If a world – wide opinion is taken to elicit the views of the people about the desirability of war; there would perhaps not be a single vote cast in favor of it. All would probably endorse the view that war is the greatest evil in the world and must be done away with any cost. Nobody today would be able to make out a single argument for fighting or bloodshed.

The havoc caused by the last two World Wars has been of such a terrible nature that humanity shudders at the very idea of a repetition of that experience.

World peace is an essential prerequisite for socioeconomic progress and development world over. It is more so because of the independence of the nations upon one another in all the matters affecting their well- being and mutual cooperation.

The overgrowing world trade can never flourish in an atmosphere of conflicts and wars because of hinder free movement of labor and goods from one country to another and other economic/activities. Another reason for maintaining world peace at any cost is the strong will of the people of the world to avert Third World War in view of the havoc of the earlier global wars.

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The U. N. O. has been set up to ban war from the surface of this globe. Statesmen and politicians of the world hold conferences make treaties and enter into pacts and alliances all with the apparent motive of securing peace. In certain countries, there are pacifist organizations and associations, which carry on active propaganda in favor of peace.

Women in some of the wars scared countries have taken out processions with “NO WAR” play cards hold aloft in their hands. Some mothers and wives have sent a long signed memorial to international bodies to impress upon them the need of maintaining peace in the world. Thus apparently there is a surging desire for peace all over the world.

Now the question is whether a mere desire for peace can bestow this great blessing on humanity, or it is necessary to give this desire a concrete shape by following a course of action which can lay the foundation of the edifice of peace. Are people and nations adopting policies, which car? Promote the cause of peace? The real snag in the way of peace lays here the so-called great nations and policies run counter to their outward professions. This is the tragedy which humanity is facing today.

“What are the essentials of peace?  One has to ask in this context In a word, the foundation of peace can be laid only on truth, justice arid non-violence. Now these three terms are very comprehensive and include many subsidiary virtues without which one cannot be either just or truthful or non-violent. Mutual accommodation, co-operation and a sense of brotherliness promote amity and good – will.

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Now the question arises how many nations follow these golden Principles? What we find is that most of them are following principles quite contrary of these, for instance, justice demands that all people, weak or strong, small or big, backward or progressive, should enjoy freedom. And right of self-determination. But the reality is that in the present scenario colonialism and imperialism continue to cause bitterness and conflict.

The British had to quit India, Burma and Ceylon, but they are keeping their hold on other parts of their empire such as South Africa and Falkland The same is the case with other European countries, like France. Portugal and Spain. It is true that they left their colonies but at the time of leaving their attitude was most reactionary and transient.

Take the case of Kashmir In spite of the fact, that Pakistan has been unleashing a proxy war against India in the form of infiltrators and terrorists, the U.S.A. at present, the big power of the world, has no the courage to accept the justice of India claim over Kashmir and declare Pakistan a terrorist state to fulfill its own goal.

Another serious failing of the big powers is their political bigotry is their intolerance of political ideologies of other nations. The champions the democratic way of life in America, England and many other Europe, countries believe that their way of life is ideal in every respect are therefore, all other political systems must be ousted. This accounts their distrust and suspicion and fear of Communist countries.

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Politic bigotry is born of aggressive nationalism. Love of country and its service are noble sentiments and they have often been responsible for a great deal of progress in the various countries in the past. There is, however a limit beyond which nationalism cannot go. When the sentiment of national consciousness and pride dominate a nation’s mind, it breeds intolerance of others and a sense of false vanity, a feeling of superiority.

From this the idea of aggrandizement and exploitation of other nations is only a logical corollary. The numerous wars of the 18th and 19th centuries are proof of the disasters, which follow in the wake of thoughtless nationalism The Kaiser and Hitler brought about two worlds wars simply because they obsessed with the nation of the superiority of the German race.

Like Hitler, the Japan put forward the plea for a place in the sun, for a territory to dump their increasing population and market for their industrial products. This led to the rape of Manchuria and later on to a full – dress offensive against China. No wonder that their policies plunged them into serious conflict with other nations and eventually brought ruin to their country.

It is thus obvious that humanity does not follow the path, which will ultimately lead it to the goal of peace. The mere inactive desire for peace is not enough. It is not like a ripe fruit, which, in course of time, will automatically drop into their hands. It is a difficult achievement, which requires a complete orientation of one’s view, actable change of heart, and a genuine moral regeneration of humanity.

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At bottom, all the present evils are due to the absence of clarity in our hearts, regard for others and respect for truth and justice. Therefore, the only way to secure the future of mankind is to imbibe the lesson of ‘live and to let live’ in the widest sense of the term. The gospel of peaceful co-existence is the only solution of the nightmare of war from which the world suffers today.