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| Seminar on ‘Multiculturalism in India with Special Reference in J&K’ held | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, MARCH 12 (INFO)-A seminar on ‘Multiculturalism in India with Special Reference in J&K’ was held at Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu here this afternoon.
On the occasion, social activist and state awardee Prof. Rita Jitendera was the chief guest, while Principal Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, Prof. Nalini Kohli presided over the function.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Jitendera threw light on the topic and said that in the last few decades, there had been an increase in the ethno-political violence in different parts of the world posing a challenge to the nation of co-existence of multiethnic societies. She said that it is estimated that a large number of population is claimed by ethnic violence. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and many of the African countries often find themselves being ravaged by ethno-political violence. Due to development and apprehension in the coming decades, the ethnic violence may became more prevalent, so the policy makers and social scientists think in terms of evolving devices for the management of ethnic conflict in the multiethnic societies. The growing phenomenon of ethnic-political violence in different parts of the globe during the past two decades due to the emergence of various types of ethnic conflicts have posed a serious challenge to mankind and threatened the survival of multiethnic societies. Besides in engendering political chaos and social disorder, it has taken a heavy toll of life.
She said that in a sense it is a newer term for cultural pluralism. It allows diverse social groups to preserve and enhance their separate cultural identities while participating as equal partners in a society. She said that the Indian model of multiculturalism worked satisfactorily for almost two decades after independence.
Prof Jitendra said that the existence of communal cleavages, intense competition for political powers and economical resources, criminalisation of politics and the rise of state authoritarianism contributed significantly to the failure of multiculturalism in India. She said that the objective has essentially been to find out ways and means for bringing about reconciliation and reconstruction in ethnically divided societies. A number of institutional devices and policy options such as multiculturalism, affirmative action, strategic democratization and confidence building measures have been suggested to manage ethnic conflicts.
Prof. Kohli in her address said that India is a land of many religions, cultures and ethnic groups. She said that it contains the entire globe within its borders. Multiculturalism or cultural pluralism is a fundamental to the belief that all citizen are equal. She said that in India multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging. Cultural diversity is viewed as one of the India’s most important attributes, socially and economically. She said that through multiculturalism India recognizes the potential of all citizens, encouraging them to integrate into their society and take an active part in its social, cultural, economic and political affairs.
Among others, Principal, GCW, Parade, Prof. Savitri Sharma, HoD Food Science Prof. Hemla Aggarwal, faculty members of various colleges of Jammu region, non-teaching staff and students were present on the occasion.
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