| | | Centre for Study of Society and Secularism |
| E-Newsletter Vol.1, No.1 August-October 2007 PROGRAMMES OF CSSS Seminars Workshops Training Integrated personality development programme Lectures Advocacy Office Address 602 & 603, Silver Star, 6th Floor, Behind BEST Bus Depot, Santacruz (E), Mumbai:- 400 055. Ph. 91-22-26149668/26102089, Fax 91-22-26100712, E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in, Website: www.csss-isla.com Compiled& Edited by Bella Das Programmes Dept CSSS Mumbai belladas@hotmail.com Peace quotes "At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love." King, Jr. There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
Non-violence is the article of faith. -Mahatma Gandhi "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent."
-Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love." Mahatma Gandhi Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. -Quotes from Buddha "Peace is our gift to each other."
"There must be, not a balance of power, but a community of power; not organized rivalries, but an organized peace.
There never was a good war or a bad peace. -Benjamin Franklin: I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, one's own family or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace. H. H. the Dalai Lama I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace. Helen Keller If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies. Moshe Dayan: | | Mission: To spread the spirit of secularism, communal harmony and peace.
Overall Objective: To initiate, support and reinforce efforts to promote Communal harmony, national integrity, social cohesion and peace.
Message: India as a Nation can survive only if Indian diversity which is extremely rich, is celebrated and diverse people of India live in peace and harmony and all religious, linguistic and ethnic communities of India stay together in perfect accord.
Dr Asghar Ali Engineer Dear Readers We are starting a new feature on behalf of the CSSS. It will now be circulated every quarter. This newsletter will carry news of activities which the Centre organizes from time to time. This is the first of the series and we hope that people will read and give their suggestions to improve it and also for suggestions for new activities that the Centre can organize for spreading the message of Peace and promote multi religious and multicultural values. Our target groups are mainly teachers, journalists, policemen youth and children who form the crucial category for strengthening peace in the society. Our aim is to keep our readers informed of the Centre's activities We hope our efforts to bring news of these activities will be welcomed. Dr Asghar Ali Engineer Chairman CSSS UPDATES ON PROGRAMMES AND INTERVENTIONS ON COMMUNAL HARMONY AND PEACE 1. WORKSHOP WITH THE POLICE Objective- Sensitize the police on its role during communal riots a. Colaba, Marine Lines and Cuffe Parade police station- Topic- Salokha and the Role of the Police - Date- 21.7.2007 Police Training College – Hyderabad – Topic – Role of police during communal riots Date - 25.8.2007 . 2. WORKSHOP AND LECTURES WITH THE COLLEGE STUDENTS Objective - Awareness building on communalism and contribution of students in building peace a. Lecture – Sophia College Mumbai. Topic - Women Communal Harmony and Peace -Date- 14.8.2007 b. Lecture- National college Topic- Identity crisis of Muslims -21.8.2007 c. Lecture - College of Social Work- Hyderabad - Topic -Communal challenges in Secular India – 24.8 2007 Resource person for a b & c- Dr Asghar Ali Engineer. d. Workshop K.M.E. Society's G.M Momin Women's College Bhiwandi- Topic – Anti Imperialist Movement in the freedom struggle of India & its relevance in present scenario- 12.9.2007 Resource persons- Dr Asghar Ali Engineer and Adv D. N Satani 3.WORKSHOP AND INTEGRATED PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR MUNICIPAL SCHOOL CHILDREN – MUMBAI Objectives – Building minds building personalities. RESPONSE AND IMPACT - The feed back from the recipients of the programme and personal interviews indicated that the recipients were highly appreciative of the content of the workshop and expressed clarity on issues which was not there before. As such they expressed novelty in their thoughts and ideas having built a more positive approach towards these issues.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAMMES WORKSHOP WITH THE POLICE 1. COLABA, MARINE LINES AND CUFFE PARADE POLICE STATIONS. Topic- Salokha and the Role of the Police -Date- 21.7.2007 Objective- Sensitization of the police of their role during communal riots.
2.WORKSHOP WITH THE OFFICERS OF POLICE TRAINNING COLLEGE HYDERABAD Topic – Role of police during communal riots. 25.8.2007 Objective – Sensitization of polices personnel's on subject of Communalism and Secularism and role of police during communal riots.
WORKSHOP AND LECTURES WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS 1. LECTURE – SOPHIA COLLEGE MUMBAI. Topic - Women Communal Harmony and Peace -14.8.2007 Objective - To bring out the contribution of women in peace building . A Lecture session on 'Women Communal Harmony and Peace' was conducted by Dr Asghar Ali Giving the background of communal violence Dr Engineer drew upon the two important causative factors of communalism as frustration and excess of power. He then went on to speak on the effect of communal violence on women. Women in general were not the perpetuator of violence but were victims of violence he stated . He pointed out that violence against women had not stopped even in countries where women were educated and advanced.. As wives and mothers their problems had assumed more serious proportion Coming to times of violence he stated that besides facing emotional trauma being widows and mother's whose sons get killed, women get subjected to economic insecurity as they are endowed with the responsibility of earning for their family in the absence of a male breadwinner. These were added to the trauma of other attacks of violence on her. Under these grave situations women face greater challenge to maintain peace in the society. Giving the message to the students he said as future mothers they ought not make children militants for the sake of religion. Religion was for enriching lives of the people. He added that youth were the future and women could help mould the future generations by inculcating good values in children Finally he ended by saying that women had great role in "building minds for peace." 2. LECTURE IN NATIONAL COLLEGE- BANDRA Topic- Identity crisis of Muslims -Dr Engineer lectured to the Ekta club of National College Bandra Mumbai on the topic 'Identity Crisis of Muslims' . Around 75 students were present on this occasion. Dr Engineer said that knowing the meaning of identity was a fundamental question. Defining identity he said that identity fell in the psychological and not religious or national category. Identity was a sense of belonging to a family a town, city, or a community, subgroups or a region. He spoke of the a) Premordial identity – Identity by birth and the b) Acquired identity- Acquired in the Society. Talking of the crisis of identity he said that crisis was more a crisis of politics. On cause of communal violence he reiterated the role of the vested few and not religion. The cause of crisis could be attributed to political power he said. He further stated that in social matter the blend of professional and religious identity would bring much more cohesion in society than emphasizing a society based on religion. 3.LECTURE WITH COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK- HYDERABAD Topic -Communal challenges in Secular India – 24.8 2007 Objective- To give a wider perspective on communalism and secularism - and the role of social workers in bringing about peace. In the workshop organized by the CSSS for Mrs Roda Mistry College of social work in which about 80 students of MSW ,teachers and some prominent citizens participated Dr engineers spoke on secularism and communalism . In this interactive session Dr engineer emphasized the important role that social workers could play in communal situations especially while working in the communities in promoting peace and suggested that various projects could be taken up by the social works colleges in India working on communal harmony and peace specially in the communities. 4. WORKSHOP WITH K.M.E. Society's G.M Momin Women's College Bhiwandi Topic – Anti Imperialist movement in the freedom struggle of India & its relevance in present scenario- 12.9.2007 Objective – Conscientization of college students on Communalism and Secularism After the welcome by principal Mrs. Krishna Balsubramanyam of eminent speakers Dr Asghar Ali Engineer & Adv D.N Santani, Dr Engineer in the first session highlighted the role of the heroes of Indian freedom struggle like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad , Maulana Hazrat Mohani and how people seemed to have forgotten them today . He spoke of the communalization of textbooks that was taking place and added to speak on the values of different religion such as Love, Compassion Truth and Humanity. He spoke on how politicization of religion was taking place and emphasized that students should not come under the clutches of the communal forces but follow the values of non violence and path of peace which each religions taught. In the second session Adv DN Satani spoken on the role and responsibilities of women in India . ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS 1.WORKSHOP FOR MUNICIPAL SCHOOL CHILDREN COLABA- -Integrated Personality Development Programme for Colaba Municipal School Children . Topic- Values of National Integration - 18 .8 2007.
2.WORKSHOP WITH ST PAUL'S SCHOOL (OLD BMC SCHOOL) -MALVANI MUMBAI. Topic - Peace and Communal Harmony – 27.8 2007 Objective- To Bring about awareness to the students about communalism and communal problems in India In the one day workshop jointly organized by CSSS and Sadbhavana Sewa Swayam Shiksha Sansthan the two speaker Miss Qutub Jahan Kidwai and Ms Rajini Aithal conducted sessions on communal problems in India , religion and communalism and syncretic traditions in India . Rajini Aithal who spoke on syncretic traditions brought ot the contributions from medieval India which gave an impetus to the compositeness of Indian culture. Some examples stated included , sitar invented by Khusro which has become an integral part of the classical music today, Darashiko a great scholar of Islam, translation of Quran & Upanishad into Sanskrit & Persian and role of the Sufi saints in building bridges between Hindus & Muslims. Qutub Jahan spoke on the history of communal Problem, causes of Communal Problem , and highlighted the major communal Riots in India ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUGGESTIONS FROM READERS ARE WELCOME ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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