Barack Obama, who is in the race for being nominated as presidential candidate for America, made a remarkable speech on race relations in America. It was not merely complaining about discrimination against blacks (African Americans) but it was about extending hand of friendship towards whites so that people of America could stand together and form a more perfect union.Full article »
CSSS: Programmes held from 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2007
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Lecture - National College:
Identity crisis of Muslims - August 28, 2007
On 21.8.2007 Dr Engineer lectured to the Ekta club of National College Bandra Mumbai on the topic 'Identity Crisis of Muslims' . Around 75 students were present on this occasion.
Dr Engineer said that knowing the meaning of identity was a fundamental question. Defining identity he said that identity fell in the psychological category and not a religious or national category. Further he said that identity was a sense of belonging to a family a town, city , or a community, subgroups or a region. He spoke of the
- Premordial identity - Identity by birth
- Acquired identity- Acquired in the Society
The premordial identity stayed for a longer time where as the acquired identity was subject to changes with time.
He said that it is worthwhile to think as to why the question of identity crisis of Muslims has arisen today. Crisis of Identity was not really a crisis but was the crisis of politics he said. About communal violence he said one ought to remember that the cause of communal violence was not religion but vested interest of few. This cause of crisis can only be attributed to political power.
Speaking about partition he said that it was important that clarity of facts be there in the minds of people and that they ought not dwell in the existing myths about the minorities.
He further stated that in social matter the blend of professional and religious identity would bring much more cohesion in society than emphasizing a society based on religion.
He dealt with the various questions raised by the students in the interactive session.
Womens Graduate Union(Study Centre)-
Integrated Personality Development Programme for Colaba Municipal School Children - August 28, 2007
CSSS and WGU Study Center Colaba jointly organised workhop on 'Values of National Integration ' for the BMC school students on 18th August 2007.A shot play titled "Hamein Chaand Chaahiye " composed by Pradeep Deshpande was staged by the students, followed by a Qawwali "Hindu Muslim Naam Alga Hain" cited by the same young artists. Pradeep Deshpande during his presentation spoke in detail about how communal amity has been a part of our synchronized culture in the form of food, cloth, art, music , language etc. and how different religious sections and communities have learnt to live in harmony for ages. This also resulted in building secular democracy soon after freedom in 1947.
The second session entailed group activity conducted by Rajni Aithal and Bella Das of CSSS on Value education . In this session the children were divided into groups and were distributed pictures depicting some or the other values which were integral to building an integrated personality. The two member team basically acted as facilitators and further explained on the pictures and the values it stood for.
Paintings On communal hammony were judged by Mr Pradeep Deshpandey and the President of WGU Mrs Antionette Dcost
The culmination of the programme came by way of distribution of gifts a kit as a token for the independence day celebration which contained articles of educational utility for children.
College of Social Work - Hyderabad:
Communal challenges in Secular India
A lecture was organized in Mrs Roda Mistry College on 24th August 2007. About 80 students doing Masters in social work including teachers and some prominent citizens participated in this workshop. The lecture was on "Communal Challenges in secular India" and it was delivered by Dr Asghar Ali Engineer. It was an interactive session in which the students asked various questions pertaining to the subject of Secularism and Communalism. Dr Engineer emphasized that students of social work be given field work for promoting peace in the different communities which was highly appreciated.
Police workshop - Hyderabad: August 25, 2007
A workshop for trainee police constables was organized in police training college Hyderabad on 25th August 2007. There were 430 participants from 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh. The principal of the college Deputy commissioner of police Shree Sharma presided over the workshop and introduced the main speaker Dr Asghar Ali Engineer on role of police in communal riots. He said thato ur police Act is still the one drafted by colonial rulers in 1861 which need to be reenacted.Today in democracy we needed people friendly police sensitive to human rights and gender equality he emphasised. Our police is still used by political rulers and they are more loyal to rulers than the rule of law.
He also threw detailed light on duties of the police in handling communal violence impartially. Police no doubt face many challenges while handling communal violence . Their problems also had to be attended. This was followed by interaction with policemen for the rest of the day.
