The most difficult peace-building work arguably is to have that mine-laden conversation with someone you love who sees a particular issue quite differently. … More HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS THAT CONNECT US
It was 1975. My cousins were visiting with their parents (or should I put it the other way?) and the house was full of conversation, laughter and play. My visiting uncle, Hanumantha Rao (aka Sab), was a geologist by training, a planner by occupation and a fabulous co-conspirator with children and pranksters. “World peace” has … More The most important gift Sab gave me
My primary school building was an old-fashioned one. Classrooms on the first and second floors opened into an open balcony protected by a sloping tile roof. Three classrooms opened into these. The ground floor classrooms were connected and opened into a gravelly playground, the school church, the ‘grotto’ with a statue of Mother Mary and … More Celebrating a diverse Republic
My home of broken memory shards: Reclaiming my Sindhi identity by Tulika Bathija “My home” demands many explanations. Even today when I fill a form where I need to provide my address proof, they ask me for my permanent residence address. They condescendingly explain the difference between a temporary home and a permanent home. They … More My home of broken memory shards
Wash off each molecule of despair By Chintan Girish Modi It was October 2016 when I received a beautifully written email from Swarna Rajagopalan, Founding Trustee of Prajnya Trust, inviting me to participate in a roundtable discussion titled ‘Gender, Peace and Intersectionalities: A New Generation Works for Peace’. Scheduled for January 23, 2017, this … More Wash off each molecule of despair, a guest post by Chintan Girish Modi
I set out to write these Teachable Moment blogposts to help get important conversations going. Things happen and we react to them but do not always take the opportunity they present for teaching and learning. As I write this, I realise that of course, I am going to learn as much from this as anyone reading … More Writing about Teachable Moments: Confession Time!
I am copying this from my website, as it is was posted on September 29, 2001, but it is available here as well. Lederach finished his essay by quoting the Irish poet, Seamus Heaney: “We will not win this struggle for justice, peace and human dignity with the traditional weapons of war. We need to change … More “On the far side of revenge”: John Paul Lederach on “The Challenge of Terror”
Today is the International Day of Non-violence, so dedicated because it is also the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi took the idea of ahimsa and gave it the form of a powerful political tool. The power of this tool for public action came from the fact that it drew its energy from an … More International Day of Non-violence: Reflections
by Unnamalai Manickam What does ‘PEACE’ mean to me? I just wondered what ‘peace’ meant actually to me. First, I asked a few questions to myself to disregard the general assumptions that are believed. When all my materialistic desires are satisfied, when I have no personal issues with anyone, when my ears are shut to … More A teacher reflects on peace
This came my way on Facebook. And what a lovely idea! Forgiveness and gratitude are simple ideas we learn about in childhood, but we don’t always learn how to live them. The “abhyaas” (practice) or careful nurturing of these ways of being are both very natural and very hard. One of the most beautiful … More The Global Forgiveness Challenge: Count me in! You?
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