In 1949, India won its independence by means of methods which where far more civilised than the ones we Europeans are used to. Many of my countrymen drew the conclusion that we needed a strong military defence. I drew a different conclusion, inspired by Gandhi. During the war I saw the fruits of violence and destruction. These principles of relief and healing have inspired medical science to achieve great scientific and practical results.
Violence represents the opposite of relief and healing.
Violence means to inflict pain, wounds and traumas on others as well as self. Unfortunately this is exactly what many states, governments and authorities often fail to see in situations where this insight is most urgently needed. One of the most reliable discoveries in social science is that violence breeds violence, sooner or later. Nevertheless, states too often continue to rely on the opposite assumption. Unfortunately they also tend to think that a problem is solved once the patient is quiet.