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Communal Harmony / Social Harmony
Even after more than half a century since independence, communal problems still haunts us in its violent forms. This is in spite of the fact that we are a secular nation. At social level there are Human Right groups, peace builders, educationist, social workers, and policy makers attending to the serious challenges of violent communalism.
Swarajpeeth believes that lasting harmonious relationship among various religious, cultural and social units of our nation can come through social initiatives for trust building and through cultivating a sense of common national purpose and ideals. Every citizen aspires to be a functional and honorable part of the larger nation. He/she aspires to see an authentic reflection of his/her identity in the totality of the national identity. Our problems of violence largely arise from the need to hold on to identity, negotiate identity, and /or resolve conflicts among varied and competing claims of identities.
Dialogue and reconciliation will not be possible until our people re-discover an Indian nationalism that does not provoke exclusion, bigotry, and violence. Mahatma Gandhi stood for that culture of nationalism in his struggle for Swaraj and continues to be a symbol of national unity. A Gandhian understanding of communal conflict can carry us through the violence and fear that so many of our people continue to suffer today. Swarajpeeth holds that we as a nation cannot stand so long as our communities do not share all-inclusive perspectives on citizenship and nationhood.
People need to be encouraged to take up issues of sensitive nature in order to deal with them collectively though the vision of Swaraj, the highest and nonviolent form of democracy as espoused by Gandhiji in Hind Swaraj, and through the means and methods of nonviolence.
What we have Accomplished
- The communal violence in Gujarat in 2002 proved to be a pointer to our diminishing social initiative. Out of two extensive visits and dialogue with number of people in a number of riots affected areas we produced a report on Gujarat violence (only for private circulation) and a public document "Are We an Introspection Nation" signed by above thirty imminent citizens, published in seven languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, English, Malayalam, Bangla and Tamil. This document set a certain tone for a dialogue on question of identity, communalism, nationalism, secularism and Indianness.
- In order to assist a Gandhian dialogue on contentious issues of religion conversion Swarajpeeth researched and compiled "Gandhi's Dialogue with Christianity" published in December 1999.
- Swarajpeeth formed a group of eminent citizens to work on the pivotal question of citizenship and nationhood and the closely related issues of secularism, modernization, pluralism, and westernization. All of these issues continue to shape inter and intra communal relationships. The Delhi-based group which meets periodically includes: Professor D.L. Sleth, former director CSDS, member of Minority Commission; Professor Partho Nath Mukherjee, social scientist, former director Tata School of Social Work, Nehru Fellow; Shri R.K. Mishra, chairman of Observer Research Foundation; Shri Nirmal Verma, Gyanpeeth honored celebrated author; Professor Surabhi Seth, Sanskrit Scholar; Rambahadur Rai, Journalist; Shri Salil Bhandari, social worker and consultant on business and finance.
- Series of consultation with a group of socially active Muslims and other friends from 7 towns of western U.P., decided to work on building up Shanti Sena for communal harmony, and spread the teachings of Hind Swaraj.
- Conducted series of Hind Swaraj Study camps.
- Undertaken Urdu translation of Hind Swaraj.
- Published a 16 page pamphlet "9-11,Which and Who's ?" in Hindi, Urdu and English.
- 250 representatives from 11 cities and towns gathered in the auditorium of Gandhi Peace foundation on 11 September 2005 to commemorate the birth of Satyagraha, 11 September 1906 and thus reclaimed the legacy of nonviolence. 56 men and women, mostly Muslims, took pledge of nonviolence to become Shanti Sainik. These were the people who were engaged in dialogue on Swaraj, nationalism, communalism and nonviolence for past three years and were motivated in the process to work for the cause of national integration by becoming dedicated and trained civilian peacemakers.
