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Training Programme on Peace and Conflict Resolution

Violent communal, caste and other identity driven conflicts are increasingly being used as a tool to impose hegemony of a section of citizens upon another section (i.e. upper caste patriarchal hegemony). The conflict on issues related to ethnicity, language, culture and religion abound and mar the process of social and economic development of society. Country is witness to the outbursts of violence in various garbs and around various issues. The social conflicts saw their peak in the terror of religion based in the most recent times. The simmering ethnic conflicts in the northeast and Kashmir have been a semi permanent sore from many decades. Gujarat events, starting from Godhra down to Mumbai Terror attacks and anti-christian pogroms in Kandhamal have put the whole social thinking in to great turmoil and are pointers to the danger lurking in the unresolved social tensions. Also these phenomena are threatening the democratic foundations of our polity.

While democracy has enough space for all the diversities to thrive in harmony what we are witnessing is that some vested interests are using these diversities as the tool for implanting the conflicts. Communities and social groups and political organisations have not paid much attention to conflict resolution, and curbing the political trends that has crippled the liberal and democratic space and ideas.

We need trained and dedicated corps of peace activists to work for peace, secularism, diversity, democracy and above all, justice.

Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict resolution has been, amongst other things, engaged in conducting Peace and Conflict Resolution awareness workshops from last several years. We have conducted more than 35 workshops (5-7 days) apart from the two day three days one's and other awareness programs amongst different sections of society.

1. Course Objective

Ø      To train  selected participants and develop conflict resolution skills

Ø      To equip participants with deeper understanding of social, economic, political and historical roots behind identity driven conflicts.

Ø      To encourage the participants to undertake activities for strengthening mutual understanding amongst the communities and strengthening of community relations across identities and emphasize the need for social justice.

Ø      To deepen the understanding and strengthen the values of democracy, diversity, multiculturalism, secularism and social justice.

2. Course Content:

The subjects covered during the training programme are as under:

1)      Understanding violence

2)       Theories of Peace and conflict resolution

3)      Understanding Religion, Secularism and State

4)      Understanding Islam and Christianity

5)      Myths about Muslims and Christians

6)      Rise of communal forces during Freedom movement

7)      Rights of Minorities in International Law and Indian Constitution

8)      Origin of RSS and its from organizations and its political vision

9)      Communal politics and the marginalsied sections of society, including adivasis, dalits, minorities, women and workers.

10)  Nationalism and the issue of Pakistan and Kashmir

11)  Syncretic cultural traditions and composite religious practices.

12)  The issue of Uniform Civil Code.

3. Methodology

The day will be divided in to four sessions, 9.30 a.m. to 5.30. p.m. three of these will be interactive lectures and the fourth session will be group discussion. Evening program will be mutually decided by resource person and participants- songs, occasional film, and cultural activities. The programme will also include audio-visual aids and film exhibition relevant to the training course.

4. Eligibility - Criteria

The following categories of participants will be preferred over others.

1.      Age:     18 to 25

2.      Graduates

3.      Activists involved in the work of peace and communal harmony.

4.      Experience of working in the filed of communal harmony, human rights, minority rights etc.

5.      Teachers and activist working among teaching community will be preferred

6.      Activists working on gender issues.

7.      Journalists.

8.      Advocates / para legal workers

9.      The course will be conducted in Hindi but working knowledge of English is necessary

It is suggested that aspiring participants for the workshop go through some core books on the topic e.g. Bipin Chandra-Communalism A primer, Asghar Ali Engineer-Medieval History and Communalism, Islam in 21^st Century, Ram Puniyani: Communalism-Illustrated Primer, amongst others. They should also repeatedly view the Video lectures-Raah Aman ki (CSSS) and "In defense of our dreams"-(Anhad)). With this reading preparation they prepare themselves for the groups discussions to be held during the workshops.

5. Hospitality

6. Venue:

Exact location will be intimated later.

7. Dates:  8^th April to 14^th November 2008. The participants are expected to arrive at the venue by the evening of 7^th November 2008 and should not leave before the conclusion of the Workshop

8. Timings: 9. 00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (course activities) followed by Evening- Films

9. The enclosed application form to be completed and sent to :

10. Please note that it is compulsory to attend the entire training programme and no       Participant will be allowed to leave the course in between under any circumstances.

Yours sincerely,

Adv. Irfan Engineer

Training Programme on Peace and Conflict Resolution

APPLICATION FORM

Name: Ms.______________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________          ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone No. ________________ E-mail: ______________________________

Date of Birth (dd-mm-yy): __________________________________________________

Educational qualification:  ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Name and address of Organisation, if any. ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Current Occupation: __________________Designation ________________

Date:                                                                                                   Signature:                  

Please return the duly filled in form before 15^th January 2009 to :

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

11.00 a.m. to 11-30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. will be Tea Break. 1.00 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.: Lunch Break. Games may be organized between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. After 5.30 p.m., time for reading, writing and interactions, films.

Post Dinner: - Assemble for Campfire and cultural programmes.