. Agape Nonviolence in Personal, Social, Nationaland International Relationships . 347

(1) Gandhi's Concept of Ahimsa 348(2) Nonviolent Action in South Africa and 348

in India

(XX)

(3) Nonviolence and the Economics of Peace 350(a) Sarvodaya, Capitalism and 350

Communism(b) Decentralised Industry and Swadesi 350

(4) Nonviolence and the Politics of Peace 351(5) Nonviolence in International Conflicts 352

and War(a) Gandhi pleaded with Hitler, Mussolini, 352

Britain, the Jews, Czechs and theAbyssynians to accept nonviolenceinstead of militarism

(b) Nonviolence in the Conflict Between 353India and Pakistan following Partition—Gandhi's fast results in a Wave ofFriendship between the two Countries

(c) Relevance of Nonviolence, when one's 354Country is Attacked

(d) Nonviolence in International 356Relationships, and the 'One World'Concept

(e) Gandhi and Other International Squads 357for Nonviolent Action

VIILCall to Spiritual Regeneration and Education 359for Peace

IX. Nehru : Healing and Looking Godward 361for Reconciliation and Peace

(a) An Interview when Under Treatment 361(i) Sino-lndian, lndo-Pakistan, and Nagaland 362

Problems(ii) Compulsory Cadet Corps Training—A 364

Violation of Agape-non-violence •(b) Prayer for his Healing 365(c) Letter to Nehru, and His Reply 366(d) Nehru's Appeal for Reconciliation between 367

India and Pakistan, after his Recovery

(XXI)

(e) Gandhi and Nehru—Complimentarity 369(i) Nonviolence, if it is to be power- 373

should be unadulterated(ii) "The hour of my trial'—Gandhi's - 376

reaction to India's acceptance of the wayof the 'sword'

(iii) Religious faith—There is no real politics 378without real religion

PART FOUR

POWER BLOCK TENSIONS WITHIN AND BETWEENNATIONS, TOWARDS THE END OF THE 2ND

MILLENNIUM

Power Block Tensions Within and Between Nations 383

Introductory : This Section of the Book 383

Tensions within and between States 384

Chapter I : South Africa 384

Chapter I I : The Middle East 390

a. Iraq and peace appeal 390

1. Call for an immediate Peace Meet to stopwar—F.O.R. appeal 390

2. Responses 391b. Israel-Arab tension, P.L.O. and Peace Process 392

Chapter III : Sri Lankan Conflict and Peace Work 395

Chapter IV : Kashmir and Indo-Pak Tension 397

a. A looking back 3971. Letter to Prime Minister Shastri 3992. Reply from P.M. Shastri 401

b. The Border War, the Atomic Threat and the 402Kashmir Problem—(updated addition)

c. Arbitration, a Way out for the Solution of 405the Kashmir Problem—(addition)

(xxii)

Chapter V : Sino-Indian Tension and Rapproachment 408

Chapter VI : Soviet Russia under Gorbachev, takes 412initiative towards Disarmament, WorldPeace and Easing of Power Block Tensions

Chapter VII : Tensions within India 414

a. Is India's Nuclear Weapon Production an honour 414or a disgrace to the country, and real defence?

b. Is Saraswathy Pooja integral to the Culture of 416Secular India?—(addition)

c. Can a Citizen of India of Foreign Origin 418Become Prime Minister?—(addition)

PART FIVE

THAT WE ALL BE ONE—RELIGIONS, CULTURESCOMMUNITIES AND NATIONS

A. 'That They all may be One'—(Jesus Christ)— 423Unitive Understanding among Religions

1. If God and Love are the Deep Springs of Unity, 423What is Love and Who is God?

2. Seeds of Unitive Understanding Found in the 426Intergration of the Dravido—Aryan Culturesaround Harappa and Mohenjadaro—3000 BC

3. The Contribution by Sri Buddha, St. Thomas, 427Sankaracharya, Ramanuja, Thiruvalluvar,Ramakrishna, Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave

B. "Conversion" vis-a-vis Unitive Understanding 432

1. Gandhi's Concept of 'Equality of Religions' 432compared to Buddha's Position on 'Conversion'and of Christ's

2. Observation by C.F. Andrews, A.G. Hogg, 434Gandhi, V.R. Krishna Iyer on Christ

3. Conversion and Basic Rights—Gandhi, 438Narayana Guru, Buddha and Christ

(xxiii)

C. Tense Communal Clash Situations, and how 445Prayer and Fast Vigils Achieved Reconciliationand Peace

1. Gandhi's Delhi Fast 445My response to Gandhi's Call to, Pray for and 449

-Fast with him, and Letter to Mahatma Gandhi2. Poovar: Communal Clash and Burning 451

down of Church building and Houses

D. 1. A Questionnaire and Pledge for Sevaks of 452the Christavashram and Satyagrahis of Agape-Nonviolence Committed to Christ the GreatSatyagrahi

2. Peace Culture—A Testimony 454a. "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and 455

His Justice"b. Ecumenical Community 456c. Intensive Community and Social Justice—: 456

the Venture on Communityd. Nonviolence, Reconciliation and Peace 459e. There is Nothing that Love Cannot 460

Overcome—the Kingdom of God isbeing Consummated

f. Seek Peace and Pursue the Quest for 461Community, till its consummation inGod's Kingdom.

Reviews of the Book

1. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Supreme 462Court Judge

2. Dr. Walter G. Muelder, Director, Boston 464Theological College, Boston, U.S.A.

3. Dr. M. Aram, President and Moderator, 465World Conference on Religion and Peace(W.C.R.P); Former Vice-Chancellor,Gandhigram Rural University

(xxiv)

4. Shelley Anderson, in the Reconciliation 465International, Spoorstraat-38, 1815 B.K.Alkmaar, The Netherlands

5. Howard Goeringer, Editor, Jesus Journal, U.S.A. 4666. Charles Moore: in the "Plough", Magazine of 467

the Bruderhof Communities, U.S.A., Autumn -. 1994