The Peace and Reconciliation Unit of ISI Bangalore hosted the JCSA Peace and Reconciliation Network Annual Meet 2024 on 11-13 October 2024. The major theme of the meeting was “Jesuit Imagination of Peace and Reconciliation in South Asia.” The Peace and Reconciliation Network Persons of the Provinces attended the meeting.
Dr Binoy Jacob SJ (Coordinator: JCSA- PRN) gave the first presentation on “Peace and Reconciliation Network: Overview, New Developments, Future Plans.” Dr Denzil Fernandes SJ (Head, Peace and Reconciliation Unit-ISI Bangalore) made a presentation on main theme of the meeting, where he articulated a vision for future endeavours of Jesuit engagements in Peace and Reconciliation based on Jesuit spiritual traditions and the article titled “Challenging the Jesuit Imagination” by Dr. Rudolf C. Heredia SJ.
Dr. Mazher Hussain, the Director of COVA Peace Network, Hyderabad, gave an overview of COVA as well as the Compassionate Citizenship Program. The main objectives of COVA include developing responsible citizens, conducting intra-faith initiatives and promoting multi-faith celebrations. The Compassionate Citizenship Program, which is being introduced in 3000 schools by the Government of Telangana, aims at sensitizing students to social concerns, inculcating values in them, and then orienting and equipping them for responsible social activism to transform society. Mr. Hussain also briefed the methodology and pedagogy involved in education for peace.
Dr. Ryan Wilson, Assistant Professor from the Department of International Relations, Peace and Public Policy of St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore, highlighted the objectives, contents, and various events associated with the program in view of promoting peace in higher education. The session included an interaction with the students of the Department, who enlightened the Jesuit participants on the impact of the course on their lives. In another session on peace activism, renowned social activist, Dayabai, shared her decades long experience of promoting justice and peace in the Tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
An important agenda for the meeting was the presentation of Peace modules for Higher Education and schools. Peace Module for Higher Education is a well-structured course which include topics such as Peace and Justice, Dealing with Conflicts, Human Rights and Justice, Communal Harmony, Gender, Caste and Violence, Science and Peace, Art and Peace, Inner life and Peace, Quest for happiness and Meaning in Life, etc. Similarly, the content, strategies and expected outcomes of peace modules in schools have been outlined.
The three-day meeting was an important occasion to imagine and discern new pathways to promote peace and reconciliation in South Asia. The JCSA Peace and Reconciliation Network is planning to introduce peace studies and peace clubs in schools and colleges, promote peace at the grass root level connecting with various NGOs and collaborate with like-minded groups and people of good will in this shared mission. In this manner, the JCSA Peace and Reconciliation Network is endeavoring to make Peace and Reconciliation an overarching mission in all apostolates.