Durban — KwaZulu-Natal’s Premier Thami Ntuli will join his veteran IFP Chief Whip, MP and Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Narend Singh, and other dignitaries in the unveiling of South Africa’s 20th peace pillar at the Umkomaas Hindu Society in Craigieburn, Umkomaas. on Saturday, at 12-noon.
This will be the second, high-profile occasion that Premier Ntuli will be gracing a major event hosted by Ramlutchman, the first when he made his first public appearance as the political head of the province at the United Nations’ International Day of Yoga in Durban on Sunday, June 22.
The sacred ceremony is being hosted in conjunction with the Umkomaas Hindu Society under the theme, Promoting Universal Love, Peace, Oneness and Unity in Diversity. Musical renditions, songs and classical dancing will be presented by Yovani Naidoo and her troupe.
The universal concept of erecting peace pillars in the memory and mission of one of India’s visionary Hindu spiritual leaders will make its first mark on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast town of Umkomaas this weekend.
The next port of call of the erecting for the 21st Sivananda Peace Pillar will be Port Shepstone later this year.
The commission, costing and erecting of the impressive 4-ton granite and 3.5-metre high peace pillars as a lasting homage to the legend and legacy of Swami Sivananda and Swami Sahajananda, who contributed extensively to social projects and community refinement — especially in deep-lying rural areas of the province — is the brainchild of one of their leading disciples, Richards Bay-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ishwar Ramlutchman. He has erected 19 monuments so far since the 2010s, including a replica to SA’s founding president, Nelson Mandela, at his residence in Houghton, Johannesburg.
Apart from his promotion of peace, cultural diversity, social cohesion and community upliftment under the aegis of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation, which he founded, and heads as its national president, Ramlutchman is a member of the Zulu Royal Household as Prince Mabheka Zulu, a symbolic name given to him by the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
“The peace pillars are a source of inspiration and a reminder that peace and love should transcend our human limitations. These heritage monuments are a tribute to Swami Sivananda, the founder of the Divine Life Society worldwide and his chief disciple Swami Sahajananda,” said Ramlutchman, adding that both leaders had delivered 300 projects – mainly schools and clinics – across KZN.
“We are living in extremely difficult times and turmoil in the world, and with the raging war between Israel and the Middle-East enclaves of Palestine, the Gaza Strip, and now in Lebanon, we need peace and we have to pray for peace. The erecting of another peace pillar in Umkomaas is a symbolic move to send a strong message both at home and abroad that the world’s people must give peace a chance. Wars destroy our humanity and human lives and dignity,” said Ramlutchman, ahead of high-level protocols and preparations for the upcoming ceremony.
“Through the peace pillars, we aim to promote peace and work towards ending the vicious cycle of violence and crime that continues to hit hard at the ordinary people and including impoverished and jobless communities living in rural areas.”
He said the unveiling of the latest peace pillar in Umkomaas will also be an event to recognise one of the town’s pioneering community and spiritual leaders, SR Padayachie, a foremost disciple of Swami Sivananda, who was credited locally for launching the Divine Life Society of South Africa, a renowned socio-religious movement that has delivered many education, community and social projects in KZN.
In a booklet published by Swami Sahajananda in 1948, the iconic Indian spiritual leader wrote: “If the Divine mission is flourishing today, it is due to the untiring efforts of father Padayachie.”
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