The PEACE Cranes; messengers of Universal Peace
There was a little girl called Sadako Sasaki who survived the bombing. She was then two years old. The radiation from the bomb gave her leukemia when she was ten. Sadako believed in an old Japanese story that if you made 1,000 paper cranes, you would be granted a wish. She decided to fold 1,000 cranes and wish for good health. She died before she could complete them, and her school friends finished making them for her. She said: "I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world." Each year, thousands of paper cranes from all over the world hang from the statue of Sadako in Hiroshima@aps@s Peace Park. The cranes and her message are a good way to remember that we must never give up on peace.

On 6th August, 1945, the world@aps@s first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima City. The entire city was devastated by the heat and shock waves of the blast, producing numerous civilian casualties. The Peace Declaration on Peace Day, appealing for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for the realization of eternal world peace, was delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima City and is transmitted worldwide.

GIIS Surat observed the Peace Day by narrating the real story of a girl named Sadako and the legend of thousand cranes, who lived in Hiroshima and died of leukemia from the radiation caused by the atom bomb. The statue of Sadako is honoured on Peace Day by hanging garlands of paper cranes at the foot of the statue. Hiroshima is now a “Centre of Peace.”

After a Hindi speech by the students on Peace, a video was shown to them on the bomb blast at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were sensitized to the atrocities of war and the after effects. The school was decorated with paper cranes made by the students with the help of their Art and Craft teacher. Student of Primary classes made Peace Day posters and the little ones of Pre-primary section coloured Peace Cranes. The students also paid tribute to Mahatma Ghandhi’s Statue, as Gandhi is a true embodiment of peace and non-violence across the world.

As a part of Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values, ethics and discipline are important ingredients that shape the mind of the students.

“Gandhi believed in non-violence. His birthday is celebrated as Non-Violence Day as per directives of United Nations. The atrocity of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing, is the worst act of violence in history. So, the importance of Peace Day, according to me is the first block for the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values.” Said Dr. Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari as he appreciated the activities of the students towards promoting a harmonious and peaceful society.