It implies inclusive values that are required for the fullness of humanity
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 30
“If the world has to transform, it has to be through peace. Peace cannot be kept by force. If peace has to be achieved it has to be through understanding,” commented Professor KP Avikasit during a discussion on peace building at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur on April 30.
The discussion was organised by People’s Forum for Peace (PFP), Dimapur district in collaboration with Peace Channel. Centred on the theme ‘Networking for peace to transform the world’, it was part of the PFP’s initiative of promoting peace and exploring strategies for peace building while working in cohesion with people at the local level and striving towards universal peace, justice, equality and brotherhood.
Prof Avikasit, who was part of a three-member panel in the discussion, while stating people-to-people contact as a key ingredient of peace building added that the internet and social media can be a great platform to connect and network while sharing ideas of a one world. Maintaining it has to come from the self, he said, “We have to create an identity for ourselves in which we can become world citizens” unrestrained by imaginary boundaries.
Dr. Akum Longchari, Editor, The Morung Express, said that the question of networking and dialogue is significant as “Each one of us understand the world around us differently based on how we perceive.” Peace in the context of transforming an interdependent world, he said, hinges on the relationship and fundamentals of resolution, reconciliation and reconstruction. He though maintained that there must be a common or shared link between the three primarily through dialogue and networking. However,in the context of Naga society, he lamented that the three are working independent of each other.
Dwelling on the concept of truth, mercy, justice he said that as long as these fail to work as one cohesive unit, the effort to transform the world “will go further and further away from us.”
Describing peace as a means and a vision that is continuously evolving, he said, “Peace is not just the absence of war. It implies justice, fairness, development, equality… life giving inclusive values that are required for the fullness of humanity.”
“If we’re at peace with ourselves locally we definitely can contribute towards transforming the world,” maintained Ahidur Rehman taking from his experience of working with the Muslim Council Dimapur. Stating that it should start at the house and at the neighbourhood, he added that communicating and networking within the community and respecting others' sentiments wherever one maybe is essential. “Unity can be for strength but not always for peace.”
