On the morning of Feb. 17, H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reached Patamda, a town in the heart of a Naxalite belt in Jharkhand. Transformed Naxalites, who have given up the path of violence, build an Art of Living center there to give an impetus to the developmental activities in the region.
Since Feb. 14, there was a curfew in the area. Naxalites lifted the curfew, on learning about H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's visit. Their welcome was evident in the messages written across the mud walls of the houses there : "Welcome Guruji."
H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed a crowd of 3,500 people comprising Naxal leaders, villagers, and panchayat leaders. He called upon all Naxalites to work for social development : "Naxalite youth are our children. They have taken to this path (of violence) because they are tired of poverty, discrimination, and corruption.
We need such strong children in our country who are willing to give their lives. We want people like you to give up the bullet, and take to the ballot. Don't kill policemen. They are servants who are doing a job. I welcome you all to come forward. We will be behind you, and support you. We need compassionate, strong, and responsible leadership."
H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also addressed developmental issues of the village: "India is a country of villages. If villages don't prosper, the country will not move forward.
The focus has to shift to villages. We need to focus on chemical-free farming. Disease, and body ache are due to the chemicals put in the food. We need to go back to the old systems of nutrition. Pranayama, yoga and satsang are a must."
Emphasizing education, he said : "Are all the women sending their children to school? Not a single child must be illiterate. Every child must be well educated, and have a bright future." H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar asked the people to abstain from alcohol.
"This should be an alcohol-free village. Alcohol destroys man, village, city, and nation. Stop this river of alcohol, and move into the river of love. Once we let go of our quarrels, our village will prosper."
"Let us take a vow : not to harbor hatred, to vote, and to plant five trees each."
H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been driving community developmental measures in villages like Patamda with the aim of making them self-sufficient and reliant.