Dimapur, Nov. 28 (EMN): Addressing youth leaders in training programme at NEISSR, educator from United Kingdom, Barbara Radley stressed on the need for transformation of one’s mindset and identity from a smaller perspective to a greater perspective of humanity which she believes would avoid identity based conflict.
The programme was organised by Peace Channel on ‘peace and conflict transformation’ at Peace Channel’s Conference Hall for NEISSR staff and MSW trainees on Tuesday.
Radley said peace is which everyone is familiar with but the biggest challenge for humanity is to make the concept a reality in the ever changing and diverse world.Bringing back the participants to the context of Northeast India, she said, “if we look closer to your home, we can recognize that there are inevitable issues of conflicts between various regions and tribes, as the regions of North-East India has its diverse cultures, which are influenced by so many different factors.” When one has such variety and diversity, she said there are bound to be differences.
“The cause for conflicts could be many, such as the struggle for land ownership, personal issues such as small family disagreement or issues around inter-faith marriages, something which is seen as comparatively minor by some people can indeed lead to full-scale war between two tribes. Even trivial problems such as misunderstanding in speaking the language of another tribe can lead to a far greater dispute amongst people,” said Radley.
Further, citing Fr. Patrick Devine’s research, she talked about conflict transformation looking at the general changes which social conflict creates and the patterns it typically follows. She also highlighted four dimensions of conflict transformation.
Radley also mentioned that one of the things that need to be considered is cultural patterns which have impact on how conflict is understood, approached and handled. Cultural differences can be a big cause of disagreements, which can lead to violence; therefore she said humanity is the greatest of all religions and noble causes.
Further, she urged the participants to bring sense to the people and make change. Young minds needs to have their minds and hearts educated, need to be taught to respect others’ diversity and culture, Radley added.
Dr. CP Anto also enlightened the participants on how one should change mindset and look at the greater perspective of identity.
