Endorsement of Mr Shishir Srivastava for President of India

I have written a letter endorsing Mr Shishir Srivastava for President of India and am sending it this week to the Prime Minister in New Delhi.  I thought I would reproduce it here for anyone else to read and perhaps you, too, might send support for him to be selected in July.  Thank you in advance for all letters or even post cards you might send!  Here is what I wrote:

Ms Linda Strickler

Founder, Moving for Peace

Universal Peace Ambassador

Flat 11 Trinity Court

147 Brackenwood Drive

Leeds LS8 1SF

United Kingdom

Monday, 06 March 2017

Mr Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of India

Prime Minister’s Residence

7 Race Course

New Delhi 110001

INDIA

Dear Prime Minister Modi,

Re:  Endorsement of Mr Shishir Srivastava for President of India

I am writing to you from my home in Leeds, England to support the selection of this remarkable young man for President of India.  I have known about him since 2007, when he first invited me to participate in the Global Symposium: ‘Awakening Planetary Consciousness’ that was held in December of 2007 in Lucknow, India.  Although I was unable to travel at that time (as I welcomed my first grandson into the world), he continued to invite me every year.  Finally, I was able to attend the Symposium in December 2010.  I have been active in Peace work, both in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, and in the United Kingdom from the time I retired in 2005; this is how I came to be invited. For several years, I made peace presentations at primary and secondary schools in Leeds, organised many very successful groups to Walk for Peace, gave out over 11,000 World Peace Flame candles, and produced a CD with information for schools so they could do their own presentations.

Before I travelled to India, I prepared my presentation and materials to give out to the students.  I had no idea what to expect.  When I arrived by train in Lucknow, I was met with great love and treated with utmost kindness for the duration of my visit at the Symposium.  I learned about the City Montessori Schools, read all the information about the Symposium and the impressive participants, and also found out about the 11^th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World being held simultaneously.  The discussion for the Conference centred on Article 51 of the Constitution of India, particularly as it related to the safety and security of children, not just in India, but in the world. 

I was truly elated to partake with many hundreds of others in a Walk for Peace in Lucknow, which included the Dalai Lama giving an impromptu speech at the entrance to the City Montessori School when we arrived there.  I stood for photographs with the Chief Justices as all held up globes to represent the world.  I attended the amazing presentations to them from the children, which included a Mock UN debate.  I was brought to tears many times.

When I arrived, I was asked also to participate in a panel and Shishir made sure I had access to equipment so I could prepare for that.  In the end, my only presentation to a large room of attendees was as part of that panel and again, I was very impressed with the others who spoke, the questions we were asked, and the reception we received.  I also participated in a very lively group discussion.  Unfortunately, I found myself becoming ill and people there made sure I was taken care of.  I gave Shishir my materials to hand out to the participants when I was physically unable to attend for my own presentation. 

I tell you all of this so you understand why I am so keen to endorse Shishir as the next President of India.  He was instrumental in getting me to India.  He was very enthusiastic about what I had to say.  I met his wife and she was extremely kind to me.  It was truly a wonderful experience to be there, even though I was not very well at the end, and my memories are very sharp of those days in Lucknow.

After I returned to England, I kept in touch with Shishir by email and then on Facebook.  I received a copy of his inspirational book The Eight Powers within You over the internet so that I could get it quickly and easily and encouraged him get it published as an eBook. I know it was soon published by Penguin and has been translated into several languages.

Over these many years, I have received regular communication from him via email – each time I have heard how his work has blossomed and he has received awards and recognition by many people in several countries. Just last year I also received a copy of the World Unity Newsletter he was editing, trying to motivate people all over the world to work for unity and world peace, something very close to my own heart!  His tireless efforts for peace and unity have touched so many people, as you no doubt already know.

When I saw that the Youth of India had put forward his name to be President, I was truly delighted at the idea that this amazing man could take this role and be able to promote peace and love from a position that would mean he was heard by so many more people.  I bless the Youth of India who clearly recognise that Shishir is such an incredible soul, who is doing work of amazing proportions to bring peace and harmony to the world every day.   We desperately need young men and women in positions of trust with the ability to promote unity and peace.  I compare Shishir to the brilliant Justin Trudeau of Canada – a man who is bringing youthful enthusiasm to the world and could see them working together with you, while other countries seem to be struggling in the 21^st Century to find a positive way forward to bring the world together in harmony.

Mr Prime Minister Modi, I have read about your own ideals – how you are already quickly bringing so much positive change to India:  to promote tolerance of all religions, to strengthen the infrastructure (building roads), to help so many financially (opening bank accounts), to stand up to those whose greed allowed them privileges they did not deserve (no longer indulging the private media), and to work tirelessly for all the people.

For these (and many other!) reasons, I am endorsing Shishir Srivastava for President of India. Shishir as President would represent the hopes and aspirations of the youth of India, bringing his own youthful energy and ideals to India and the world.   I hope that you will see what a difference he will be able to make if he is chosen.  Please consider very wisely how Shishir could be of such benefit to India.

With kind regards and always great hope for the future

Linda Strickler

Ms Linda Strickler, B.A., M.Sc., Founder of Moving for Peace, Universal Ambassador for Peace