Vimochana and Conflict Resolution

Vimochana is one organization in Bangalore which has been striving towards gendered justice and also striving hard to place the "woman" in her rightful place in society. Donna Fernandes who spearheads this organization has done yeoman's ahem...should I say yeo-woman's service in this field.


The country is riddled with multiple issues around which conflicts are taking place. The conflict on issues related to ethnicity, language, culture and religion abound and mar the process of social and economic
development of society. Country is witness to the outbursts of violence in various garbs and around various issues. The social conflicts saw their peak in the terror of religion based in the most recent times. The
simmering ethnic conflicts in the northeast and Kashmir have been a semi permanent sore from many decades. And many such events have put the whole social thinking in to great turmoil and are pointers to the danger lurking in the unresolved social tensions.Also these phenomena are threatening the very existence of our democracy.

While democracy has enough space for all the diversities to thrive in harmony what we are witnessing is that some vested interests are using these diversities as the tool for implanting the conflicts. Communities and social groups and political outfits have not paid much attention to conflict resolution, and curbing the political trends, which are stifling the liberal and democratic space.


Vimochana - forum for women's rights, Bangalore and Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai and CIEDS Collective Bangalore are jointly organising a State Level Training Programme on Peace and Conflict Resolution at Bangalore between 17th - 21st January 2008.

It is a programme for a selected group of 45-50 participants.

2. Food and accommodation will be taken care of by the organisers.

3. Travel (II class train fare / bus fare) will be reimbursed for out station participants.

4. Selection of participants will be made to maintain regional balance.

5. Last date for application 31st December 2007

The course has been designed with the aim to address the many questions running through our minds. It aims to strengthen the plural norms and ethos. It, in a way plans to equip the social activists to be able to deal with various conflict situations to ensure that the rights of weaker sections of society are protected, preserved and strengthened within the democratic framework of Indian Constitution.

It will cover most of the facets of conflict and will put special focus on conflict resolution for Peace in general. The themes to be addressed will pertain to multiple diversities, linguistic, ethnic, cultural and
religious. Since the country is vast and diverse these multiple issues need to be taken up for a proper appraisal.

There is a realization that there is no systematic attempt to spread the message of Peace. Few committed workers are working for this, but it needs to be broadened a great deal. There is a need to build up a chain of activists who can take this message to nook and corner of the country.

1. Course Objective
 To impart understanding of Indian Situation
 To inculcate appreciation for religious, cultural and linguistic diversities
 To re-orient participant's thinking about different religious communities
 To promote value and peace education
 To equip the participants with adequate knowledge and skills to promote conflict resolution

2. Course Content

1. Theories of conflict resolution
2. Partition tragedy
3. Communal conflicts-Role of social common sense
4. Minorities
5. Kashmir imbroglio
6. Islam violence
7. Religion, Secularisation-India’s trajectory late 19th century
8. Uniform civil code
9. Communal politics post independent India
10. Democracy, pluralism & identity
11. Education: faith or reason
12. Politics of terror
13. Hindutva & gender justice
14. Communal organisation
15. Psychological roots of communal violence
16. Gujarat- laboratory of Hindu Rashtra
17. Religion & society: Indian context
18. Hindutva & dalits
19. Practising secularism dilemmas of Indian state
20. Mumbai riots
21. Adivasis
22. Strategies of conflict resolution.

3. Methodology
The training will involve Lectures by eminent scholars, religious heads and prominent activists followed by discussions. Methods like group discussions and interactive games, role-play will be deployed. Audio-visual aids will be used and films relevant to the training course will also be shown. Some of the proposed films are, War and Peace, Mr & Mrs Iyer, Zakhm, Pinjar, & Nata etc.

4. Eligibility – Criteria
1. Priority will be given to those who have Experience of working in the filed of communal harmony, human rights, women rights, etc.
2. Activists among teaching community will be preferred
3. Activists from both sexes can be nominated
4. Those who have genuine concern in Peace and Conflict Resolution.
5. Since the workshop is designed at a national level, the resource persons will also be from out side Karnataka and the course will be conducted mostly in Hindi and English. Therefore working knowledge of Hindi and English is necessary.

5. Venue:
Vimochana Training Centre, Kolar. Tel: (08152) 232801 / 232802.

Contact-
Donna- Tel: 080-25496934 (off)
Bhoga Nanjunda, Mob:9448206461

Pic- Donna Fernandes
Courtesy - The Internet