World peace Day! Humanitarians To Remember
21st September is considered as the World Peace Day or International Day of Peace. As the name describes the day is dedicated for world peace. The theme for the 2014 International Day of Peace is the Right of Peoples to Peace which promotes that peace is vital for full enjoyment of human rights. With the wars happening around the world, this is the perfect theme to have set up.
“Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience.” – Thomas Merton
On this special day of Peace lets remember few humanitarians who chose the path of peace when others opted for violence, who held up their believes strong and showed the world that peace is the ultimate solution and salvation.
Nelson Mandela
Even after the imprisonment for 27 years the man still decided to fight for the rights of equality. He brought the anti-apartheid revolutionary in the world. One of the greatest philanthropist and politician.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Harriet Tubman
An African-American humanitarian and an abolitionist who overcame slavery and helped many others to overcome the same. Lead led 13 missions to rescue arond 70 slaves.
“There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would take the other, for no man should take me alive. I should fight for liberty as long as my strength lasted.”
Mother Teresa
Undoubtedly one of the greatest humanitarian the world has ever seen. An Albanian missionary who devoted her life to help people. She spread the message of love, humanity and peace to the world.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Related : Mother Theresa : 10 Powerful Messages To The World
Martin Luther King Jr.
You can never forget his ‘I Have A Dream” speech. Martin Luther King Jr. was a humanitarian, activist, leader of African-American Civil Rights Movement. He advocated non-violence methods to advance civil rights in US and different parts of the world. Though he died at an young ahe of 39, he gave the world all it needed and left a legacy behind.
He once said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” he made his dream come true and gifted the world the power of love and non-violence.
Oskar Schindler
A German Industrialist who saved the lives of 1200 Jews during the holocaust by employing them in his factories.
“I was now resolved to do everything in my power to defeat the system.”
Mahatma Gandhi
The world calls him Mahatma meaning ‘a revered person regarded with love and respect’. The man who showed the power of non-violence and simplicity. India attained independence in his leadership and he is one of greatest influencer of all time.
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
Related: Gandhi Was Not Perfect, He was Not a Good Father To His Sons
Rosa Parks
Considered as the ‘Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement’ She is well known for her denial act to relinquish her seat to a white man in bus. She brought an iconic status in the Civil Rights Movement around the world.
“People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
Norman Borlaug
An American Biologist and a humanitarian, considered as the “Father of Green Revolution” as the revolution he brought saved billions of lives around the world. He thought how to sow bumper crops of wheat, enabling countries like Pakistan and India to achieve self sufficiency and become one of the largest exporters.
“You can’t build a peaceful world on empty stomachs and human misery.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Longest serving First Lady of US, an advocate for human and civil rights. She played a key role in in drafting the Universal declaration of human rights.
“It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know. We all know people who are so much afraid of pain that they shut themselves up like clams in a shell and, giving out nothing, receive nothing and therefore shrink until life is a mere living death.”
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Nice list. Why Gandhi is not on top? Asking not because I want to see him up there, but Gandhi was epitome of peace movement. When rest of the world was engaged in world war II, Gandhiji made peace movement look sexy. Many others in the list were inspired by Gandhiji.
Thank you. I like the way you said “Gandhiji made peace movement look sexy” That’s true Abhijit, Martin Luther, Nelson Mandela were all inspired by Gandhi’s non-violence. I just put up the names in random order.
Nice to read about inspiring people! Thank you for this peaceful post that reminded the words of Charlie Chaplin – “You need power, only when you want to do something harmful, otherwise, love is enough to get everything done…” and Dalai Lama – “If we teach every child to meditate, there will be no violence in the world”
Oh those words are lovely. I am a great fan of Charlie Chaplin’s words and this is so right. The the quote of Dalai Lama you mentioned is so apt for the modern world. Children should be educated well.
Great post … I was unaware of quite a few of them…They all are remarkable and inspiring but from the one quote you have given, I at this moment, am more in tandem with Norman and Eleanor . Thanks for the wonderful share Vidya :)
So true Kokila, Norman proved to be a great humanitarian.He helped a man to help himself. That’s one create human work one can do
Great post Vidyashree, you almost gave credit to all the big names…
Thanks Alok. I am happy to know I included the most deserved ones.
The contribution of these great leaders on humanity is remarkable and unforgettable. Thank you Vidya for bringing us such a delightful article. Happy worlds’s peace day…… :)
Thank you. Happy world peace day to you too Priyashi.
Great Post Vidya. The names you’ve included in the list are true legends. Yes, more could be added but not replaced :)
Thank you Ravish. I found it hard to choose only a few out of a lot and I hope I did some justice in choosing and as you said, they cannot be replaced, I am happy I included the ones who can never be replaced.
This is a very beautiful blogpost reminding us of all those great philanthropists we have forgotten.. To be truthful I wasn’t aware of Rosa Parks and Oskar..Thank you for sharing this information with us :)
Thank you Najm. If you remember I had written an article about a man saving 669 lives, he is called the British Schlinder, named after Oskar Schindler.
I am glad you liked the article Najm :)