Idea
Rediscovering Humanity in the Present World: A UNESCO Dialogue on Promoting a Culture of Peace with Manipal Academy of Higher Education
UNESCO New Delhi, in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), organised a regional dialogue on “Rediscovering Humanity in the Present World”, on 9 November 2023 at T. M. A. Pai Auditorium, MAHE, Manipal, Karnataka. The dialogue was held in concurrence to a UNESCO high-level segment on "Thinking Commons, Acting Together" during the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris.
The dialogue contextualised the discussions around peace and shared humanity within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “which clearly define the world we want — applying to all nations and leaving no one behind.” The UNESCO Chair for the Promotion of the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, Prof. M. D. Nalapat, Honorary Director, Department of Geopolitics and International Relations and Vice-Chair, Manipal Advanced Research Group (MARG), MAHE chaired the dialogue.
The participants included students, young changemakers, academicians, and development sector experts. To set the stage for the panel discussion, Maithreem Bhajatha, a moving song by Bharat Ratna Smt. MS Subbulakshmi Amma was played to urge everyone to embrace their humanity and renounce hatred.
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, gave the inaugural address and stressed the core values of societal commitment and the community-enabled ecosystem created by the founder, Dr. T. M. A Pai. Ms. Sarita Jadav, National Programme Officer, UNESCO New Delhi, highlighted the relevance of the discussion and its alignment to UNESCO’s values in her special address.
Societies still have a very inequal and vertical view of the world and we continue to see the erosion of empathy and compassion. We are witnessing a lack of desire to understand and tolerate a different opinion. For the quest of peace and social cohesion, education plays a critical role in inculcating the learnings of unity in diversity and leaving no one behind.
The dialogue featured a panel of experts from diverse backgrounds such as geopolitics and international relations, Gandhian studies, European studies, humanities and communications. It stoked inquiry on a range of issues such as the goal of peace, the power of education, Gandhian ideas of peace, international community’s role in building peace in conflict-torn societies, and the impacts of technology and media.
In addition to the panel discussion, a poster exhibition was set up by students of MAHE on the themes relating to the broad ideas of humanity, sustainable development, and UNESCO’s achievements and work related to these fields.
After the panel discussion, the participants and guests were able to attend the live broadcast of the high-level segment on "Thinking Commons, Acting Together” where Mr Dipesh Chakrabarty, leading Indian historian and author reflected on this theme.
This event has given us the opportunity to look at humanities and peace-building from an intersectional and holistic viewpoint. This exchange was extremely pertinent and topical to discuss outcomes for peace and coexistence. I am so glad that the panelists also addressed the ways in which institutional processes can be more inclusive to promote solidarity.
For the past 75 years, 91鶹Ʒ been at the forefront of promoting, preserving and advancing humanity, because it is only through the sharing of knowledge, experience and foresight that we can build the defenses of peace and prosperity that will benefit all humankind.
