A note on nonviolent practices
What is a nonviolent
economy?
The concept of
nonviolent economy emerges out of our understanding that the present model of
economy operating around us is violent. As the economic model is top-down, it excludesthe
voices and perspectives of millions of people when decisions affecting them are
made. We can clearly see that this model of economy is pushingmillions into
poverty. The present model respects those who accumulate wealth without looking
at the methods that they use in this process. It not only excludes people but
also destroys the nature and the planet which we need to survive. Therefore a
nonviolent model of economy needs to be bottom-up, participatory and respect
human dignity and nature. Ideas regarding the economy articulated by Mahatma
Gandhi, J C Kumarappa and Schumacher need to form the foundational principles
for developing a nonviolent economy. It needs tostand on a non- exploitative
relationship with people and nature and will start with the premise of
trusteeship which basically means that we are merely custodians of this planet
and not the sole owners of nature and her resources; the economy is then
relegated to just one aspect of the entire process. Money is an instrument
created by human beings to simplify transactions and not a thing to be
accumulated and worshiped. Nonviolent economy will be based on the values of
sharing and caring as that is the only way the world can be a happy place.
What is nonviolent lens?
The inspiration for
this idea came from a similar idea that has become a norm in today’s
development planning. Adopting a gender lens or environmental lens has become
quite common in development planning exercise. In doing so, the objective is to
promote the gender and environmental dimension in not only planning but also in
implementation of programs and projects. We often notice that development
projects get mired in conflicts. This is especially true of large projects like
construction of a dam or mining of minerals or when when land is acquired for
highways, setting up industries for expansion of airports etc. Such large
projects create massive displacement, destructionof natural resources and
pushes many into poverty and when people organize themselves to express their
objection to such projects they come face to face with the police. Such conflicts
between police and people are becoming increasingly common in every part of the
world. This leads to litigation, imprisonment and untold misery for many. But
what is missed is that the genesis of this conflict between people and police
is in the planning process and it can be avoided just by adoptinga nonviolent
lens at the project planning stage itself. Any planner who is committed to
people’s welfare can clearly see through the consequences of their plan on the lives
of ordinary people. Nonviolent lens will help him/her to preempt people’s
agitation through a participatory process of decision making. By adopting such
a process, destruction and suffering can be minimized. It is unfortunate that
we are not able to use such a powerful toolwhichwill make planning and
implementation more cultured and sensitive.
What is the Peace
Club?
Peace club is a
program proposed for students in schools and colleges. This can be used in both
urban and rural setting. We have somehow come to accept a norm that a third
party should intervene when there is a conflict between two individuals or
groups. We have also come to believe that the police and army are best
positioned to bring peace. There is a serious problem when peace is brought
through fear, as the moment the factor of fear is removed, conflict will resurface.
Peace club is a process through which people learn to resolve their conflicts
through a process of dialogue. For example when there is a conflict between two
students, the peace club can invite them for a face to face discussion and
resolve it instead of approaching a teacher for a solution. Teachers being an
authority will always invoke fear in the minds of students. A process of
dialogue to resolve conflicts will be a rich experience for the students and
they can continue to practice it in their family, in their community and when
they become experts in the art of dialogue based solution, they may use it
between countries and cultures. In a world where we have too many conflicts
related to poverty, religion, culture and borders it is important that we have
many people trained in the art of dialogue based solution. The beginning of
this can be peace clubs in educational institutions of all levels. This process
will ultimately make the society more peaceful.
What is nonviolent
education?
Unfortunately, education
as it is today, has become a tool for oppression. People who have managed
to acquire higher education go on to occupy higher positions and continue to
work towards their own economic and political advancement instead of using
their office to serve who are less fortunate. Look at millions of parents
spending their hard earned money onconvent education. Education has become
the most profitable business today and Educational Institutions are competing
to get richer.
We have undertaken a
small experiment to see how we can mainstream nonviolence into
education. This will mean that every subject that is being taught should
have a component of nonviolence. Like a pinch of salt will make the food
tasty, a pinch of nonviolence can make the subject more meaningful. Let us
take a moment to imagine the impact of turning higher educational programs like
developmental studies into nonviolent developmental studies, governance program
into nonviolent governance program, economy into nonviolent
economy and media studies into a nonviolent media studies. Whichever specialty
one pursues it can become a tool for making the student an instrument of anti
people andanti poorinitiatives if the educators and learner are not engaged in
looking at the subject from a nonviolence perspective. Educational
institutions need to understand and articulate this aspect if they wish to
create a peaceful society through the educational process. This will of course
demand courage on the part of the educational institutions.
By: Rajagopal.P.V
*******************8
No comments:
Post a Comment