Satish Kumar has walked thousands of miles for peace—but it is the way he walks through life, with humility, reverence, and compassion, that has made him one of the most beloved and enduring voices for ecological and spiritual renewal in our time.
Born in India in 1936, Satish became a Jain monk at the age of nine, dedicating his early years to a path of nonviolence and simplicity. Later, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and British peace activist Bertrand Russell, he left the monastic life to embark on what became one of the most remarkable pilgrimages of the 20th century: an 8,000-mile walk from New Delhi to the nuclear capitals of the world—Moscow, Paris, London, and Washington, D.C.—carrying a message of peace, and offering "peace tea" to the world’s leaders.
He walked with no money in his pocket, relying solely on the kindness of strangers and the spirit of trust.
“We walked for peace,” he said. “But more than that, we walked to remind the world that we are all connected. We cannot destroy one another without also destroying ourselves.”
This profound journey set the tone for a life devoted not to prestige or power, but to purpose, peace, and the planet.
A Life Rooted in Simplicity and Soil
Satish eventually made his home in the United Kingdom, where he became the long-time editor of Resurgence magazine (now Resurgence & Ecologist), helping shape the global conversation around environmental ethics, spiritual ecology, and the inner life of activism.
He also co-founded Schumacher College in Devon, a globally renowned center for holistic education that integrates the head, heart, and hands—bringing together deep thinking, spiritual reflection, and practical sustainability. The college has become a beacon for those seeking a different kind of education—one rooted in interconnection, not competition.
“You are, therefore I am. I am, therefore you are,” Satish reminds us, echoing the interbeing found in both Eastern philosophy and Ubuntu wisdom.
In his widely loved book Elegant Simplicity: The Art of Living Well, Satish invites us to live more consciously, not through deprivation, but through celebration:
“Soil, Soul, and Society—these are the three elements we must cherish if we are to live in harmony with ourselves and with the Earth. If we look after the soil, take care of the soul, and serve the society, we shall have health, happiness, and harmony.”
A Global Elder for Our Time
Over the years, Satish Kumar has received countless honors and honorary doctorates, but his true gift is how he lives. He continues to teach, write, speak, and garden—always returning to what is simple, sacred, and sustaining. He is not merely a voice for the environment, peace, or education—he is a living example of all three.
He teaches us that compassion is a daily act—an act of how we eat, walk, speak, grow food, listen to one another, and live in relationship with the Earth and each other.
Honoring Satish Kumar
The Charter for Compassion is proud to honor Satish Kumar as a 2025 Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Award recipient, alongside Rainn Wilson, Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi, and Dr. Lyla June Johnston.
Each of these honorees reminds us that compassion is not just a principle—it is a pathway forward.
Please, Click/Tap here to join us in celebrating Satish and his extraordinary life of peace, purpose, and planetary care at the Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Awards Gala, held virtually on November 15, 2025.
With warmest regards,
Marilyn
