PEACE IS THE ONLY OPTION.

"The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace."

Good morning honourable Chairperson, members of the jury and my worthy opponents. The motion tabled before the house is 'Peace is the only option', and I, Tamanna Sharma, wholeheartedly support it.

To open with these powerful words by Carlos Santana seemed extremely apt. After all, peace is liberty in tranquillity. Yet, we rarely agree on what peace is. Perhaps the most popular view of peace is as an absence of dissension, violence, or war. It is the primary dictionary definition.

Peace, however, is also seen as concord or harmony. We view it as stability of mind or serenity. We define it as a state of law and justice, an equilibrium of powers.

Peace is sometimes the opposite of antagonistic conflict. In others, it is an internal state of mind, or of nations. Or it may be referring to particular relations, like a peace treaty, or overarching bonds encompassing a fundamental society, as in world peace. Peace may be a dichotomy -it exists, or it does not- or continuous, passive or active, empirical or abstract, or descriptive or normative.

But where war destroys and tears apart, peace builds, strengthens, and restores.

Throughout history, we have seen the impact of the absence of peace. The First World War, Russian Civil War, Irish War of Independence, Second World War, Partition of India. To stand here and recall every injustice in history stemming from violence is a task grave and protracted. My worthy opponents argue that violence and aggression are intrinsic human traits. To them, I say that if you inspect the animal kingdom, you'll notice only a few species enact violence upon each other the way humans do. Most animals use aggressive displays to ward off competitors for food or mates without the intention of causing deliberate harm.

But even if violence is a part of our genetic history, so is contemplation!

Communities emerging out of conflict experience violence and injustice long after the guns go silent. We must remember that empathy is humanity's greatest gift, and we should value it over impulses of rage and irrationality.

The father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, inspired millions around the world with his tactics of nonviolent activism. Martin Luther King Jr, the most visible leader of the American civil rights movement, won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through passive resistance. Esteemed jury, I hope you agree when I say that it is only fit to conclude by quoting his powerful acceptance speech. "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

With this, I rest my case.