2015 Mahatma Gandhi Peace March On the cold and windy Sunday afternoon of October 18, 2015, devotees from various mandirs in the surrounding Queens neighborhood and many others gathered at the corner of 121st Street and Liberty Avenue to join in the 20th annual Mahatma Gandhi Peace March. Members of the ISKCON, Krishna Consciousness group, joyfully chanted “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna…”, and some of the demonstrators joined them, while others greeted and talked about the ongoing NavRatri celebrations at their respective mandirs as everyone anxiously awaited the arrival of the Mahatma. Everyone turned their attention to Mahatma Ji as he made his way to the front of the crowd, skimpy clad in only a dhoti and kurta and wearing sneakers, ready to bear the wrath of the 50° weather in keeping his name alive. His very small stature gave the false impression of his true might, as he proudly carried his danda, which undeniably symbolizes the baton entrusted to us Indians, and bears all of the virtuous qualities possessed by Gandhi Ji, patience, tolerance, perseverance, strength and contentment. At approximately 1:45pm, the crowd of about one hundred, led by the executive members of the Federation of Hindu Mandirs Inc. USA, and escorted by NYPD officers, began the march along Liberty Avenue in the direction of newly-constructed Tulsi Mandir located on 111 Street where a brief cultural program was planned, and the coveted Mahatma Gandhi Peace prize will be awarded to a well-deserved member of our community. The delicious aroma of Little Guyana filled the air as the group gallantly walked, accompanied by the sounds of the tasa drums and the chanting of Hare Rama, Hare Krishna enjoying the beautiful sights and each other’s company. Upon reaching our destination, Dharmacharya Pandit Rishi Misir led us in opening prayers, then followed a beautiful vandana, the recitation of the national anthems of Bharat Desh and America, and musical contributions in the form of a duet by Ravi Bisram and Mahesh Persaud from Shri Surya Narayan Mandir singing the praises of Durga Maa, as well as a patriotic rendition by Bhai Chandra Mohan. Next, Pt. Anand Hardowar from the Shri Surya Narayan Mandir presented a heart-felt tribute to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Ji, depicting his life and legacy, and reminding us that his greatness lives and we should not mistake his practice of non-violence for passive resistance. He encouraged us to include Gandhi Ji’s values in our lives. Moreover, Gandhi Ji’s legacy will only live on if his values are imbibed and practiced by all. Dr. Parmeshwar Mahabir, a prominent neighborhood doctor, took the blessings of his guru, Dharmacharya Pandit Rishi Misir and made his way to the podium to deliver a very passionate and sincere lecture about the lifestyle and the legacy of the late, great Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Mahabir’s words brought us to Gandhi Ji’s childhood days of how he emulated both of his parents, how he developed his love for, and his belief in the Bhagavad Gita. He pointed out that his struggle with apartheid and his practice of ahimsa was utilized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in America, and Nelson Mandela in

2015 Mahatma Gandhi Peace March South Africa. Dr. Mahabir stressed that if we sharpen our intellect, live in harmony with each other, and apply Gandhi’s theory of non-violence in our lives, this world would be a better place. He called for change in our society that adopts Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings, and encouraged the spiritual leaders and politicians to pursue the theory of having non-violence taught in all schools. Dr. Mahabir made many beautiful references about his wife Amrita, and declared that America needs a strong woman to lead us into the righteous path. The next item on the program was the presentation of the 2015 Mahatma Gandhi Peace prize. As everyone waited wondering who the recipient is, Bhai Naidoo Veerapan approached the podium and announced that this years’ awardee is the one who just delivered a very powerful lecture on Mahatma Ji’s way of life, Dr. Parmeshwar Mahabir. The crowd gave a standing ovation as Dr. Mahabir received his award surrounded by his guru, his beautiful wife and two lovely daughters. Hailing from Corentyne, Guyana, Dr. Mahabir migrated to New York as a teenager, and graduated in 1989 with a B.S. in Chemistry from York College, CUNY, and went on to Howard University, College of Medicine, where he graduated in 1993 with his Doctorate in Medicine. Dr. Mahabir then joined the Internal Medicine Residency Training Programs at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, NY. He then served as an Attending Physician at the North Shore LIJ Health System after completing his Residency Program in 1996. Dr. Parmeshwar Mahabir has been humbly serving and treating patients at his private practice in Queens, New York for the past nineteen years. This event indicates that Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy precedes us and will succeed us as we celebrate his birth anniversary every year. His practice, beliefs and what he represents are often referenced in today’s world. In keeping his memory alive, we should all live our lives as he lived his, and embrace the unknown with no concern about what the outcome would be.

2015 Mahatma Gandhi Peace March

2015 Mahatma Gandhi Peace March

2015 Mahatma Gandhi Peace March