On the occasion of International Day of Peace on September 21, actor Sshrey Pareek reflects on what peace means to him and why he believes it has to begin at an individual level. The actor, who has been part of shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Qurbaan Hua, Love by Chance and Jhanak, believes peace goes far beyond simply having no conflict. Having explored television and the digital space, Sshrey is now also set to make his Bollywood debut with Oye Chill Marr, marking another exciting step in his journey as an actor.
“For me, peace means everything. In life, nothing is as important as peace. A simple common man works his entire life to live in peace. And peace is not silence; it is understanding without violence. A person should feel safe, should be able to give their opinions and should be heard enough without conflicts,” Sshrey shares.
According to him, lasting peace cannot exist without empathy and understanding. He feels that peace cannot be limited to one’s own personal comfort but has to involve how we treat other people as well. “Not at all. Without understanding and empathy, peace is nothing. It can be only for yourself. We have to be empathetic and understanding towards humanity,” he says.
While conversations around peace often focus on larger issues, Sshrey believes small everyday actions can also make a difference. For him, simply listening to someone without immediately judging them can be an important step. “I think being kind enough to listen, not judging, listening to their point of view and understanding their state of mind can be the easiest thing to do for peace. And kindness over everything,” he says.
In a world where people often find themselves divided by opinions, identities and different interests, Sshrey believes there is one common ground that can bring people together: humanity. “Humanity, of course. No matter what your interest is, what your identity is or what your opinion might be, if you are considering everything with humanity, I am sure you’ll come to one conclusion,” he says.
The actor also feels that peace and change should not always be expected to come from governments or institutions. According to him, the process begins with individuals and gradually moves towards communities and larger systems. “Everything starts from you. Then your communities, then maybe institutions and governments. Every change comes from us first. Though it would be great if all of the above came together and pursued it,” Sshrey explains.
For Sshrey, reconciliation also requires people to look at the past honestly instead of repeatedly carrying conflicts forward. He believes understanding can sometimes be the first step towards breaking that cycle. “I think finding a way to acknowledge the past, learn from it and choose not to keep repeating the cycle is important. Sometimes the first step towards peace is simply choosing to understand before choosing to respond,” he concludes.
