Global spiritual and humanitarian leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met South Africa’s top judges on Friday as part of his three-day tour of the country.
A founder member of the Art of Living Foundation (AOL), Shankar visited South Africa as part of the celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s passive resistance, or Satyagraha 100, campaign.
Gandhi’s contribution to freedom in both South Africa and India is celebrated this year.
According to his foundation, Shankar began his tour on Friday morning with a discussion with judges at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg.
”He discussed the work conducted locally and internationally by his foundation in prison rehabilitation, the police service and promotion of world peace,” said the AOL in a statement.
Shankar also discussed the issue of stress among police officers who work daily with violent crime and traumatic situations.
He said to achieve the dream of a world free of violence and crime, it is important to work with the youth.
Shankar visited the cell in which Gandhi had been imprisoned, where an exhibition of Gandhi’s activities is currently on display.
The AOL is an international non-profit organisation that is represented in more than 140 countries. Shankar’s humanitarian work encompasses conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, empowerment of women, prison reform, eradication of child labour and free education to underprivileged children.
He also initiates peace talks and counselling in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq, Israel and Pakistan.
In May this year, Shankar addressed the South African Parliament and launched the Programme for Rural Development with the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders. During his address to Parliament, Shankar expressed his gratitude to the people of South Africa for the country’s role in India’s independence.
”It is here that Gandhi sowed the seeds of independence of India, and now India is also indebted to share with you the knowledge of inner independence and inner freedom. These are essential to bring about a violence-free society,” he said.
On Friday night in Johannesburg, Shankar was to conduct a two-hour public seminar on health and happiness. On Saturday he would visit and address a meeting of the Phoenix Settlement Trust at Sarvodaya, where Gandhi lived.
His tour will end on Sunday with Satyagraha 100 celebrations on Robben Island where he will be joined by politicians. — Sapa