Satsang Foundation's and Manav Ekta Mission's Founder, Mumtaz Ali Khan, who is known as Sri M was felicitated today by Avinashilingam University at a function held at their college auditorium. Sri M introduced the ‘The Walk of Hope’ that was flagged off on 12 January 2015 on the birthday of the great prophet of interfaith and harmony, Swami Vivekananda.. Starting from the Gandhi Memorial Mandapam in Kanyakumari and concluding in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, this initiative reached out to 10 million fellow Indians.
The Padhayatra (walk) covered 15-20 kms a day and halt in the evening at a pre-determined village or town en-route. The evening was spent meeting with the local population which included meaningful dialogues, inter-faith prayers, eating together and, finally, resting overnight at their homes. A diverse assembly of responsible citizens, who foresaw a united and inclusive India for themselves and the future generations, accompanied Sri M in this walk. The Walk of Hope exercise aimed to restore the innate spirituality of the nation and rekindle true faith and rejuvenating the spirit of hope, love, peace, harmony and oneness.
This morning Sri M was at the Avinashilingam University to formally accept the felicitation. At this programme, Dr. P. R. Krishnakumar, Chancellor, Avinashilingam University delivered the welcome address. “It is a great honour to have Sri M with us today. Sri M walked through sun, rain and snow only to spread the message of peace and harmony. He worked on this Padhayatra for inner peace. In this contemporary era, all of us are too busy working from morning till the night only for our outward development.” Dr. Krishnakumar said.
After accepting the felicitation, Sri M in his address to students said “We human beings regardless of what religion we follow we must always think that we are one. I continue to live with the feeling that we are one as I strongly believe in the fact that humanity is bigger than any religion. The padayatra that I undertook is not new. In the past several great human beings like Adi Shankara and Swami Vivekananda too have undertaken padayatras.” Sri M said.
Bishop Paul Alappatt was the Chief Guest for this event. Parameshwari, Registrar, Avinashilingam University, Premavathy Vijayan, Vice-chancellor, Avinashilingam University, students and staff of this university and members of the public were present at this function.