Need for social transformation
One may win a piece of land through the barrel of gun but how can you win heart?
Ravi Nitesh
Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (autonomous body under Ministry of Culture, GoI) is organising the conference with the help of ten collaborating organisations named Chenab Welfare and Education Trust Doda, J&K RTI movement, Asha Pariwar, Shekh ul Aalam Trust, Yuva Koshish, Awam ka Cinema, Support Trust Srinagar, J&K Rural Development Foundation, Gandhi Global Family and Mission Bhartiyam.
These are the organisations that are working at various levels (from local level to international) towards Peace, Harmony and Social Development. Approximately 250 activists are invited from all over India including J&K.
As a president of one of the collaborating organisation, I personally view the conference as a basic need towards development. In fact it is only love and mutual cooperation that are the roots of development.
J&K is a state of conflict and instability. Various factors like foreign interference, local politics and laws like AFSPA, all are continuously creating problems and increasing insecurity and separation among society. But it doesn't mean that people who are living there are not authorised to live with liberty and happiness. It becomes necessary to work for them, to understand their problems and to work out for a solution.
It is true that J&K is one of the states that represent message of love, peace and harmony. It is a fact that J&K is one of the state where many poets, writers, kings, philosophers, nature lovers etc travelled from time to time to get spiritual solace and peace in lap of nature. It is true that 'Kashmiriyat' is a famous word that defines the feel of the state. We understand the special tradition and culture of Kashmir, which is different from other cultures, we understand the loving and soft spoken people who want to be identified as a Kashmiri rather than by their religion.
In the present time, when situations are not so easy, and people are facing a tough time; there is a need of developing humanity and human values more strongly. Steps are required from all sides to bring out a positive solution. We accept that immediate situation is not available, we accept that all stakeholders are not equally cooperating but is it enough reason to deny the peace and harmony? Why don't all parties understand that without pureness of heart and mind, nothing will be fruitful. You may win a piece of land through the barrel of gun but how can you win heart?
Social transformation should be occurred gradually; society is a mixed group of people with different approaches. As per philosophy, these various interests of living can become the source of conflict. As per another view, conflict comes due to inequality among the group. We neither can remove inequality nor we can abolish sense of defining objective practically, however we definitely can find ways to get maximal position of equality (i.e. with a minimum equality level to maximum). This will come only through group activities and development. Attention towards basic amenities of society, attention towards physiological and psychological issues, attention towards gender discrimination, attention towards youth unemployment and attention towards disputed political issues. "We can give whatever we can" should be the approach.
Apart from various political decisions and initiative to establish a positive dialogue, I hope this conference will be different because here people are going to talk about harmony and peace for all with participation from all sides regardless of religion, caste and region. It will be witnessed of mutual love, when we all will talk with each other, when we all will share our problems, when we will weep and laugh for each other, when we will fell pain for each other and it will be the time when we really mean what is required at root level. I know that it will be the time when Kashmir will give a message to others, a message of fraternity, peace, love and harmony.
It is time to rise in equality, in happiness, in harmony and in peace. Establishment of a happy society is must and we wish that if we all will make effort collectively, we sure can bring some change. The only need of society is its transformation at various levels and through various ways. The main focus should be towards welfare and development with peace and happiness for all.
This writing is dedicated to scheduled conference in Doda (J&K) on "Need for Social Transformation" that is going to be held on 23, 24 and 25 July.
Author is the Petroleum Engineer, Social Activist, Article and Poetry Writer, Blogger and President: Mission Bhartiyam. He can be mailed at ravinitesh@gmail.com
