The purpose of the wall of peace is to remind us that as long as there has been brutality, there have also been individuals who rejected the arguments for violence and advocated peace and justice for all – a foremost principle of Hinduism. The people commemorated on the Wall of Peace overcame extreme personal deprivation and danger to bring about significant changes in the world. Despite the constant repression and peril they faced, they preserved knowing that only non-violence and compassion can truly change the world.
The Canadian Museum of Indian Civilization (CMIC) created the Wall of Peace to send a message of harmony among all religions and to stimulate peace consciousness in all nations. This wall depicts warfare throughout human history and is unique because it consists of personalities and symbols of major religions including; Lord Mahavir of Janisim, Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus Christ, Star of David, The Symbol of Islam, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, and the AUM of Hinduism. It was commissioned by Dr. B. Doobay and designed by Brent Knorr (a museum designer), these marble busts are hand-carved by Indian sculptor, Asish Kumar Das – in India.
Hinduism regards all religions as true paths to the same God – the one God with many names, one or more names of each religion, stressing that inner peace comes through enlightenment and the appreciation of the laws of the universe. Hinduism also holds by following the teachings of the enlightened we may learn to be accepting of others. Enlightened ones and their followers are often peace activists. It is a matter of our survival that we learn how to live in peace together.