In a significant initiative aimed at promoting peace and understanding, the Assam Rifles organized a special pilgrimage for elderly residents from Silchar on Sunday. This effort is focused on fostering harmony and rebuilding trust in the violence-affected district of Jiribam in Manipur.
A Journey of Unity and Cultural Discovery
A group of 17 senior citizens, comprising 15 women and two men, departed early in the morning from Silchar railway station. Their journey is a unique tour of prominent pilgrimage centers spread across the country. The itinerary is designed to offer a broad experience of India's spiritual and cultural landscape.
The pilgrims expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting its rarity. One participant shared before departure that the trip was providing them a chance to experience India's vast cultural diversity firsthand. They noted it was helping them understand the country's art, culture, and traditions beyond their immediate surroundings in Assam.
Strategic Itinerary for Broader Perspectives
The planned route includes visits to the revered Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati and the city of Bhubaneswar, among other key destinations. Officials from the Assam Rifles explained that this initiative is part of a larger strategy to encourage positive attitudinal change. The core idea is to use exposure to the country's pluralistic ethos as a tool for social healing.
An officer stated that seeing different cultures and traditions up close helps broaden personal perspectives and nurtures mutual respect. They emphasized that this understanding is vital for establishing lasting peace in regions that have witnessed conflict.
Seeding Peace Through Shared Experiences
The organizers have expressed a clear hope for the long-term impact of this pilgrimage. They anticipate that the participants will return to their communities with rich experiences and stories to share. This sharing of positive narratives is expected to help spread messages of unity, coexistence, and mutual respect directly within the local social fabric.
By acting as cultural ambassadors upon their return, the senior citizens are seen as potential contributors to the ongoing peace-building process in Manipur. The initiative underscores the belief that grassroots-level interactions and shared cultural experiences can be powerful instruments in bridging divides and healing communal relations affected by past violence.
