News of bomb blasts or violent incidents in different parts of the world, are getting more frequent. Many innocent citizens are being killed for no fault of theirs. Increasing violence is a matter of great concern for all peace loving citizens.

Various international organisations, leaders and activists are trying their best to bring in peace and maintain it. But, in spite of that, some parts of the world are still at times ravaged by war or terrorist attacks. Violence not only causes death but displaces many people who are forced to live as refugees outside their homes. Displaced people suffer from difficulties of day to day living and also from malnutrition and diseases. Thus just one or few acts of violence adversely affects a big chunk of population.

Barring few exceptions, all human beings desire to live peacefully. Every individual wants a peaceful existence where they earn their daily bread and spends time with family and friends in leisure time Development occurs only when there is peace and stability. This automatically brings prosperity and happiness for all people. Children grow in a loving and peaceful environment and turn out to be good citizens of the world.

Therefore, peace should be considered as not only a geo political issue, but a personal basic need for all. It is the duty of every person to make efforts to sustain it.

First, it is fundamental that each person remains at peace with themselves. They should be satisfied with what they have or can do. A major reason disturbing peace is greed and or jealousy of one person on seeing somebody else possessing something better or doing better. Many disputes at the level of communities and nations are also the result of such kind of thinking.

Another cause of dissatisfaction in the world is narrow mindedness. A person may be affluent and successful, but they do not feel happy to see others progress and come to their level. This world is a huge place and there is enough space for all to grow. What is needed is for people to move forwards honesty and make space for others also to move.

Tolerance is another quality, which, if promoted, can greatly contribute towards peace in the world. There are as many cultures, religions, sects, communities in the world as the number of existing human beings. The majority of the people are not even aware of other populace in the world apart from themselves. Many are totally ignorant about the culture, way of living, and living conditions of other people. This results in thinking their way to be the best and far superior. They just cannot tolerate or accept the ideas of another person and tend to respond violently, if contradicted in any way.

This needs to be corrected through counseling by concerned learned men and women. People should learn to respect the differences in others. When people realise that all human beings are similar physically and emotionally and differ only in food habits and language, there will be increased affinity with one another. They will no longer be brain washed by religious or political leaders to attack others.Anger is another reason for disrupting peace and causing fights whether at home or outside. Therefore it is

important that people are taught to keep their tempers under control for the sake of peace.

At times people behave badly under the influence of alcohol or other addictive substances, though they are good and decent otherwise. It is well known that addictive substances are also a cause for deranging peace.

When the majority of individuals of the world love peace and want peace to reign, they have to make individual and collective efforts to bring and maintain peace . Those already living in peaceful areas need to be vigilant so that it is not disturbed.

Rwanda stands out as a model country for the world, where peace came after a terrible genocide and has been nurtured since then, emphasising unity and brotherhood among all. The result is the rapid development in all fields.

Dr. Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital