Peace education in northeast India: NESNIM as a model of peace education in multi -ethnic settings
Abstract
Human societies in the post modern world are increasingly becoming multi-ethnic and multi-religious. With such pluralism, there arise misunderstandings and conflicts. In this context of unrest and chaos, peace education is a concern of every person and organization interested in the future of humanity. Programs and policies have been developed by curriculum developers to attend to this important dimension of education. The Congregation of Holy Cross, of which the researcher is a member for the past 28 years, created NESNIM (North-Eastern Students’ National Integration Movement) on September 29th 2001. The underlying belief was that peace and harmony could be achieved by bringing together youth representatives from various ethnic/religious groups in the region that seemed to be hostile to each other, for a live-in educational experience and exposure in an atmosphere of cordiality. This program included classes, workshops, sports activities, cultural activities and a Peace March. Over 2,000 students and 200 teachers went through this program from the year 2001 to 2005. This research sought to study the impact of NESNIM and how it could be a model of peace education in multi-ethnic/multi-religious settings elsewhere in the world. This study utilized a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. 31 participants of NESNIM were chosen using the strategy of maximum variation sampling and interviewed on an in-depth level and 165 participants took part in a quantitative survey. The interviews were video-recorded, transcribed, analyzed and presented in a narrative form. The collected data of the survey was analyzed and presented graphically in Microsoft excel worksheets. This dissertation determined that NESNIM has been effective to a large extent as a peace education program and helped to break down prejudices between various ethnic/religious groups. The educational approach offered in the dissertation is grounded in spiritual, ethical and moral values and has broad implications for the life of the church and society. This study offers insights and guidance in a wide variety of situations that involve religious, ethnic, and civil conflicts. The study suggests NESNIM as a model of peace education in multi-ethnic and multi-religious settings.
Subject Area
Religion|Philosophy|Curriculum development|South Asian Studies
Recommended Citation
Kallarackal, Emmanuel Babu Joseph, "Peace education in northeast India: NESNIM as a model of peace education in multi -ethnic settings" (2007). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3298783.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3298783
