In the name of Allah the most Beneficent and the most Merciful
Caravan for Peace and Justice
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry
A brief and concise report
T. Azeez Luthfullah
The Mission
To create awakening among the general masses about the need and significance of
establishing Peace and Justice in this country. And also to highlight the gross injustice
meted to the Muslim Community in the name of bomb blasts and the witch-hunt being
carried out in Media. And also to ensure confidence among the much aggrieved Muslim
masses.
The Task
To carry out a caravan for peace and justice throughout the state of Tamil Nadu and
Puducherry. To reach out the masses with the message of Peace and Justice throughout
the nook and corner of the State.
To establish rapport with the cross section of the Media, officials of the Police & the
bureaucracy.
To build close contacts with the Peace activists, social activists, religious heads, Hindu
Heads of mutts, temples and Christian Missionaries.
The Tools

A fully airconditioned 14 seater van decorated with the message of Peace and Justice
embossed on all sides. It crisscrossed the State spreading the message of Peace and
Justice everywhere.
One lakh and ten thousand folders disseminating the message of Peace and Justice.
Three hundred copies of PRESS STATEMENT in Tamil exhorting powerfully the
message of Peace and Justice.
One hundred placards made up of solid iron material depicting the soothing message of
peace and Justice.
Fifty flags embedded with the message of Peace and Justice.
Lots and lots of locally prepared hand bills and print outs and colourful posters.
The Route
The caravan for peace and justice started its odyssey in Kanniyakumari on 9th Nov 2008
and reached Chennai on 22 Nov 2008 after visiting Nagerkoil, Thirunelveli,

Kadaiyanallur, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Trichirapalli, Karur,
Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Kaveripattinam, Tirupattur,
Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Vellore, Porur and scores of other places. It visited Puducherry on
23 Nov 2008.
The Response
Alhumdulillah! The response was overwhelming and exhilirating. Men and women,
Muslims and non-Muslims, Officials and laymen, politicians and housewives, dalits and
pundits, young and old, students and professors - each and every segment of the society
whole-heartedly and warmly embraced the message of the caravan for peace and justice.
It was evident at the sea shores of Kanniyakumari a place at which the mighty waves of
Indian Ocean, Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal converge, which is known as the southern
most tip of the country viz Kumari Munai where the caravan started its odyssey with the
noblest mission of spreading message of Peace and Justice.
It was visible at the heart of the State viz Karur where hundreds of brethren from other
communities outnumbered the Muslims in receiving the caravan.
It was there at the entrance of the capital of the State viz Chennai when vast multitudes of
men and women, arkaan and karkunaan, purdah clad ladies with tiny tots assembled at
Porur. It was raining, raining and raining. But the incessant rain didn't dampen them and
they - fully drenched in rain - raised slogans demanding peace and justice. It was
heartening, heartrending and mellowing to watch the lovers of peace and justice garland
the delegates of the caravan one after another.
And above all it was evident in Dharmapuri, when a poor farmer who came to the town
for some other purpose after listening the speeches, silently approached the organisors
and handed over a token amount of Rs 10/- as his contribution towards establishing peace
and justice in this country.
And the point to be noted is that except Chennai, Jamaat is very weak in all the other
three places. We do not have circles in Kanniyakumari and Porur. The circles in Karur
and Dharmapuri are at their nascent stage. Inspite of that the response to our call for
peace and justice is overwhelming. Alhumdulillah!
The spectacle
The most memorable spectacle of the whole odyssey of the caravan is the reception
accorded to it in front of the historic Victoria memorial near Chennai Central Railway
station. It could be said as the climax of the whole journey. Mr. A. Shabbeer Ahmed,
State President JIH held high a dove and let it fly over the sky as a gesture of promoting
peace and Justice in the State amidst the thundering applause of the multitudes of people
assembled at the historic occasion. Mr.S.N. Sikkander, the convenor of the caravan and
State Secretary JIH gave a memorable speech. "The nation is proud that its tricolour flag
is flying high over the moon. But, what is the use of Chandrayan if our society is divided
and fragmented? These divisions and collisions always bring disrepute to the country.
This was evident when Our PM was confronted with a heartrending question from the
French Prez Nicholas Sarkozy. "Why are the Christians being massacred in India?" our

Sardarji was compelled to mumble "I am ashamed of it!". So, let us be united, he
exhorted.
The Impact
At national level the PM and Congress supremo have started singing different tunes.
While the congress supremo has stressed that religion should not be mixed with
terrorism, the PM has advised his police force to regain the faith of the people.
Jokes apart, the real impact of the campaign is the awareness it has created among the
masses about the delicate issue of peace and justice. This surge among the masses
towards the noble cause was evident every where.
It was there in Krishnagiri, where the Holy Fathers and nuns welcomed the caravan in
their church. They garlanded each and every delegates with garlands made up of Jasmine
and rose petals. They spoke about the need to work together and communal harmony.
It was evident in Vellore when the administrators of the Sri Sri Jalagandeswarar Temple
situated in the historic fort of Vellore gave warm reception to the delegates of the
Caravan in the 140 year old historic Shanmuga Adigal Sabai Temple.
It was there to see when the DSP of Dharmapuri district, Mr. Murugesan after hearing the
speeches of the delegates of the caravan in Kaveripattinam, a sleepy town at the banks of
Ponnaiyaru river asked the organisors to conduct such meetings more and more.
Above all the touching, heartening words were uttered by Mr. Jagan, the videographer
who covered the caravan meetings for five consecutive days. When asked about his
impressions, the young lad said unabashedly, "Nanum ungalodu vandhu vidugirane, Sir!"
(I want to JOIN with you people, Sir!)