Lumami, 8 May (MTNews): The Department of Sociology, Nagaland University, organized a one-day International Symposium under the theme “Pathways to Peace” on 8 May. The event was held at the Conference Hall, Department of Geography with Professor JK Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University as the Chief Guest. Resource persons for the symposium were Prof. Yasmin Saikia, Chair Professor Peace Studies, Arizona State University, USA; Dr Chad Haines, Associate Professor, Religious Studies, Arizona State University; and Dr Madhumita Sengupta, IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
In his inaugural speech, Professor Patnaik called for a collaborative Peace Studies of Nagaland University with the Arizona State University by signing up an MoU.
The second session was held on “Avenues of Peace: Roads, Globalization and the politics of movement” which was chaired by Dr Suraj Beri, Assistant Professor, Nagaland University. The resource person was Dr Chad Haines who gave the introductory note, and said that many people are living in peace with conflict lying dormant. He explained that many people don’t live in conflict ridden society but live in repressive society, where there is socio-economic inequality.
The third session on “the cultural resonances of partition: revisiting the partition and its memories” was chaired by Dr Srikanth Yamsani, Assistant Professor, Nagaland University. The resource person, Dr Madhumita Sengupta focused on two themes. One, the religious cult called “Asan Bibi” practiced in Bengal. In the second part, she talked about the oral narratives of partition to show violence and communal bitterness was not the only residue.
In all the three sessions, the speakers thoroughly engaged the attendees from different perspectives and contexts theoretically as well through their experiences and research studies.
Prof Toshimenla Jamir gave the closing remarks for the symposium and highlighted the significance of sharing ideas and experiences on transforming through the study of peace.
Earlier, the inaugural session was chaired by Dr Nazimuddin Siddique, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Nagaland University. Felicitation of the Chief Guest and the resource persons by Dr Pitheli K Jimo, Assistant Professor of Sociology, and welcome address was given by Professor Athungo Ovung, HoD Sociology Department, while a special number was presented by the PG students.