PEACE! This tiny word, which is no bigger than a minute, is so much hankered after in this modern world. And yet it seems so far, so unreachable, so unattainable and so inaccessible. Everyone craves for peace. There is no such creature that has ever been against it. Why does peace play such a hide-and-seek with human beings who yearn every minute to acquire it with open arms? Why do we human beings always talk about peace with a sigh of despair? Why does peace seem to be beyond our reach, like a dream, which is sure to vanish the moment we open up our eyes? Perhaps we can begin by asking ourselves, ?What is that every elusive quality we call peace??

To terrorists or tyrants, getting peace means eliminating those who stand in their way but what they really want is complete control. To followers of eastern religions, peace comes from being one with the universe in having no awareness of self but what they really mean is serenity. The person who is trying to speak with a loud party going on next door also says he wants peace but he really means quiet.

This darling word ?peace? has nowadays made its permanent abode on the lips of everyone ? be he/she a small kid, a youngster, an adult, or a dying man; in fact, people from all walks of life cherish this word.

In this press button age where almost every imaginable facility floods to our feet just at a mere touch on an electronic device, peace - both inner and outer ? is not only scarce in our markets but has also utterly disappeared from our society and life.

The human soul possesses a basic inner quality, which is peace. This divine attribute is a gift to humanity from the Creator who is himself the Permanent Abode of Peace. But unfortunately, the more materially advanced we are, the more we are sinking deep in conflicts within and outwards as a result of which the hustle and tempo of life are becoming more and more hectic.

When we don?t have what we should have, when we don?t feel the way we should feel, we say we need Peace. We often define ?peace? as a condition of life we think ought to exist. But in all the turmoil of life, who really has the right to determine what peace should or should not be.

?Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God?, said Jesus. Let?s now turn pages on how to get peace in society. A person should first of all learn to respect other people?s faiths. It?s all about spreading love and brotherhood. ?When the power of love overcomes the love of power, there will be world peace,? sings Jimmy Hendrix

How many times have we picked up a fallen book or a bag from the ground for a fellow passer-by, a traveller, or any stranger? When was the last time you threw a smile to the kid or the old uncle you met in a park or in a mall? When was the last time someone looked into your eyes and said ?Thank you??

Those small things sometimes make your or someone else?s day. Just use that smile God gave you. These things help spreading a sense of gratitude in people?s minds. Our society needs new values - tolerance, acceptance, love and generosity. This culture of violence produces a society that is not peaceful. On the contrary, we witness, day in, day out visions and scenes of violence. We need to create and encourage a culture of peace in our environment and little by little eliminate the culture of violence.

The idea of a peaceful hamlet in our world is not a mere utopia. Its secret is not to be sought outside but within, in the depth of our hearts, in our attitudes and behaviors. There?s no magical wand, which can procure peace on a permanent basis in our world. If we are to cultivate a society where peace reigns, then we must adopt the olden means and ways of ancient rulers, philosophers and great leaders who were full of wisdom. It is high time we gave up our shrugging and ?I don?t care? attitudes. To reap a peaceful society, we have to sow Gandhian theory - of Satyagraha - like attitudes. ?Against whom shall I harbor grudge when God says he dwells in all beings??

God pervades the entire universe, each and every nook and corner of the world, each and every creature then why should we hate whomsoever. Let?s recognize the divinity in every being be it living or non-living; animate or inanimate, let?s love all, making peace with all souls; creating peace around us and a peaceful world ?où il fait bon vivre??

?Live as if you were to die tomorrow;

Learn as if you were to live forever.? Gandhi

Zafirah FOONDUN