The Rotary Peace City project, earlier known as Rotary Peace Symbol Project, was initiated in 1993 by Rtn Tony Quinlivan, which was an offshoot of an initiative of Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga-Kooringal, NSW, Australia in District 9700 in 1992.
On 23rd February 1993, Wagga Wagga became the first Rotary Peace City in the world.
Today there are over sixty Rotary Peace cities.
On 22nd June 1994, on 75th anniversary of Rotary Club of Manila, Philippines, Manila became the first declared international Rotary Peace City.
The concept hit the Indian shores on 20th December 1999, when Chennai Kilpauk City became the first Peace City in India.
Chandigarh became the second city after Chennai to be declared the Rotary Peace City on 12th December 2003.
It was in September 2003 that Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, the then Special Ambassador for Rotary Peace Communities projects around the world, presented the proposal before the Club members. It was a meeting dedicated to celebration of Diwali with senior citizens. The members accented and the work was in full swing.
Local architects were approached for a design idea, and the concept submitted by Rotarian architect couple, Sandeep Luthra and Suchita, was accepted.
The project cost at that time was for Rs.5 lakh and search for sponsors began. Newly joined Rtn. Arvind Mahajan along with Past President Kewal Seth, and Rtn. Charanjit Singh made a presentation to the Chief General Manager of State Bank of India, who was convinced and agreed to support the project.
The Chandigarh Administration very kindly agreed to provide the space on the Sukhna Lake and ultimately in December, the peace monument was ready.
Rtn. President Vijay Wadhawan, Rtn. P.J. Singh and many other Rotarians supervised the construction of the peace monument which is made of granite and steel.
The Peace Monument was dedicated to the city on 12th December 2003, by the world President of Rotary International, Mr Jonathan B. Majiyagbe who formally hand it over to the Administrator of UT, Chandigarh, His Excellency Mr Justice O.P. Verma (Retd), the Governor of Punjab.
The Pledge for Peace was signed by the then Mayor of
Chandigarh Subhash Chawla and District Governor 2003-04 Kawal Bedi.
Rotary Club of Chandigarh has organized a number of events around the peace monument, and visiting Rotary dignitaries to the city make it a point to visit the place.
The objectives of Peace Communities are :
