By C.M. Paul, SDB
Prof. Menamparampil, the Chief Guest of the seminar, spoke on a need to build up a ''Thought Bank'' that will lead to Dialogue and a sense of Co-Belonging - Working for peace. He emphasised the need to promote inter culture communication in which one is able to understand the other and come together through culture translators. It is also important, he said, to gather people together around great values and high ideals. He invited every community to contribute from its own resources ''as we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.''
Dr. Pius V Thomas, from the Dept. of Philosophy, Assam University, Silchar delivering the keynote address spoke on ''Conflicting Communities to Conversing Cosmo-polities: Counterfactual Ideals against Conflicts'' and invited the participants to talk seriously about peace and real conflict resolution where the strangest of the strangers are welcomed.
Principal Dr Jose Palely informed that 37 institutions and universities across the country took part and 67 abstract papers were received in the seminar. There were five presentations from SCS.
Soon after the inaugural programme, the participants went to three parallel technical sessions chaired by Dr. Pius V Thomas and Dr. Tarun Gogoi and Principal of Salesian College Sonada Dr. George Thadathil.
“'Each paper presenter was given 7 minutes to present the paper and the participants were given 3 minutes to clarify doubts about the paper,” said Seminar Coordinator Dr. Konsam Jenny.
Guests of honor included Principal Debraj Roy College, Golaghat Dr. Putul Saikia, and Fr. Nebu Mathew Palackal who gave fresh insights in conflict resolution.
President of the inaugural session Provincial of Dimapur Salesian province, Fr. Nestor Guria, spoke on the need to understand the conflict situation and intervene meaningfully by focusing on peace and peace education.
Asst. Prof Aparna Borchetia and Asst. Prof Lily Toppo from the Department of Sociology compared the inaugural session.
Source: Don Bosco India
