SAVE Peace in times of terror

It is better to sit together at a table and talk and argue than to stand at an open grave and cry

Samarth Pathak Delhi , Hardnews

Ajmal Amir Kasab. The lone surviving terrorist of 26/11 impacting India-Pakistan relations has changed VK Sharma's life forever. Kasab killed his son Chhotu at CST railway station.

"We heard gunshots and started running down the platform. I was holding Chhotu's hand. In the melee, somehow his hand slipped and we were separated. I cried out for him, searched for him amongst the flood of people. And, then I saw him lying at my feet. I rushed him to the hospital. The doctors said he was dead. I could not believe it. They showed me the bullet injury. His heart had been torn out and was hanging from his chest," recounted Sharma, his voice trembling.

"I wish the bullet killed me," he murmurred. His younger son was kidnapped when he was five. He still remains untraced. "Chhotu was the apple of my eye... a very good child. My wife keeps crying all day. My daughter is still in a state of shock and denial. She even keeps a plate for him at dinner time. It will take her long to come to terms with this loss." And, then his eyes flash revenge. "People like Kasab deserve no pardon. He should be hanged in an open field like the Azad Maidan of Delhi in full public glare," said Sharma.

Terror strikes leave in their wake such ravaged souls seeking revenge. Terror begets more terror -- that's the global reality. In such a scenario, Dr Edit Schlaffer's words ring in the truth. "It is better to sit together at a table and to talk and to argue than to stand at an open grave and cry," she felt.

And, with this objective, Schlaffer founded SAVE -- Sisters Against Violent Extremism. A group of 35 women from across the world came together in November last year in Vienna to launch SAVE under the aegis of Women without Borders. The aim: to promote a network of women committed to end violence in all its forms.

SAVE is the first all-women anti terror platform in the world and strives to highlight the power of women in promoting peace. After all, it's the woman as a mother can mould minds of her children, impact their lives, teach them values. If she is successful, then the mother can play an important role in holding back youths from walking the path of terror. Hence, SAVE.

Already, SAVE has got in its fold mothers from Israel and Palestine who lost their children in terror strikes. Take, for instance, Robi Damelin of Tel Aviv. Her son David was killed in an attack by a Palestinian sniper at a checkpoint in Israel-occupied territory. Yet, she empathises with mothers and youth on the Palestinian side. Today, Robi has accepted she can't see David again.

Najwa Saadeh, a Palestinian mother, lost her 12-year-old daughter Christine when the Israeli army opened fire at the car in which the family was driving. Neither of these mothers seek revenge. Together, Najwa and Robi have come out for peace and reconciliation. At SAVE, they found solace by sharing their grief with others like them. SAVE helped other victims of terror, too, to learn from their spirit of forgiveness.

For Hadiyah, a young English woman, SAVE was like a peace balm. Just a few years ago, she was part of Hizbut-Tahrir, which wants to establish an Islamic state across the world. She admitted her indoctrination made her a machine of terrorism. She was not aware how the world lived.