Full knowledge + connecting with reality = PEACE

Recently I was in my graduation college to have a session with the students of political science and international relations (IR). During the visit I remember the discussion which happened with a very good teacher who taught us IR. We had a chapter on Peace and Disarmament and she very intelligently and logically used to connect the sustainability of whole international relations with PEACE. If you look at any bilateral or multilateral relations they are successful only because of PEACE among the countries. Take the recently concluded G-20 meet, it majorly revolved round economic and financial slowdown and measures to overcome to be back on the growth path. They all know ONE OF THE FACTORS which is affecting the slowdown is unrest and lack of PEACE in few countries. 

    

In a country like India where more than 50% of the population are below 25 years of age and the recent unrest in the states like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh has shown the importance of people under 25 years and their role in PEACE.

As always I am not here to write about the policy level or the political level changes but to write about small implementable changes that can be practiced at the ground level to bring about long lasting results:

In SCHOOLS: I have been to more than 600 schools, which includes Government schools, private schools, non-formal education schools and bridge schools in states like Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand.

Every year Oct 2^nd is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanthi (Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary) and this day is declared as a national holiday. During my interaction with the school management and teachers I have realised that though they celebrate his birth anniversary through speeches, dramas during the morning assembly on 1^st Oct, it will remain as a mere formality if they don’t really connect and bring out the true essence of his principals. There are many scientific reports which say things taught at a young age will remain with them in the sub conscious mind for ever. So, it becomes very important to provide knowledge and connect them with the real situation.

I don’t say teachers in school don’t teach values or provide information but I think they are not able to connect the values to the present situations around them or in their day to day life of the students. It is the role of the teachers to debate, explain and demonstrate to them about the importance and how to resolve issues in a more amicable and a peaceful manner in a given context.       

In COLLEGES and YOUTH GROUPS: My experience in working with adolescents and youth group: In majority of the cases group members belong to different caste and religion and in majority of the cases they run very successfully which is story across various Indian states.

In this age, the main source of information and knowledge providers are their peers and teachers. They inspire them to take steps like all of them opting to take same course in particular college, forming of groups, bunking from class, participate in any movement. All this is dependent on information and knowledge being shared with them. Majority of the times many of this group do not have full or accurate information about a particular thing.

I remember during the college days we were part of many movements, fights and agitation. On many occasions majority of group members were not aware of the facts. Teachers and parents use to warn us that “half knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge” because one takes action based on the information provided and they don’t take action if there is no information.

Again it is the role of teachers, youth leaders in the community to provide full and accurate information and build knowledge which will help group members to take informed decisions because many agitations, fights happen without knowing the complete issue.

I think it should be mandatory for all the schools and colleges to have a subject on PEACE as in the globalization and technology era, intrusion in one another becomes very easy and it is very important that full and complete information is shared to maintain PEACE.