Report of IFPNP Certification Ceremony
Certification Ceremony
The programme for the distribution of the Certificates to the candidates who had successfully completed the 4-months Fellowship Programme on Nonviolence and Peace was held on 9th April 2024 from 3.30 p.m. onwards in the virtual mode. The invitation with Google link and the details of the Chief Guest and dignitaries were shared by Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in association collaborating partners.
The Programme
began on time at 3.30 p.m. Dr. Siby K. Joseph Director,
International Fellowship Program on Nonviolence and Peace, Sevagram Ashram
Pratishthan, Wardha requested Prof. John Chelladurai, Dean,
Interdisciplinary Studies and Professor and Head of the Department of
Gandhian Studies at MGM University, Aurangabad , Maharashtra to start the
proceedings.
Prof. John
Chelladurai extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest Dr.Alain
Tschudin , Professor of Peace Studies and Director of the International Centre
of Nonviolence at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa and
President of Association Montessori International. He
then thanked Dr. Ogarit Younan, Founder AUNOHR, Lebanon for her presence as the
Guest of Honour and her wholehearted support to the programme.
He welcomed Smt.
Ashaben Bothra, President of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan who would be
delivering her blessings to the fellows and Prof. Vikas Sapkal, Vice Chancellor
of MGM University who would be giving the Presidential address.
He made a
special mention of the presence of Prof. Michael Sonnleitner, a prominent
educator, activist and Gandhi scholar from the USA and a mentor and faculty of
IFPNP and active in various initiatives taken for expanding the principles of
Mahatma Gandhi.
Finally he extended a warm welcome to all fellows who had joined and completed this programme.
He then requested
Dr. Siby K. Joseph to take it forward by presenting a report about
the Programme.
Dr. Siby
K. Joseph , Director, IFPNP, briefed the
audience about the programme giving the details of its launch, objectives,
inaugural, sessions, assessment pattern, special speakers, number of students
who enrolled and participated.
He outlined that
the main objective of the programme was to introduce Gandhian nonviolence
worldwide especially to the young generation. The Programme was
initiated by Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in association with Gandhi
International, France and Academic University College for Non-violence and
Human Rights-AUNOHR and MGM University, Aurangabad . The inauguration of
IFPNP was held on 2nd October 2023 in the online mode. The chief
Guest was Prof. Ramin Jehanbagloo, Vice Dean and Executive Director,
Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Peace Studies, Jindal Global Law School, New Delhi,
Guest of Honour was Dr. Nahla Harb, Clinical Psychologist Senior Expert and
Trainer in Nonviolent Education, on behalf of Dr. Ogarit Younan, AUNOHR,
Lebanon; Special Message by Mr. Louis Campana, President, Gandhi
International; Blessings by Smt. Ashaben Bothra, President of Sevagram
Ashram Pratishthan; Prof. Vikas Sapkal, Vice Chancellor of MGM
University gave the Presidential address.
The programme
was designed as a four-month online
training program which began on October 2, 2023 and ended on January 30, 2024.
Classes were held on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. About 60 candidates from
all over the world representing thirteen countries were admitted to the programme.
Of which 21 participants were eligible for Certification who successfully
completed the requirements of the Programme. He mentioned the names of all the
Professors who regularly took the classes and the special speakers for the
Programme worldwide. The classes were mainly facilitated were Prof.
John Chelladurai, Prof. Prem Anand Mishra and Dr. Siby K.
Joseph .
The list of special
speakers he mentioned on various topics related to the
programme sounds like the who’s who of the world of Gandhian Studies
which included : Prof. Michael
Sonnleitner (former Professor in the Political Science department Portland
Community College,Oregon, USA) , Dr.Ogarit
Younan, (Founder, Academic University College for Non-violence and Human
Rights- AUNOHR, Lebanon) Mr.Mazen Abou Hamdan, (nonviolent
activist from Lebanon) Mr. Daniele Taurnio , (Philosopher
and Activist of Nonviolent Movement in Italy) ;
Dr. Jeevan Kumar, (Professor(Retd), Dept of Political Science, Bangalore
University, India, Hon.Professor, Karnataka State Rural Development And
Panchayat Raj University);Ms.Heather C. Cumming, (Executive Director and
Founder S.S.A.A.P. Simwatachela Sustainable Agricultural and Arts Program,
Zambia and Sierra Leone) ;Sri. P. A. Nazareth, (Ambassador(Retd.) Govt of
India, Author of books on Gandhian thoughts and principles, Founder of
International Sarvodaya Trust, Bengaluru), Prof. Sanjeev Kumar, (Professor of
Political Science ,Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi) ; Prof.
Shipra S. Singam,(Head, Department of Law,Yeshwant Mahavidyalaya , Wardha) ; Mr. Leandro
Uchoas (President of Shanti Brasil Institute, Educator , Gaia
Education Design for Sustainability (GEDS) Educators Board) ; Mr. Amadou Jallow, (Programme Manager
and Co-founder, Nonviolence Advocates Association, Gambia); Dr.Diana
Barreto Avila (Academic and historian of
gender and women's studies,México); Ms.Daniela Sepulveda Ruiz (Economist and activist, Tijuana,
México); Ms. Alma Glower Avila, (Activist of Nonviolence through
education, health art, Mexico); Dr.Poncho Hernández, (Founder of Escuela
de Paz Tepito México) and others.
He also
referred to a unique event organised by the Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan titled
‘Reflections Colloquium on Emerging Challenges and Scope for Peace in January
2024 in the Sevagram Campus. Many participants contributed their paper for this
Colloquium.
Participants had
to submit a number of assignments based on the topics given by facilitators and
one Project based on Community engagement / reflections on Gandhian
thought/Peace and Nonviolence. Those who submitted all these assignments
and regularly attended the sessions were only considered as eligible for the
Certification.
Dr. Siby K . Joseph ended the report by thanking
and congratulating all the participants, and reminding them that they have to
take the message of Peace and Non-violence forward into the world as
ambassadors and not just keep quiet after getting this certificate.
Dr. John
Chelladurai introduced Smt. Ashaben Bothra , President
of the Ashram and requested her to convey her blessings to the
fellows and the others on the occasion . At the outset, Smt.
Ashaben Bothra greeted all “ Jai Jagat “( victory to the World )
and congratulated all the participants for having completed the rigorous programme.
This is a certification ceremony. What is important is how it would be
reflected in our life, in our deeds, words and actions. Then it becomes
life certification. She also conveyed that the real success of the programme
will be realised only when the participants practice peace and
non-violence in their day to day life. She told the participants that it was
now their duty to spread this message in the world which is extremely disturbed
due to various reasons. She also invited the participants to visit Sevagram
Ashram and experience the presence of Gandhiji there . It is not only
important to become good citizens but also good human beings. One should
become a world citizen.
After expressing
gratitude for her words of encouragement and blessings, Prof. John
Chelladurai invited Dr. Mythili P. Rao to introduce Dr. Ogarit
Younan. who would be presenting her talk as the Guest of Honor. While
giving an outline of the enormous work done by Prof. Ogarit and her husband
Walid Slaybi in the area of Non-violence and Human rights, she read a poem
originally written in Kannada and translated into English by Dr. D. R. Shankar
titled “the Shadow” which spoke about the Eagle which flies high in the sky and
its shadow also flies on the ground unhindered by the obstacles and guided by
“the will of God” and how it applies to the foot-soldiers of Gandhi, like Prof.
Ogarit.
Dr. Ogarit
Younan started her speech by
congratulating the participants and acknowledging the contribution of Prof.
Siby Joseph in the successful completion of this programme with full
justice done to the topic. While expressing that she can feel Gandhi around us
always, she said, “We love Gandhi. We love his Non-Violence. So, we love the
human being in us who chooses this path.” She placed on record the role of her
husband Later Wahid Slaiby in this endeavor. She said that violence and
Non-violence both exist within us but “it is up to education, the environment
and life path to reinforce either of the two, then HOPE exists to choose to cultivate
the nonviolence in us.” She told the Fellows that, “The knowledge and the
experience you have had the opportunity to build in this program is an
opportunity of hope.” She quoted Wahid Slaiby who had said that “We are not
in a world where violence has won;We are in a world where Non-Violence has not
won enough yet”. Concluding her address she said, “I wish you to carry it
in one hand, and in the other hand to carry the human being inside you. It is
your testimony, your certificate of life.Bring it out in you, raise it up so
that we may see it always... It is your humanity. And with Bertrand Russell we
will continue to say, “Remember your humanity and forget the rest.”
After thanking
Dr. Ogarit Younan for the empowering and inspiring address Prof.
Chelladurai informed everyone that though Mr. Loius Campana could
not attend the event but he had sent his special message on the occasion. He
will be introduced and the message will be read by Ms. Akshaya A, a
fellow of IFPNP.
Mr. Louis
Campana, President of Gandhi International, France is an internationally
renowned peace activist and thinker. After having worked with Lanza Del Vasto
for some time, he started the Shanti Association and Gandhi International to
promote Gandhian thought and values. Apart from organising activities to spread
the message of Mahatma Gandhi, he participated in nonviolent actions in
different parts of the globe.
He had sent a
message in which after congratulating the participants he said, “honor them by
calling them adventurers of non-violence which, in this world became sick (a
little more than yesterday, but it is permanent!), is a compliment that
involves a radical change of life.” Two important aspects in this would be to
understand the importance of Ahimsa and Search for Truth (Satyagraha), both of
which begin with ‘oneself’. He urged the participants “to enhance your
commitment to the service of the men of this time when all are upset either by
wars, or by decisions of the leaders of the States-Nations, which by their
thirst for power or incompetence can ignite the whole world towards
dictatorships of control of individuals.” He cautioned everyone by saying that
“pressures and problems raised by Artificial Intelligence, dehumanizing and
which will make all of us submissive and consenting objects.” He quoted Gandhi
and said, “True independence will not come from the seizure of power by a few,
but from the power that all will have to oppose the abuses of authority. In
other words, independence must be achieved by instilling in the masses the
conviction that they have the ability to control and respect the exercise of
authority.” He emphasised on the need for Swadeshi or
self-sufficiency to be empathetic towards others around us. He said, “The
bestway to change this world is not to play with it, let us remain sober,
attentive to others and especially let us remain in joy.” And finally closed
his remarks by mentioning that, “ Be honored, you have made the right choice,
stay faithful to it, the abundance of Life will be given to you.”
Dr. Chelladurai thanked
Mr. Louis Campana in absentia and Ms. Akshaya for having read the
message.
Prof. John Chelladurai informed the audience that due to other pressing engagements Prof. Vilas Sapkal, Vice Chancellor of MGM University would like to speak and take leave. Hence, he invited Prof. Vilas Sapkal to deliver the Presidential address also succinctly mentioned his contributions in the academic world.
Prof. Vilas Sapkal
informed the audience that this was a unique opportunity and hence the
participation of his University in this endeavour. As a scientist he looked upon
Peace as a state of equilibrium. He wished everyone on the auspicious day of
the New Year as celebrated in India which follows the movement of the Sun to
celebrate many festivals. Expressing gratitude to nature is a great example of
Peace. He informed the audience that the MGM University’s name stands for
Mahatma Gandhi Mission and therefore they are committed towards the spread of
his message. He said that in this increasingly distraught and disturbed world
it is the message of peace and non-violence, swadeshi and Satyagraha givehope.
The name of the University carries the name of the Mahatma and hence it is
their endeavour to carry the legacy of his ideas, principles forward. He urged
the participants to become ambassadors of peace and non-violence by practicing
it every day and sharing this with others too.
After thanking
Prof. Vilas Sapkal for his motivating words, Dr. Chelladurai
invited Chief Guest Dr. Alain Tschudin who is the President of Association
Montessori Internationale and Professor of Peace Studies and Director of the
International Centre of Nonviolence at the Durban University of Technology,
South Africa. At the outset he congratulated Prof. Siby, Prof.
John and all the collaborators for designing such a beautiful programme. He
then congratulated the participants for enrolling for this programme. He said
that Gandhi lives with us even today through such initiatives. The world needs
to keep reminding itself about the possibilities of peace and non-violence and
commit itself towards building an environment of trust to sustain the
same. It is important to start programmes which can be sustainable.
Bringing peace needs a holistic approach. We have to address the needs of the
poor and the needy and only then talk about peace and non-violence. He further
added that it is the responsibility of all the participants to carry this
message forward and not stop with the certificate. He wished everyone the best
of luck.
After thanking
Prof . Alain Tschudin , fellows were invited to share
their feedback about the programme. Five fellows shared their impressions about
the programme and how it has helped them.
The Director of
IFPNP then called out the names of the participants who had successfully
completed the Fellowship and were awarded the Certificate.
While calling out each name, on the screen the Certificate and photo of Fellow was displayed. It was a moment of satisfaction and celebration for the candidates who received the Certificates. It was informed that some others were not awarded the fellowship certificate due to technical requirements but urged them to carry the learning forward.
The concluding remark was from Prof. Michael Sonnleitner, mentor / faculty of IFPNP from USA. In his address he expressed his satisfaction in associating with the programme and conveyed his best wishes to fellows in their peace journey
Finally Prof. John Chelldurai and Dr. Siby K. Joseph thanked everyone again for their support and encouragement towards the programme and closed the ceremony.
This report was prepared by Dr. Mythili P. Rao ,
A fellow of IFPNP-II
Congratulations to the successful candidates and welcome to the Fellowship fold. We will continue to make impact
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