Echoes of Peace and Justice
– A quest in a war zone
by Adv Deepa Joseph

About the Author and the Book

Adv. Deepa Joseph, a Supreme Court lawyer, actor, and humanitarian, is the first Indian woman to enter a war-torn land in pursuit of truth and peace. Her encounters with courage and suffering redefine the meaning of humanity itself.

Echoes of Peace and Justice: A Quest in a War Zone is not merely a story-it is a heartfelt journey of faith and resilience, where pain becomes purpose and silence transforms into a voice for peace.

“Her journey transforms suffering into solidarity and despair into hope – a timeless call to heal the broken world through empathy and faith.”

-Foreword By Ambassador T P Sreenivasan

“From war’s frontlines to justice’s halls, Deepa Joseph’s journey reveals unseen pain, quiet courage, and enduring hope.”

-Governor (WB) Dr CV Anand Bose

“In her travelogue, she repeatedly reminds us that to witness is to remember – a call to keep alive the memory of pain, so that peace may endure.”

-George Jacob Cardinal Koovakkad – Vatican

“This book reflects not just an outsider’s observation, but an insider’s empathy – a bridge between nations reminding the world that the cry for peace knows no borders.”

-Dr. Andry Novak – Ukraine

FOREWORD
T.P. Sreenivasan
(Former Ambassador)

Advocate Deepa Joseph has many good qualities like compassion, faith, love of peace, organizing skills, writing talent and charity. Over the years that we have worked together in the Distress Management Collective, of which she is the Founder President, I have learnt not to underestimate her determination and resolve. I was, therefore, not surprised that she decided to undertake a hazardous journey to see for herself the life in a war zone with missiles and drones rain fire and sirens pierce the ears. I did not try to dissuade her and merely sent a prayer to the skies to protect her. Her heart and conscience were wounded, but she returned hale and hearty.
Although the book is about the quest for love and justice in the killing fields of Ukraine, the mood is not one of fear, pathos or resignation. The author hears the echoes of peace and justice in the middle of war and she was optimistic about the future even as the tremors of explosions rocked the world around her. Deepa carries the pain of the wounded, the prayers of the displaced and the hopes of those who still dare to believe in peace amidst destruction.
In one of the most poignant moments in this book, the author writes after visiting a military hospital: “To witness is not to heal, but to remember; and to remember is to honour those whose lives have been shattered, yet whose souls remain unbroken.” Her words remind us that compassion can cross borders even when medicine and diplomacy fail. She writes of young soldiers who had lost their limbs, yet whose courage stood taller than their wounds, and of an old grandmother, Seena, who said, “When I was a small blossom, the war never allowed me to bloom.” These voices, brought alive through Deepa’s empathy, transform this book from a travel narrative into a prayer for humanity.
The author balances the tragedy she witnessed in Ukraine and its environs with countries like Austria, Hungary, Germany and Italy, where peace and calm prevailed despite the war raging in the neighborhood. The contrast was evident as the rest of Europe had insulated itself from the conflict, even though many of them are NATO countries.
Deepa believes that the Ukraine tragedy is taken for granted and the Europeans appear to have left it to the Trump magic to work. In fact, when the book was being written, there was some hope that President Trump might resolve it within a day after he took over. The issue has become more grave, now that Russia has intensified the attack on Ukraine even after President Trump tried to convince President Putin that it was in the latter’s own interest to end the war and settle for some territorial adjustments to shield himself against NATO. The tragedy continues even more intensely since the book was written.
Deepa’s book may well be the first Indian book on Ukraine written after a visit to the war zone. Many accounts of the war may well surface in the future, but as the first record of the war from the perspective of her quest for love and social justice, it may occupy a special place in the annals of the war in Ukraine. Even as she was travelling, she was engaged in intense research for her doctoral thesis on the international situation. Her thesis will emerge as a sequel to this book, when it is published by “Doctor Advocate Deepa Joseph.”
The author mentions several of her friends, including me, who kept worrying about her and praying for her. We had faith in her courage and determination, but we were very concerned about her safety and welfare. We kept encouraging her to continue her journey, but finally conveyed a firm no when she asked for our advice as to whether she should proceed to the Ukrainian capital itself. We were glad that she listened to our advice, but in retrospect, she may have been disappointed that she missed the opportunity to have a bigger adventure. We are happy that she came back safe to produce this unique volume.
This book will be read with great interest by ordinary readers, but its historic importance will not be missed by historians and scholars. It may well be a reason for the parties concerned to end the atrocities of the war and move to the negotiating table. The anguish expressed in simple, but powerful language cannot but have an impact on human conscience.
In the end, Echoes of Peace and Justice reminds us of a truth the author lived through: “Perhaps love, remembrance, and compassion are the only true Sanjeevanam – the eternal balm for humanity’s pain.” Her journey transforms suffering into solidarity and despair into hope – a timeless call to heal the broken world through empathy and faith.
T.P. Sreenivasan
October 2025