On March 12, 2023, motorbike riders gathered in Puducherry, India. Rallying at the Gandhi Statue, 180 riders traveled en masse through the streets to lift up a message of simplicity, sustainability, and unity. In the words of Changemaker Youth Grant recipient, S. Sabari Rajan, “India is going through a tough time of right-wing rule promoting religious based discriminations and violence through hate campaigns and fake messages. Gandhi's non-violent India is slowly becoming a violent India. Our project aims at educating the students about the prevailing situations and making them the agents of peace and non-violence.”

The action began with speeches and ceremonies at the Gandhi Statue. Then, holding placards against hate and discrimination, motorbike riders of all ages, including the youth, filled one side of the road as far as the eye could see. A truck with a large sign announced the intention of the ride and celebrated the support of Pace e Bene/Campaign Nonviolence. Wall posters were posted along the streets and cutout placards noted key locations. A drawing competition was also held. The bike rally concluded at the French Embassy.

You can watch videos of the bike rally here.

The bike ride was organized by members of  RISE India (Resource Institute For Social Education), a 40-year-old nonprofit that works for social justice in Puducherry, India. Team members for this project included S. Sabari Rajan (youth coordinator), Hariraj M., Manibalu J., Sanjai S., and Sanjai S.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed. Thus we must begin anew. Those of us who believe in this method can be voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion. We can very well set a mood of peace out of which a system of peace can be built.” 

This action was supported by Pace e Bene’s Changemaker Youth Grants. These grants are awarded to youth ages 12-23 to address violence through a creative project. The 2023 Awardees have designed incredible, creative ideas for dealing with bullying, teen suicide, mental health, equity and inclusion, sustainability and ecological destruction, and much more. Learn more.