Dr. Aram was a Hindu dedicated to peace through a variety of means, such as economic development and human rights protection. He founded Shanti Ashram, a movement to improve rural life through education projects, including promotion of literacy. He died in 1997. “Tolerance is the beginning, not the end. Tolerance of religious and cultural differences must lead to mutual respect and positive appreciation. Pluralism, cultural and religious, is a reality ofthe present-day world. We must learn to accept it.” From Dr. Aram v acceptance speech