Every 21st May, India pauses to observe Anti-Terrorism Day, a date chosen to mark the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The observance is both a memorial and a warning: we commemorate a leader tragically taken by forces of hatred and pledge that such violence must never dictate our national destiny again.
This year, the candles we light for Rajiv Gandhi will flicker in the shadow of another tragedy. On 22 April 2025, suspected militants carried out the bloodiest civilian attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in twenty-five years, killing twenty-six holidaymakers in the serene alpine town of Pahalgam.
How to Observe Anti-Terrorism Day Meaningfully
1. Begin with the National Pledge
Many institutions begin by reading the official Anti-Terrorism Day pledge. Don’t recite it mechanically. Invite staff or students to reflect on each line, perhaps pausing after the words “fight the forces of disruption” to remember the victims of Pahalgam.
2. Keep a Minute’s Silence at Noon
Wherever you are—school corridor, factory floor, café—pause for sixty seconds. When millions fall quiet together, silence becomes a powerful reminder that life is sacred.
3. Host Inter-Faith Assemblies
Bring clerics from different faiths together to read a common prayer for peace. This powerful symbolism counters the sectarian narratives that fuel terrorism.
4. Run Workshops on Critical Media Literacy
Terrorism today also spreads through misinformation. Use the day to educate students, residents, or employees on how to verify news before sharing it.
5. Arrange Blood Donation or Prosthetics Drives
Victims of attacks often need transfusions or prosthetic limbs. Partner with a hospital or NGO so that goodwill becomes a life-saving act.
6. Invite Survivors to Speak
Statistics can’t compare to first-hand stories. A survivor from Pahalgam describing how gunfire shattered a family holiday drives home why vigilance matters.
7. Light Lamps at Dusk
Line balconies, schoolyards, or street corners with candles or diyas. Each flame honors lives lost, while their collective glow symbolizes hope overpowering darkness.
8. Use Social Media Responsibly
Share verified facts, peace quotes, or videos of your local observance. Avoid images that traumatize survivors or amplify propaganda.
9. Support Kashmiri Artisans and Tour Operators
Boycotts harm the civilians militants seek to isolate. Buying a Kashmiri shawl or planning a future holiday can be an act of solidarity—especially if you explain why.
10. Make the Pledge Personal
Ask: What will I change? Maybe it’s not forwarding unverified news, or greeting a neighbor from another faith. Anti-terrorism begins in daily choices.
A Candle and a Commitment
When you light a lamp on 21 May, let its glow honor Rajiv Gandhi, whose tragic death gave birth to this day—and the twenty-six innocent lives lost in Pahalgam. Mourning is only the first step; the second is resolve: to challenge hate, demand compassionate security from leaders, and practise the quiet courage of refusing fear.
Terrorism tries to make us distrust one another. Our response—today and always—must be fellowship stronger than fear, so that hatred never has the final word in the land Rajiv Gandhi dreamed of, and for which those tourists never came home.
A Final Reflection
Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination taught us that no leader is beyond hatred’s reach. The Pahalgam massacre proved that ordinary lives are just as vulnerable. Yet these tragedies also highlight something sturdier than fear: the ability of citizens to comfort, connect, and stay committed to peace.
On May 21st, light a candle, take the pledge, and let the day inspire your everyday actions. Peace is not a one-day event. It is the discipline of empathy, repeated daily, until hatred has nowhere left to hide.
Image Courtesy: https://www.pexels.com/@nahmadofficial/
Got your own way of honouring Anti-Terrorism Day or promoting peace in your community?
Share your thoughts in the comments below — I’d love to hear how you’re choosing empathy over fear.
– Dr. Arwa Saifi
About the Writer
Dr. Arwa Saifi is an acclaimed Career Writer with over 18 years of experience in the literary and education space. Honoured with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature, she is also an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Her career includes contributions to Education Times, a supplement of The Times of India, where she brought her expertise to one of the country’s leading newspapers.
Dr. Saifi has served as the editor of several prestigious school and college magazines in Mumbai, shaping young voices and nurturing a culture of expression. She is the author of 10 published books and has collaborated as a co-author in more than 40 anthologies. Her work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, education, and empowering aspiring writers.
