Aloka Peace Dog arrives in Delhi with Buddhist monks, meets Maneka Gandhi

Aloka, the Peace Dog, arrived in Delhi with an international delegation of Buddhist monks and peace advocates to meet former Union minister Maneka Gandhi. Supporters traced his journey from a community dog in Odisha to a widely recognised symbol of peace, non-violence, coexistence, and animal welfare during long-distance peace walks.

Aloka, known internationally as the "Peace Dog", arrived in Delhi on Monday with an overseas group of Buddhist monks and peace supporters. The delegation met former Union minister Maneka Gandhi at Gandhi’s Jor Bagh home. Participants said the visit aimed to highlight compassion, non-violence, and kinder treatment of community animals in India.

During the meeting, monks, peace walkers and animal welfare supporters spoke about Aloka’s rise from a community dog in Odisha. They said Aloka became a recognised symbol of peace, coexistence and non-violence across countries. A statement described the gathering as a way to connect Aloka’s journey with wider calls for empathy.

Aloka Peace Dog journey from Odisha to global peace walks

Delegation members said Aloka first appeared during one of their peace walks and stayed with them. Over time, Aloka travelled long distances with the group in hard terrain. The visitors said the dog handled changing weather conditions while remaining with the walkers as both companion and guardian.

The group described Aloka as alert and calm during the walks. They said Aloka sensed danger and warned walkers when risks arose. The delegation added that Aloka kept a gentle temperament throughout. They said these traits helped Aloka connect with people from different countries and cultures.

Maneka Gandhi meets Aloka Peace Dog in Delhi

Gandhi spoke about how Aloka’s story compared with the treatment of street dogs in India. "It was inspiring that an Indian street dog had come to represent peace and compassion around the world while many community dogs continued to face misunderstanding and hostility in India.\"

Gandhi urged a shift in how people view community dogs. \"If people could see in every community dog even a fraction of what the world sees in Aloka, our attitudes would be very different. Aloka embodies the very best qualities of Indias street dogs: loyalty, courage, resilience, peace and unconditional love,\" she said.

Aloka Peace Dog and Buddhist monks highlight compassion

According to the delegation, Aloka was born on the streets of Odisha and joined the peace walkers by choice. They said the relationship grew from trust and not ownership. As the group visited different countries to promote peace and non-violence, Aloka became central to the journey.

The delegation said Aloka drew attention because of steady behaviour and loyalty. They added that social media and public appearances with Buddhist monks widened Aloka’s reach. The visitors said Aloka’s story has influenced animal lovers and peace activists, while also showing the potential of community animals.

The visitors said they hoped Aloka’s return would build empathy for community animals in India. They also said peaceful coexistence should include all living beings, not only humans. The statement said the meeting ended with a shared commitment to compassion, non-violence, and humane treatment of animals.

With inputs from PTI