A PEACE activist from Cradley Heath who campaigned for landless farmers to get rights in India is urging people to join a walk with her hero on Monday.

Fran Wilde has organised the Peace Walk in Birmingham honour of 2014 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Rajagopal PV who is visiting the city from India.

The walk also lauds the contributions of Midlands people to peace over the years.

Fran said: "Rajagopal?s organisation, Ekta Parishad (Unity Forum), uses massive walks, Gandhian style as a tool for change.

"In 2007 and 2012 tens of thousands of landless farmers and tribal people who had lost their traditional lands and water sources through unregulated commercial development, pushed the Indian government to bring in fairer policies by walking for a whole month from Gandhi?s ashram in Gwalior to Delhi, about 200 miles."

She added: "They were incredible logistical events and without disintegration into violence at any point."

Fran coordinated an art exhibition in Delhi to coincide with the walk in 2012.

She said: "It was a hugely momentous event in my life.

"Our exhibition added into all the publicity and media coverage for the walk in India and I got to see the formal signing of an agreement between landless people and national politicians."

Artist Fran, who founded arts collective Creative Cradley Heath, added: "The idea of walking as a way of looking, thinking and exchanging views has grown on me, partly inspired by what Ekta Parishad and Rajagopal do in India.

"When I moved to Cradley Heath almost three years ago, I was struck by the possibilities for thinking about history and the arts by walking in the Black Country."

Franrecently teamed up with local historian, Vicki Darby Smith, to form Walk Works, a Community Interest Company, and they are just completing their first project of walks along the Dudley Canal, open to people who are looking to improve their mental wellbeing.

The Peace Walk in Birmingham this Monday is followed by a public meeting with Rajagopal as speaker at Selly Oak Quaker Meeting House, Bristol Road.

Further information on the walk and evening event from Fran on 07952563725