Acknowledgements
The plan to work on this book came out of my fairly long experience with the War Resisters’ International (WRI). When I mentioned the project to some of my friends I was greatly encouraged by their responses. The Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the WRI welcomed the idea, but soon after getting such a response from them I told them that what I shall be trying to work on will be the ‘story’ of the International, and not what could or should be called the ‘official history’ of the WRI.
My very sincere thanks to Bob Overy whose advice I solicited from the beginning of the project. I also thank him and Michael Randle for going through the manuscript before it was finalised. The interviews I took of friends were very valuable, and I am grateful for it to Ralph DiGia, George Lakey, Eddy Gottlieb, Matt Myer, Michael Randle, Andrew Rigby, Vickie Rovere, Lillian and George Willoughby and Dorie Wilsnack. I had the privilege of being a co-worker with them in the international nonviolent peace movement and with some even as a colleague during my ten years at the WRI Secretariat in London. I am thankful for all the experience that I gained from their companionship.
The staff at the WRI Secretariat in London has been particularly helpful, especially in providing me with photocopies of the archival material they had in the office. My thanks to them for providing me all the help I asked for.
A great source of encouragement I received in completing this task was from the trusts and foundations which made it possible for me to make the journeys to the Swarthmore Peace Collection, USA, and the International Institute for Social History, Holland. These are the two important archival centres containing WRI and related documentation which I needed for working on this project. It would have been extremely hard for me to do this work without their help. My most sincere thanks to the administration of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, UK, Peacefund Canada, Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation, International Outreach and friends Mary and Everett Gendler and Edward Gottlieb, UK. I would like to express my gratitude to many other friends and organisations for making it possible for me to write the book.
Whenever I met George Willoughby, whether during his trips to Delhi or my USA visits, I did not miss an opportunity to discuss the project with him and seek his advice. It was encouraging to talk to him about the details and overall structure of the book. I have always felt privileged for having his continuous support, including his agreeing to write the Foreword for the book. I am grateful for all the help I received from him.
I am thankful to my wife Bindu Prasad for her support in several ways, including the boring work of helping in typing and spell-checking etc. She tolerated my keeping busy nearly all the time, and making her, already with very busy life, more hectic by my not being available for our day-to-day existence.
Whenever I was in London, my son Sunand Prasad went through the part of the manuscript I carried with me. He did the tedious work of correcting the text and making suggestions. Eventually he not only did the final editing of the book but also did everything to make it ready for publication. I am deeply indebted to him.
Add new comment