A similar programme in this series was organized cultural programme – “Music for Peace” in collaboration with the Embassy of Guatemala to India at Gandhi Smriti on November 18, 2019. Almost 100 participants took part in the programme that included students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan’s Mehta Vidyalaya. The dignitaries of the function included His Excellency Mr. Giovanni René Castillo, the Guatemalan Ambassador to India, Mr. Esmaylin Thomas Daniel Gómez, the First Secretary and Consul, and Dr. Anju Tandon, Principal of Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan’s Mehta Vidyalaya. Wife of the Ambassador of Guatemala Madam Leslie Castillo was also present on the occasion.
His Excellency acknowledged the whole idea of the program with great importance as it celebrated in accord with the three great events – 21st October as Revolution of 1944 of Guatemala, 13th November on which the Guatemalan Civil War started against the leftists, and 16th November as an International Day for Tolerance. He encouraged the people to materialize the values of peace, self-respect, and social justice by quoting one of the Mahatma’s sayings, “An eye for an eye only ends up in making the whole world blind”. As an ambassador of Guatemala, the Excellency talked about the importance of dialogue between people to maintain peace and avoid genocides that took thousands of lives leaving behind grief. The video exhibited by the Secretary on the occasion explained the series of actions that took place in Guatemala to achieve peace and make the country stable.
Earlier Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu highlighted the importance of the programme and its significance in today’s world scenario and the necessary to initiative dialogue with fellow human being. The students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan also presented a musical inter-faith prayer. An interactive session between students with HE Mr Giovani Castillo, Ambassador of Guatemala was another highlight of the programme.