The Samiti, in association with the Department of Mass Communication and Media of the Central University of South Bihar organsied a Webinar on “Non-Violent Communication” on May 28, 2020. The speakers included Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, Director GSDS; Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu, Programme Officer, GSDS and Prof. Atish Parashar, Dean & HOD DMCM CUSB. Almost 70 participants took part in the webinar. The University has decided to include non-violent communication in the curriculum as a new subject in the Mass Communication Department. Prof. Atish Parashar chaired the session.
Head of the media department Prof. Parashar said that this course would see unexpected changes in the lives of students. He said that after assimilating this subject, students will be able to understand disciplinary and fundamental knowledge in their life closely, with which they would be able to build a better society. Describing this course as the need of the hour, he said that this theme of non-violent communication based on the principle of Mahatma Gandhi from Mahatma Buddha's taphbhoomi (Bihar) will introduce India's spirituality and philosophy in a new way on the global stage. History is witness that India has not given war to the world, but the teachings of Buddha through Buddha.
Sharing his idea, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan said that non-violent communication is the need of the hour today. He said that youth today is engaged in the most aggressive dialogue, due to which it is becoming difficult to establish peace, because of which the Samiti had thought of initiating this course.
Making his presentation on the elements of non-violent communication, Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu underlined the importance of language and words, and called for a concerted effort to make the communication ecosystem non-violent and said that non-violent dialogue has been a part of Indian culture referring to Mahatma Gandhi who used it for Indian independence.
He discussed in detail the need to increase non-violent dialogue and avoid hate speech by underlining the five Gandhian pillars of (non-violent) dialogue - Respect for each other; Understanding each other; Accepting each other; Encourage each other's positive things and Idea of Competition.
In addition, he explained how we can bring non-violent dialogue into our lives. And what are the things that we need to keep in mind during our speech - such as promoting creativity within ourselves, keeping ourselves aware, avoiding prejudice, not being judgmental towards anyone, other's Understanding the problems, these are all the ways through which we can increase non-violent dialogue.
An interactive session with the participants was also organized during the webinar that saw an overwhelming response.