Date : 22nd November 2009 Venue : Kala Ghoda, Opposite Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai In order to strengthen positive resources in promoting peace, condemning violence, creating deeper understanding among communities, the Wisdom Foundation planned an interactive event for a cross section of civil society. This was the sixth event to be organized by the Wisdom Foundation called DESH KI AWAZ : Chanting For Peace. It was held on the 22nd November 2009 at the Kala Ghoda, Opposite Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. The Event was held to condemn the horrendous act of terrorism on 26/11/08 where innocents were killed in cold blood and to pay a tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives on that day. It was also to salute the members of the Police Force who sacrificed their lives, the NSG and members of civil society who helped in the rescue operations during the ruthless terrorist attacks on 26/11/08. Two thousand people from Religious and secular groups, the student community and members from civil society with diverse cultures attended the event DESH KI AWAZ or CHANTING FOR PEACE to chant from their sacred traditions in Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, English, Gujarati, Punjabi proclaiming the message of peace, condemning terrorism, preservation of life, respect for humanity, security and well-being. The message is United We Stand for peace and against violence. This was the first public, open air event to be organized by the Foundation. For the event Desh Ki Awaz, we thank our Guests of Honor H. E. Madam Nabila Farhana, Consul General, Egypt, eminent film personality, Shri Jackie Shroff, renowned person in the world of music Shri Taufiq Qureshi and Shri J. G. Khopde well known for Communal Harmony Projects for gracing the occasion with their presence. We thank our special guest and Advisory Board Member also former Mayor of Mumbai Smt Nirmala S. Prabhavalkar; Prominent citizens of Mumbai, Shri Sanjay Bhide for all his assistance, Smt. Nandini Sardesai for all her cooperation, Shri Ram Hegde for his generous contribution for the occasion, Advisory Board Member Shri Asghar Ali Engineer for his gracious presence and Smt. Dimple Mehta for all her assistance and cooperation. We particularly thank Shri Jackie Shroff for enthralling both children and adults with his kind words and gracious presence. The highlight of the Event was the par excellence rendering of Shri Taufiq Qureshi and His Mumbai Band. Being from the prodigy of the famous family of musicians and the brother of the famous Zakir Hussain, his percussion rendering on ordinary boxes of waste paper held the audience spellbound. We salute Shri Taufiq and his team. We also express our gratitude to Shri Nikhil Kamat and Shri Vimal Karun for providing lyrics and music and Shri Hussain for lending his voice for the theme song of the Wisdom Foundation. We likewise thank Professor Smt. Suchita Parte, Miss Raveena Mehta a child prodigy, daughter of our Sponsors Dimple and Rajeev Metha for their excellent renderings. We thank Professor Joseph Pratik from Wilson College for his heartwarming qawali and songs. As Desh Ki Awaz was first public event organized by the Wisdom Foundation where almost 1500 people attended, both, BMC ad Police permissions were mandatory. For this we particulary express our gratitude to our Advisory Board Member former commissioner of Police Shri Satish Sahney and Shri R. H. Mendonca, for their assistance extended for gaining the necessary Police permissions. We thank Shri Vishal Nagre Patil, DCP South Zone 1, Law and Order, Shri Chowgule DCP Traffic Police, Mumbai for assistance in regulating traffic on the day of event and Inspector Dhole for use of loudspeakers, for their fortitude and assistance. We thank Smt. Pallavi Sahney Sharma, Trustee Kala Ghoda Trust, for her cooperation, assistance and kindness for assisting to gain permission from the Kala Ghoda Trust and to use the necessary space and advise. We thank Shri Damane, Commissioner, BMC Colaba Ward for all his cooperation and assistance in more ways than one. We likewise thank Shri Kale from his Ward for his full cooperation and help in gaining all permissions. We thank our Sponsors Shri H. Karmali and Company for their excellent decoration, arrangement of stage, chairs and set up with no cost to the Foundation. We thank Rose Collection, for their Sound System, Mr. Akhtar and Mr. Saleem for the parking area opposite Jehangir Art Gallery with no cost to the Foundation, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan for their assistance with the banners. We sincerely thank all participants. From the Hindu Tradition we express our gratitude to Shri Radhe Krishnaji from ISKCON, The Hare Rama Hare Krishna Mission and his team particularly Sita Devi Dassi and Gaurav Damuani for their efforts; we thank the students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan who have been with us since our event “Cricket For Peace”. We Likewise thank Smt. Harsha Badkar, Head of the Department of Philosophy, Wilson College, Mumbai for her cooperation and assistance in more ways than one. From the Muslim tradition we thank Maulana Shoaib Koti Sahab, Maulana Syed Khalid Ashraf Sahab, Maulana Syed Ashraf Sahab and we particularly thank the young Maulana Shamsheer Rahi Sahab for writing a poem to respect the Martyrs and condemn the terrorists of 26/11. From the Christian Tradition we thank Fr. Lance Prabhu, Director, Deparment of Inter-Religious Studies, Fr. Gilbert D’Lima, Rector, St. Pius College and his whole team for their participation. We thank Sister Gaitonde, the Principal, Sadhana School for the Mentally Challenged for her participation at every meeting despite very busy schedule. We likewise thank Sister Manisha, Sister Teresa and all the Sisters from Sophia College and Nirmala Niketan for their active participation. From the Sikh Tradition we thank Bhai Rajeet Singhji, Shri Himmat Singhji, Gurmeet Singhji and their entire team from the Sri Deshmukh Darbar Gurdwara for their valuable time and participation. They have been collaborating with the Foundation from our event “Cricket For Peace”. We also thank Shri Gurmeet Singhji from the Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Madam Anand Singhji Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa School, Mrs. Manpreetji and Staff and Students of the same school for their excellent rendering, full cooperation and attendance. We particularly thank the Staff and Students for the excellent Band. We likewise express our gratitude to Smt. Najma Kazi, Principal, Anjuman I-Islam’s Saif Tyabji High School (Urdu Medium) and Smt. Shermeen Syed, Principal, Anjuman I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar Girls’ English School (English Medium) and their staff and students for excellent renderings both in Urdu and English. We thank them for their regularity in attendance and discipline of all practices. We particularly congratulate them for their excellent Girls Band. From the Zoroastrian tradition we thank Dr. Homi Dhalla, Ervard Yazdi Pantaki for their cooperation and valuable time. We particularly thank Mr. Mazaban Mehta for his enthusiasm, regularity and the Staff and Students of the Avabai Petit School Bandra for their participation and excellent rendering. We thank Mr. Merchant from the Delhi Bahai Center, Smt. Nargis Gaur, Secretary Bahai Center, Mumabi, and her efficient daughter Tahrir for their full cooperation and participation. We are deeply grateful for their special contribution of the excellent students of Bahai School, Panchgani who came all the way to participate in the Event. From the Jewish tradition we express our gratitude to Mr. Benjamin Issac from the ORT Center Worli. Despite an important event relating to the Jewish Tradition on the same day, he gave us his full cooperation. The students gave a special and excellent contribution in Hebrew and English on the subjects of Peace and Harmony. We thank Smt. Shilpa from the Heras Institute St. Xavier’s College and her students from the Jain Tradition for their excellent renderings. We likewise thank Shona Das and her Group, the students of Wilson College for their heartwarming songs. They were much appreciated.