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"Perhaps one of the best example of Banaras
Hindu University's
will and capability to innovate and integrate is manifest in the launching of
the Malaviya Centre for Peace Research. The energy,
sophistication, and amiable seriousness of purpose of the nucleus faculty and
graduate students, struck me as one of the finest works in progress I have
witnessed at the dozens of Universities in Europe, Central America, India and
of course especially the United States where I have either taught or served
as Dean or Consultant."
M.J. Lunine, Professor of
Humanities and Global Peace Studies, San Francisco State
University, Dec. 1999.
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Varanasi has traditionally been enriched by multifarious cultural and religious
traditions and norms of harmonious coexistence and conflict mitigation.
Epitomizing the liberal and tolerant aspect of Hinduism, Varanasi has been
the place where Mahavira and Buddha articulated
their philosophy of non-violence and great saints like Kabir
made remarkable contributions to the cause of inter-communal harmony. Thus,
for over two thousand five hundred years, this city has stood out as a place
of discourse and interaction between various religious and ethical
inspirations concerned with national and global harmony and peace. Continuing
that tradition, it is befitting that Banaras Hindu University has taken a lead in institutionlizing a Centre for Peace Research and Conflict
Resolution - An expression of an Idea whose time has come
The Malaviya Centre for Peace Research (MCPR)
was established in 1997 as an independent, interdisciplinary centre of the
Faculty of Social Sciences at the Banaras Hindu
University - one of the
largest and most prestigious university systems in India. It consists of Faculty and
Researchers from diverse disciplines of the Social Sciences, particularly
Political Science and International Relations, working to analyse and
contribute to the peaceful resolution of intra- and inter-state conflict. The MCPR
involves in its programs faculty, students, representatives from the media
and social activists and has emerged as a symbol of excellence in the field
of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. In addition to its academic domain,
the MCPR has an extensive outreach program, involving nearly 150 active
members, including opinion makers from different communities, representatives
of Non-Governmental Organisations and private citizens from different parts
of Northern India, interested in the issues
of peace building and conflict transformation within and outside Indian
borders.
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