Skip to content Skip to navigation

Call for papers on Role of Religion in Peace and Conflict Processes

This is an invitation for papers.

Concept Note of the Seminar
Role of Religion in Peace and Conflict Processes in Northeast India
Organiser: North Eastern Social Research centre, Guwahati
15th – 16th November 2019
Venue: Seminar Hall, Jagriti 3rd floor

Religion occupies an important place in the life of human communities as a powerful constituent of cultural norms and values. Because it addresses profound existential issues of human life, it is deeply implicated in individual and social conceptions of peace. However, during the last few decades in India as a whole the main religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam have been playing an even more important role than in the past in people’s day-to-day lives. In the popular mind some religious actors are commonly associated with extremism and conflict between communities. Many other dimensions and contributions of religion, in particular in relation to peace building processes, are less known, or may be misunderstood, if not entirely neglected. What is said of India as a whole is equally true of the Northeast. Nationalist struggles and ethnic conflicts around land, identity and political power are often given a religious interpretation as being initiated or supported by one religion or against another. This stand diverts attention from real issues.

It shows that religion can be used or mobilised to promote conflicts as well as peace. When there is a conflict in its name religion is rarely its principal cause but is only presented as such. In events such as the Sikh pogrom of 1984, the destruction of Babri Masjid and the communal riots that followed in 1992, the present phase of majoritarian nationalism and in other events, religion has only been used as a contributing factor. It will probably be used in conflicts also in the future. In the Northeast the Naga and Mizo nationalist struggles are presented both by its proponents and opponents as Christian-backed. The conflicts in Tripura and Manipur around land and identity are presented by some extremists as attacks on Hindus. In Arunachal Pradesh, the fundamentalist forces of the major religions are in competition to get adherents. In Assam the NRC that emerged from the urge to protect land and identity is being presented as a conflict caused by the influx of a certain religious group or as an effort to exclude them. The Citizenship Amendment is presented as an alternative. Some present the Mizo-Bru conflict around land and identity as a Buddhist-Christian conflict.

It shows that whether in its own right or as a proxy for political battles, religion can be instrumentalised or become a mask for violence that hides other political and economic interests. Within this context, a conversation around religion becomes a controversial subject. The focus today is on the divisive nature of religion. On the other side religious actors have also made attempts in peacemaking. This side of religions in conflicts is often ignored. Peacemakers have, therefore, to work within the political process but remain external to it. They operate on the margins during the initial stages of conflicts but later assume key roles in the political transition or sometimes have worked to exert pressure from the outside. The seminar aims to bring together the conflict aspect of religion that may be hiding other interests. Presentation can also discuss the reconciliatory part of religion and its use as a means for initiating a dialogue. Focus in discussion around conflicts has been on the divisive role of religion. The effort in the seminar can be on its role of bringing people together and of collaboration in the highly controversial religion-political arena.

We invite scholars and activists who work or are closely associated with religious institutions or those who are engaged in grass-roots organisations or mere citizens who want to express their views and opinions to present their views. We also invite people with stories of either being witnesses to conflicts or peace in relation to religion for a special story sharing session at the seminar. We invite papers on the following themes:

1. Conflicts around identity and other markers to which religion is linked – Religion as a source of conflict

2. Religion and citizenship/nationalism – Identifying the citizen

3. Religion, peace building and faith-based grass-roots organisation

4. Religion, women’s organisations and peace and conflict process

5. Religion as a means of dialogue

Apart from the suggested themes, the invitees may like to add some of their own. People interested in participating in the seminar may send their abstracts and/or stories they would like to share not later than 20th September and their papers by 20th October. Those who send their abstracts will be informed by 30th September whether they are accepted for presentation. The venue of the seminar is the seminar hall of Jagriti, 3rd floor.

Namrata Kalita
Dr Walter Fernandes
Convenor
Coordinator

North Eastern Social Research Centre,
Jagriti 2nd floor
GMCH Road, Christian Basti
Guwahati 781005

Write to walter.nesrc@gmail.com

Add new comment

Random Stories

Women of Dadara form 'Hargila Army'

17 Feb 2016 - 12:06am | Drishana Kalita
An army is created to defend a cause, and when women form an army for a cause they believe in earnestly, nothing remains impossible. The women of Dadaravillage in Assam have been slowly but steadily...

Bihu committees receive ULFA’s support

18 May 2015 - 7:58pm | Syed Miraz Ahmed
The brouhaha concerning Assam’s on-stage Bihu performances have occupied enough columns and television airtime lately. Television channels huddled for hours to arrive at a point wherein speakers...

Award to the author of Omar khyam

25 Sep 2007 - 3:51am | Dibya J Borthakur
The author of famous novel Omar Khyam (based on Rubayat) Professor Pradip Saikia, former principal of Nagaon College and a well known translator, has been awarded for his incomparable translated...

Freedom fighter called hunger strike supporting peace process

1 Mar 2008 - 10:18am | SK Hasan
Vetern freedom fighter of Nazira Sub-division Md. Sahidur Rahman informed us that for longer interest of an state and demands urgent peace talk between the Central Govt...

Other Contents by Author

An undying orgy of violence in Manipur puts Chief Minister N Biren Singh in a tough time to continue his second consecutive term.  Highly placed sources have said the escalating tension in the BJP-ruled north eastern state is forcing the party leadership to consider a change in the state government leadership as an urgent measure to help the state bail out of the crisis that has left 53000 people homeless so far. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a four-day visit to the restive state, is learnt to have been considering all  possible aspects to quell the situation.  The symbolic anthem “We Shall Overcome” reverberated the air filled with tears and fears. All...
Guwahati: Expressing profound grief at the demise of seven brilliant students of Assam Engineering College (AEC) in a tragic late-night accident on 29 May 2023, All Assam Engineer’s Association (AAEA) urges the college authority to impose some basic disciplinary measures urgently. The forum of graduate engineers (many of them AECians) also wishes an early recovery to all the injured students and others in the fatal road mishap.  The AEC Hostel 7 boarders were returning to the residential college campus from western part of the city and faced the accident near the Jalukbari overbridge. The luxury car carrying ten students hit the divider first and then a goods carrier on the other...
In Manipur, tensions have reached a critical point as demands for the removal of Chief Minister Biren Singh or the appointment of a Kuki MLA as Deputy Chief Minister have escalated. The situation took a turn for the worse a day before the scheduled visit of Home Minister Amit Shah, as sporadic gunshots were reported throughout the region. Chief Minister Biren Singh, amidst the growing unrest, has made a bold claim, stating that security forces have successfully eliminated 40 militants since the conflict began. However, these assertions have not been independently verified, leaving room for skepticism and further fueling the already volatile atmosphere. A surge in violence was...
In a tragic road accident that occurred in the Jalukbari area of Guwahati seven engineering students died at spot last night. According to reports, a group of 10 Assam Engineering College (AEC) students traveled in a scorpio car. Seven of the students died after their vehicle colliding with a bolero pick-up van.  Besides, five others including the driver and handyman of the pick-up van were seriously injured in the accident. The deceased students hailed from different parts of the state including Guwahati. They were identified as Kaushik Barua (Mangaldoi), Kaushik Mohan (Sivasagar), Raj Kiran Bhuyan (Majuli), Imon Barua (Dibrugah), Arindam Bhowal (Guwahati), Upanshu Sarma (Nagaon), and...
In a show of solidarity, Manipur fire service personnel commenced an indefinite cease-work strike on Tuesday to protest against the assault on their colleagues by personnel belonging to the 16 Jat Regiment. Firefighters are demanding immediate action against the individuals responsible for the incident, which involved a lathi charge on the firemen. Salam Jiban, the Sub-Officer of Manipur Fire Service Headquarters, stated that the strike was initiated in response to the assault on five firemen near the City Convention Centre, located just a few meters from the new check post in Imphal East. He emphasized that the fire personnel were simply carrying out their duty to extinguish a fire in the...
Guwahati: WWF-India Assam State Office marked the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22nd May with an engaging awareness program held at the Aquaculture and Biodiversity Centre, supported by the Zoology Department of Gauhati University. The event aimed to educate students from various colleges and universities about the significance of biodiversity conservation. Mrs. Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, the State Coordinator of WWF-India Assam State Office, delivered a warm welcome address to the participants, which included students from esteemed institutions such as the Department of Environment Science, Gauhati University, National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam...
The North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has strongly criticized the Manipur state government for its inability to maintain peace and normalcy in the region. NEFIS demands the immediate resignation of the Chief Minister of Manipur on moral grounds, holding the government accountable for its failure to ensure peace in the state. The organization has called upon all communities in Manipur to prioritize communal harmony amidst the current atmosphere of communal rift, urging them to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. NEFIS expressed concern over the role of the state government in sowing animosity among different communities for cheap political gains. The...
The National Federation for New States (NFNS) has expressed deep anguish and concern regarding the ongoing violence in Manipur. The organization has called for an immediate end to the mindless acts of violence which have caused immense suffering to vulnerable sections of society, including the elderly, women, and children. Additionally, the NFNS strongly condemns the destruction of homes, properties, and places of worship. While acknowledging its longstanding relationship with the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC), the NFNS appeals to all people groups involved to abandon violence and instead seek peaceful and democratic means to find a lasting solution. The organization believes...
NEHU Campus, 20th April, 2023 - The National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), GoI, has kicked off the Entrepreneurship Awareness Camp (EAC) at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus. The three-day program, organized by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, NEHU and sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), Ahmedabad, aims to equip over 75 students from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge and skills required for entrepreneurship. Esteemed experts from both industry and academia have gathered to interact with the participants, shedding light on crucial topics such as...
Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, a veteran journalist, will receive the Parag Kumar Das Journalism Award 2023. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a citation, and a memento. The award ceremony will take place on May 17. Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty currently serves as the National Affairs Editor for the digital news publication 'The Wire.' The Parag Kumar Das Journalism Award was established to honor the courageous journalist Parag Kumar Das, who lost his life while fighting for the truth. The award recognizes and encourages journalists who tirelessly uncover the truth and bring it to the public.