Letters of Hope for the Season for Nonviolence
Visit daily during the Season for Nonviolence for new letters
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A story for my lovelies,
I hope you feel this one day. This immense connectedness with all life. For me, that feeling is what has kept me most hopeful even in the darkest of moments. The Island Breathes Hope Long ago, in the middle of the sea, there was an island. Lush with green, heavy with fruit, alive. Birdsong filled the air, blooms painted the land, waves lapped the sea. Everything existed in balance. One day, a human swam to the island, curious to see what it was all about. The equilibrium shifted. Animals paused with instinctive caution. Petals drew inward. Waves slowed. Birds silenced. The human looked around and saw abundance to be claimed—food, wealth, shelter for his family. The land a thing to take, the trees timber, the animals flesh. But with a gentle breath, the island whispered — the simplest things are the most beautiful. The simple truth: all life is interconnected, each part depending on the others. The sun shines, clouds gather, rain falls; The earth drinks, rivers carry minerals, seeds grow into plants; Insects pollinate, plants breathe, animals breathe. Fallen ones nourish the soil. Life feeds life. Remove any part of this intricate web, and all are impacted. And no matter our species, we share the same hopes-- clean air, fresh water, food, good health, safety, connection, love, joy, purpose The hopes of one species are not superior to another. A human child and a fox cub joyfully leaping through the snow are no different. A mother cow cries for her taken young, just like any mother. Even a small ant works purposefully, building homes the size of castles. In all these hopes, we are one. And when this was understood through quiet reflection— the human no longer saw things as other, no longer as something to be taken, used, or exploited, but instead felt his place within the living tapestry. Awareness and intention replaced ignorance and impulse; balance returned, and the island breathed. Hope arises when we notice our interconnectedness— when we remember we are all part of this beautiful weave. Collectively we rise and fall, threads tugged and loosened, then gently rewoven into new, beautiful creations. Life is shared amongst all species, all parts of the same, here on the island and beyond its shores. So, my lovelies, find connections in the simplest things. Notice the intricate venation tracing through each leaf, and how it mirrors the veins in your hands or the river deltas of Earth. Appreciate the scales of a pine cone, the spirals of a seashell, the whorl of hair on a baby’s scalp. Be in awe of the millions of things that had to have happened, the ancestors that visited before you, and the thousands of choices that had to be made, for you to be in this exact moment—right here, right now. That interconnectedness is hope. It is knowing that no matter what is happening, we are the same as all life—part of this wonderful, messy, joyous tapestry together. Love, your mama. (Ambika Jain, Toronto, Ontario)
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A letter to our Grandson from his Nanimaa and Nanabapa (his maternal grandmother and grandfather) Our dear grandson: As we celebrated your 3rd Birthday earlier this year it occurred to us how far removed your life ahead will be from the ones we, your Nanimaa and Nanabapa , knew from our own younger days decades earlier in East Africa, thousands of miles away from here. Indeed it will be as different as our lives were from those of our own grandparents who grew up in India before making their own journeys in their teens and twenties across the Indian Ocean,carried by the monsoon winds from Gujarat to the East African coast.Looking back we both wish we had taken the opportunity while growing up to learn even more about their younger days and the challenges that they no doubt faced both during the dangerous journeys as the dhows carried them across the “Kala Pani” or “dark waters”, and their early days making new lives in a part of the world so very strange, different and far away from what they had left behind and where countless previous generations of their families had etched a modest living. It would be no exaggeration to say that your life journey began long before you , or even your parents-both Canadian born- saw the light of day in the only country you all are blessed to know as home. Our family journey began in a part of the world where one of our worlds few global heroes for all times was born,a man who at his death had few personal belongings or material possessions, yet still continues to inspire all who yearn for global peace and justice , decades after his passing. Gandhiji set in motion an unstoppable movement that eventually brought independence not only to the country our grandparents left behind, but eventually, as we were growing up, to their adopted homeland in the East African countries of Kenya Uganda and Tanzania over the coming decades.Millions were finally freed from the burdens of colonial subjugation by a movement that he inspired. During a short visit to India when your mum was not quite 10, we saw in so many little towns villages and cities in Gujarat and Northern India, statues erected in honour of this beloved and much revered soul, one whose teachings continue to light the path forward for all who aspire for global justice. Although he grew up in India, his moral compass was without doubt influenced by his time in South Africa. While his work kept him grounded in India for much of his life, and that country was his home,Gandhiji belongs to the world. As you grow up we hope you will read some of his writings and his aspirations for a fair and just society for ALL regardless of where they live. It was a very different world then to today’s world, but yet even as you grow up you will see around you the persistent injustices that continue to confront so many in this world that we share. For instance the knowledge that the wealthiest 2 dozen individuals in the world have more collective wealth than the poorest 3 billion who work so hard to merely survive brings to mind Gandhi’s saying, “ There is enough in this world for everyone’s needs but not enough for everyone’s greed”. He went on to remind us to “ live simply so that others can simply live”. What profound words that need to be appreciated by more of us, to help guide us on how to live more thoughtful and considerate lives . Lives which are more considerate of the needs of those we share this common space with, and of our fragile environment, the survival of which can no longer take for granted. We hope as you grow up, that you will always have gratitude in your heart for the pioneering spirit of your great- great grandparents whose journey from Gujarat to East Africa well over a century back was, in a way, the first leg of our final trip across other lands and water masses to Canada!They endured much in hopes for a more comfortable life for future generations of their family, and deserve our eternal thanks. There are 2 other messages we wish to share with you: The first one is this: You are very fortunate to be born in this extraordinary country. It is one that regardless of your background,your income levels or what you choose as your life’s calling, allows you the luxury of a good public education system and access to health care from “ womb to tomb” in addition to the freedom to live your life as you choose as long as you are respectful of the rights of others.Your future life journey depends on YOU and the choices YOU choose to make. But remember that while thousands would give all they have to be in your shoes, never take all of these freedoms and privileges for granted.Much has been sacrificed by many- including the peoples who were here well before the settler communities came here from other parts of the globe-as over time,through the efforts of so many,these rights and privileges continue to became more accessible to all. Our Canadian National anthem reminds us to “stand on guard for thee”. Perhaps one can choose to interpret that narrowly from a literal perspective. But a wise Edmontonian told us “No- it is a reminder to stand forever on guard for the fundamental values that make us the unique country that we are”. Remember a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian- whether you were welcomed here a few years ago from another part of the world or whether your family has been here for generations.But with privileges come responsibilities- you cannot have one without the other,and remember that as long as we have ongoing disparities of income and opportunity for whatever reason in our communities, we have work to do.Yet we remain a beacon of hope in a turbulent world and yes, we do believe that the “world needs more Canada”.To quote the Right Hon David Johnston “Canada can be the anchor to a world that has lost its moorings”. We truly believe that, It has been said that “ much is expected from those to whom much has been given”.We live in a world where billions live in abject poverty with no support, billions are subjected to daily indignities and violence with little access to justice and freedom,where Might is Right.Your responsibility as one fortunate enough to be born in this special place is to keep those in need- locally and globally- in your mind and in your heart in all that you do. Our second message: In his recent book “ Moral Ambition” author Rutger Bergman (also the Reith lecturer for 2025)laments all the talent that the world looses every day in its bright youth who after acquiring the best education accessible, end up working for multinationals and large law firms, essentially geared to making the rich even richer yet.What a waste of valuable talent that could potentially make so much meaningful difference for so many who would genuinely benefit from their drive and abilities. You, like others of your generation, will have many choices ahead of you. Remember that Mathma Gandhi with his training , could have chosen to indulge all his material wishes as a successful lawyer, given his professional credentials.Instead he chose to use his education and learnings to take on the worlds greatest colonial power at a very challenging time and spend his life fighting for justice.His life was his message- the pursuit of a simple life in the service of a greater cause.Learn from his teachings and in whatever choices you make as you grow older and hopefully wiser we your Nanimaa and Nanabapa hope that this is one life from someone born close in time and geography to our own grandparents, that will influence yours and truly inspire you in the choices you make.Yes, be ambitious,but ambitious in the right way, and set your sights on more than mere material ambitions-you will not be remembered or appreciated for the size of your house but the size of your heart. By the time all this makes sense to you we are unlikely to be around but we wish you a happy and meaningful life ahead our dear grandson! With our love, Your Nanimaa and Nanabapa From Salma and Zaheer Lakhani Edmonton, Alberta  Image created by Mohammad Hosein Akbari Dear Friends, I’m writing to you to share a great experience of lightness and happiness I encountered today. It was 20 degrees below zero and getting dark when I walked across the Superstore parking lot and noticed a parked SUV with a logo on the side doors that read ‘World Peace’. I was curious and wondered what it was about. So, I dropped the groceries in the car and walked over to find out. As I got closer, I could see a young man sitting behind the driver’s seat with a red woolen hat with World Peace in bright yellow letters on the brim and a red hoodie with World Peace in bold yellow letters across the front! There was no doubt about the message that was being proclaimed “World Peace”! As I walked up to the driver’s side, he rolled down his window, I greeting him and asked “so what’s all this, what are you all about?” He smiled broadly and said “Just that - World Peace, when we have peace inside each one, we can have peace in the world”. We struck up a conversation about the meaning of peace. There were many experiences of peace we shared in common. For both of us, peace was an inside job! Peace was something you took care of as the essence of the self. Deep inside, we are all beings of peace but it can get lost when we encounter people or situations that want to shout their opinions and shake up the world around them. It takes great respect for the peace inside the self and knowing it also exists deep inside others, to remain stable, be calm and give calmness and love in any situation. We both adhered to this philosophy, practice, and way of being – no matter what we were faced with. We understood it takes a loving tolerance and patience to stay with the person or situation long enough for our own vibration of peace to influence their stirred-up state. But it works every time. So as our conversation continued, he jumped out of the vehicle and as we spoke, he turned to song and shared a loving rap to peace, happiness and living in the present moment. It was a great set of lyrics that really spoke to me. Then he said let’s dance and as we danced in the cold in the parking lot, he sang another tune about happiness! It was light, easy and in the now. We spoke further about the importance of not filling our heads or hearts with regrets of the past or fears of the future, but to live each moment with love for the self and for each one we interacted with during a day. This practice of seeing the goodness deep inside others and letting go of judgements about who they are or what they said, frees us to be true to the spirit of ‘love thy neighbour’. It was 20 minutes filled with joy, lots of smiles, honest love for humanity and a willingness to go the extra mile to send happiness and joy into a world that seems to have forgotten how to express kindness and love with all living beings. I left with the vibration of peace and nonviolence in my heart and with a bundle of hoodies in a bunch of different colours to visit a family who lived nearby. I shared the story of World Peace and gave them each a hoodie! It’s as simple as that when we live peace and nonviolence, we attract peace and inspire peace in others. The more we live peace, the more the people around us can find their peace deep inside. With peace, nonviolence is a practical practice, something we all can be and do. As World Peace continues his journey spreading peace across Canada, I thought about the beauty of the people I know in rural towns and villages around the world who live peace and that made me think of my peace walker friends. They have walked thousands of kilometers for world peace and I joined them here in Nova Scotia and in India for a few hundred of those kilometers. When we walk for peace, there is often a drummer leading the way, there is silence and joy when we arrive in villages and rejoicing along the way as people come out of their homes to find out what we’re all about. They love that its purely and simply about reminding ourselves of the peace inside. These friends have walked across Canada, the USA, India, Europe, Japan and many other countries as living examples of peace, who inspire others. One of these walkers has set up a museum on a hill in his front yard acknowledging people who spread the message of peace, Gandhi, Kasturba and King among other busts of these honest people, who breathed in peace and breathed it out to the world. As I reflected on my recent encounters with these two souls, I understood that peace has many expressions. There is no one way to express and experience peace. You could drive across a cold country in the midst of winter with a carload full of hoodies announcing world peace AND you could walk across a country interacting with individuals as you walked. AND you can sit in meditation every morning, a practice I have taken up to bring the peace inside of me, out to the world. And in every faith, we do this. We are peace, we can live peace and the change is possible. Do what you are born to do, find your peace inside and share it with every soul on the planet in a way that leaves you inspired and those around you uplifted. From my heart of peace to yours, Debbie Castle Community member and Co-creator in People Development Ltd. Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada  Letter to peace-building relatives (past and future) (initiative the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation launching for the Season For Nonviolence Jan. 30-April 8) January 30, 2026 To my family: past, present, future As the world seems to be descending into another convulsion of darkness, where forces of disintegration assail us on all sides, I write to call out, honour, and be inspired by those of my family members who, in their various ways, contributed to the creation of a culture of peace—a culture whose shape we still only dimly perceive, but which I believe is the destiny of humankind. I honour that distant direct relative in the southern United States, Lucy, who, when she had the legal capacity to do so, freed hundreds of enslaved people that she had “inherited”. I honour a great-grandmother, Annie, who chose to become a vegetarian, refusing to harm animals that she didn’t need to in order to survive. I honour a great-aunt, Grace, who joined the “Moral Rearmament” movement after her husband died serving in WWI because she felt that the fundamental immorality of war was fostered by a lack of moral commitment and imagination, among both leaders and citizens. I honour a grandfather, Lester, who, appalled by his experience in WWI, spent his life seeking to work with others to help build an architecture of peace in international laws, agencies, “peace keepers”; through his life as a diplomat, politician, and writer (including his book “Peace in the Family of Man”). Indeed, you helped to prepare me to understand that my ‘family’ is in fact the entire family of the human race, to whom I owe a duty of care. I honour my father, Geoffrey, who carried on influences from his own father in his work as a diplomat, arms-control specialist, and director of the Institute for International Peace and Security. I honour my mother, Landon, who became a renowned children’s rights advocate, worked on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; as a Canadian senator described herself as “the children’s senator”, and set up a centre at Carleton University that focuses on children’s rights. I honour my sisters Hilary, Katharine, Patricia who, in their own varied ways, work on social justice issues. I honour my husband Mark, former director of the Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster, a dedicated teacher of ethics, and author. I honour my daughters who also continue, in their various ways, to address injustice and inequity. And, I honour my wider family of human-rights defenders, community peace-builders, enablers of interfaith dialogue, and defenders of the rights of nature. I centre my hope in the vision of my faith community, the Baha’is, who, working with others for the betterment of the world and the acceleration of the forces of integration, believe that we will arrive at the stage when, at last, recognizing the unity and wholeness of humankind, the nations will “put away the weapons of war, and turn to the instruments of universal reconstruction” that signal a true culture of peace. (Anne Pearson, Hamilton, Ontario)  Dear fellow travellers in peace, Let us remember together there is One Spirit, a Creative Intelligence we know as God, Life or Love, and by any name, I affirm that It is everywhere present. This Infinite Life Energy is the source of all life and all beings, visible and invisible. Available to all in equal measure, this Spirit connects us all through the power of Love. As close as our next breath, the peace and power of Life is ready to move hearts and minds. I give thanks for this power made manifest in a multiplicity of form – persons and things. I am grateful for the harmony and peace felt now all around the world and beyond. I release this word into this Universal Power confident it is the spiritual truth. In cheerful expectation that it is so now, I declare – And So It Is. Marjorie Contenti, Calgary, Alberta  Dear friends, and me dearest inspirational Reva, In 2026, hope feels real to me—not because the world has healed, but because it is refusing to lie down quietly. I say this after months of walking, writing, listening. After sitting with young people who do not ask for permission to imagine differently, and elders who refuse to give up on the unfinished work of justice. After conversations that were not polite, not perfect—but honest. Hope today does not arrive as reassurance. It arrives as movement. One of its clearest expressions came at the Understanding Gandhi workshop at the CESCI Centre, led by Reva. What unfolded there was not reverence for a saint, but an interrogation of relevance. Young people questioned Gandhi fiercely. Elders responded without defensiveness. Ahimsa, trusteeship, truth—these ideas were not recited; they were stress-tested against climate breakdown, inequality, and moral exhaustion. In that intergenerational conversation, Gandhi felt startlingly contemporary—not as a man of the past, but as a method. Walk. Question power. Align means with ends. Refuse despair. Refuse hatred. Keep going. And so, the walking continues. Walking has a way of stripping things down. It dissolves abstraction. It brings you face-to-face with people who are living the consequences of decisions made far away. On these walks, I met young change-makers—unreasonable in the best sense of the word. Unreasonable in refusing extractive economies. Unreasonable in insisting that justice must be joyful, that resistance can be tender, that ethics matter more than speed. They are not waiting for perfect conditions. They are building, repairing, planting, organizing—often without funding, without headlines, without guarantees. Walking beside them, I felt something rare and necessary: positive energy that does not deny grief, but walks straight through it. Truth has returned—not as shouting, but as clarity. Justice is being practiced—not promised. Trust is being rebuilt—slowly, across age, ideology, and experience. And passion has matured—less spectacle, more staying power. This is why hope feels real in 2026. Not because the storms have stopped—they have not. Not because systems have transformed overnight—they have not. But because people are remembering something dangerous and beautiful: That the future is not negotiated only in boardrooms and summits. It is shaped on footpaths, in workshops, in shared questions, in unreasonable courage. It is shaped by those who walk anyway. Hope, I’ve learned, is not optimism. It is a discipline. A practice. A long walk in the right direction. And the walk continues. With care and conviction, A walking traveller Push (Pushpanath Krishnamurthy, Oxford, England)  |
