Education for Nonviolence and Religious Pluralism in the Context of Ahmedabad

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My project would be located in peace education, focusing on contextual pedagogical aspects. India has been witnessing unprecedented waves of intolerance, violence, and exclusion based on identity in recent times. One of the most significant identities based on which violence has been perpetuated in India is religion. While the global policy intent to promote nonviolence through education is well documented, such education can ill-afford to be one-size-fits-all. The problem is urgent, systemic and pervasive: it is crucial to understand how a community's conceptualisations and cultural influences of religious pluralism and nonviolence could be leveraged to fuel meaningful peace education programmes. For my doctoral study, I wish to examine the dynamics of political landscapes, cultural belief systems and worldviews in restoration of peace; and co-create pedagogical tools drawing from cultural elements that people resonate with. From a theoretical standpoint, I will use the lens of peace education to examine how perceptions on principles of inclusivity, tolerance, and secularism are shared among communities. At a practical level, I will conduct a qualitative study to see how education can play a role in addressing issues of religious intolerance. The insights derived from these perspectives will inform debates surrounding multiculturalism in India and elsewhere in the world, where attempts to avoid cultural homogenisation end up promoting the culture of the dominant group.