‘Cultivate culture of peace’

Webinar on importance of dialogue held

Dimapur, June 12 (MExN): Peace Channel in collaboration with North East Institute of Social Sciences & Research (NEISSR) organized a webinar on ‘The Importance of Dialogue in Personal, Family and Community Life’ on June 12.

Resource Persons for the session were Dr Deben Sharma, Assistant Professor at NEISSR, Dr Fr C P Anto, Principal of NEISSR, and Founder and Director of Peace Channel; Rev Fr Paul Inashe, Superior, Capuchin House Dimapur.

Dr Fr C P Anto in his presentation emphasized on the need for dialogue in maintaining relationships. Relationships have to be re-established among individuals, groups and communities through peaceful dialogue so that communities can refrain from the use of violence to resolve differences and conflict of interests, Dr Anto said.

He also stressed the need to build ‘trust and safety’ among the communities which can be achieved through willingness and openness to accept differences and also, in respecting diversities of individuals and communities living in a society.

Hence, a ground needs to be established where there is a vision for peaceful cohesion and existence for the community to move forward, he said while urging participants to cultivate a ‘culture of peace’ where diversity is respected and accepted, non-violence is embraced and there is love and compassion.

Dr Deben Sharma presented the insight of the road map of dialoguing towards peace building and highlighted that the world has journeyed through the different phases starting from cruel stage where survival of the fittest was the mantra and killing was the only means of survival, to the stage where we feel sympathetic towards others and now is at Empathetic stage of human history.

Dialogue is the essential democratic and inclusive approach to resolve differences and channel it towards something that has never been created before, he said. He shared that dialogue will not only open new windows to a whole new dimension for people to explore potentials and perspectives as social beings, but also, in building relationships and collaboration for healthy growth and development in the society.

Rev Fr Paul Inashe expressed that many a times, we fail to live in peace with others in the community because we tend to impose our own ideology or beliefs against others, and still fail to recognize and respect the views of the others.

He presented that the need for a common ground of dialogue equality is best practiced without having to hamper relationships and coexistence.

Facilitator of the webinar, Vitono Gugu Haralu, Trainer and Consultant at Peace Channel also shared her personal experiences of dialogue in resolving differences and also, in bringing people closer to understanding and respecting the existence of diversity between individuals, families and communities. She expressed optimism that honest and purposeful dialoguing in building peace could also be a tool of social impact for the communities.

The webinar concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Manpang Nyiam, Kohima District Coordinator and it was attended by around 100 peace partners, community leaders, teachers and students from different districts in Nagaland.