Between War and Wisdom: A Journey to Peace in the Himalayas

As I arrived in India in early May to begin my PhD and become a Professor of Practice at the Yogananda School of Spirituality and Happiness at Shoolini University, nestled in the tranquil foothills of the Himalayas and led by Saamdu Chetri , I was filled with anticipation. This academic journey, dedicated to spirituality and well-being, promised a life of study and inner growth. I had no idea that the arrival of my new campus would coincide with an outbreak of violence between India and Pakistan.

A Flight Interrupted by Conflict

The peaceful welcome I had imagined soon gave way to a far more somber reality. Days before my program was set to start, my flight into the region was canceled as nearby airports were closed amid escalating tensions. India had launched Operation Sindoor, and Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyan Marsoos. With military planes roaring overhead, violence escalated rapidly, and the situation on the ground was becoming increasingly dire.

I had to travel to Shoolini University by car, winding through the mountainous terrain that separates Chandigarh from Dharamshala. Along the way, we could hear the rumble of military jets flying overhead, and the air was thick with fear. I had arrived in India with a sense of optimism, but this reality was a stark contrast to what I had envisioned for my time at Shoolini University.

In the days that followed, the conflict continued to intensify. India launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory as part of Operation Sindoor, hitting multiple locations across Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan Marsoos, and reports came in about missile interceptions and airstrikes along the border. As fighter jets flew low across the mountains, the region seemed on the brink of disaster. In this moment of crisis, I found myself reflecting deeply on the cyclical nature of violence and the lessons we’ve learned—or failed to learn—from history.

The Futility of Tit-for-Tat

The India-Pakistan conflict, now decades old, seems caught in an endless cycle of retaliation. The root causes of this violence lie in complex geopolitical, religious, and historical issues, yet each new escalation follows a grimly predictable pattern. Both countries launch attacks against one another, each justifying their actions as retaliation for prior aggression. But this tit-for-tat strategy has failed to bring peace in the past and will fail to do so again.

As I listened to the drone of military planes, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that military actions rarely result in true resolution. History is filled with examples of cycles of revenge that only deepen the wounds of conflict. In 1965, 1971, and 1999, India and Pakistan fought full-scale wars, and while each side claimed victory in the short

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