Official declaration of Peace fellows of IFPNP IV 2025-26

     From Students to Peace Fellows: A Global Commitment to Nonviolence in a War-Weary World

The Fourth International Online Fellowship Programme on Nonviolence and Peace (IFPNP IV) reached its final milestone on March 24, 2026, with the formal declaration of Peace Fellows and the issuance of certifications. Following a rigorous evaluation of monthly assignments and comprehensive project reports submitted by fellows through February, 33 participants were officially designated as Peace Fellows. This four-month initiative was inaugurated on October 2, 2025, to mark the International Day of Nonviolence, and concluded its academic sessions on January 30, 2026, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi.

The programme was a collaborative global effort involving Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan (India), Gandhi International (France), the Academic University for Non-Violence and Human Rights (AUNOHR) (Lebanon), the International Centre of Nonviolence (ICON) at the Durban University of Technology (South Africa), and Portland Community College (USA). To qualify, candidates successfully completed detailed project reports in February covering four core modules: Global Sustainability, Gandhian Nonviolence and Peace, Application of Nonviolent Action, and Conflict Transformation. These fellows were guided by a distinguished panel of mentors, including Prof. John Chelladurai, Prof. D. Jeevankumar, Prof. Dorcas Ettang, and Prof. Michael Sonnleitner.

The 33 Peace Fellows represent a diverse international network spanning 13 countries: India, Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Sudan, and South Africa. The formal declaration was endorsed by key international partners, including Louis Campana (Founder of Gandhi International), Prof. Dorcas O. Ettang ( Associate Professor, ICON , DUT and UNESCO Co-chair on Education for Peace), Dr.Ogarit Younan (President of the Board of Trustees at AUNOHR), Dr.Michael Sonnleitner (former Trustee of Portland Community College), and Asha Bothra ( President, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan).

Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director of IFPNP, emphasized that the Peace Fellow Declaration is far more than an academic recognition; it serves as a profound ethical pledge. It recognizes each recipient as a dedicated practitioner of nonviolence and invites them to rededicate their lives to promoting ahimsa, truth, and service within their professional and community contexts. As a  part of the constant evaluation  , participants were asked to engage in an in-depth evaluation of the course to reflect on the various components of their learning journey and its practical application.

The fellowship concludes at a time when the world is facing a turbulent situation, and it is hoped that these fellows remain steadfast in their commitment to nonviolence and act as catalysts for peace in a war-weary world. Their journey from students to Peace Fellows marks not an end, but the beginning of a lifelong mission of service and reconciliation.

This note was issued by Dr.Siby K.Joseph, Director of IFPNP. 

        

The Choice of Nonviolence and the Infinite Seed by Louis Campana

 

• Siby K. Joseph
• February 3, 2026
• 8:51 am
• No Comments

The Choice of Nonviolence and the Infinite Seed

Louis Campana

I would first like to congratulate you on the choice you have made: the choice of nonviolence and the way you have chosen to see the world. You may have observed that the world we live in is not only violent but dominated by a will for domination and profit. The greatest agent of this world is what we call ‘economic development.’ I would like to explain how this development can be a catastrophe.

A few years ago, I met with Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a Guarani chief from South America. The Guarani people never considered the earth as property. When asked what ‘development’ meant to him, the chief replied that the word did not exist in his language. He said, ‘In our world, we have a word: balance.’

This means balance with nature, the environment, the cosmos, God, the unknown forces, others, and ourselves. When this balance is broken, violence begins. These people have never damaged their environment. Before farming, they ask the earth for forgiveness for digging into her. They live beyond what we call ‘sustainability.’

In my own tradition, the first commandment is to love God with all your heart and strength, and the second is to love your fellow being as yourself. It is a matter of balance. I would like to quote Satish Kumar: ‘You are, therefore I am.’ This is very different from Descartes’ ‘I think, therefore I am.’

In France, the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said, ‘Hell is other people.’ He was right in the sense that when I compare myself to others, I often try to be the best or the most intelligent. Loving others is the opposite: it is stepping down from the stage to let others stand upon it, seeking their happiness.

We are like a deep well. The purpose of life is to seek the ‘infinite seed’ within us. This is true in all religious traditions unless they are manipulated for political or ideological gain. Gandhi was a master of this. In all his social work and struggles, he listened to his ‘inner voice.’ You are right to trust Gandhi’s teachings.

Be brave. The world is difficult; you will climb mountains and navigate oceans of difficulties. But if you find your inner seed, you will succeed in everything. Thank you, and be brave.”

Acknowledgment

This brief address was delivered at the valedictory session of the online International Fellowship Programme on Nonviolence and Peace, organised by Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan on January 30, 2026. The programme was held in association with an esteemed network of global partners, including Gandhi International (France), The Academic University College for Non-Violence and Human Rights (AUNOHR) (Lebanon), the International Centre of Nonviolence (ICON) at the Durban University of Technology (South Africa), and Portland Community College (USA).Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director of the International Fellowship Programme on Nonviolence and Peace, introduced the speaker, Louis Campana. His address, originally delivered in French, was translated into English by Christophe Grigri, Coordinator of Gandhi International.

About the Speaker

Louis Campana is an influential French nonviolent activist and the founding President of Gandhi International. As a direct disciple of Lanza del Vasto (known as Shantidas or the “Gandhi of Europe”), he has dedicated his life to propagating Gandhian ideals across Europe and beyond.He is a recipient of many accolades, including the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Award for promoting Gandhian values abroad. Through Gandhi International, he continues to federate various nonviolent organisations under a single Gandhian banner to address issues of poverty, exclusion, and environmental damage.

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