Tackling prejudice in this fractured world
Relevance: GS Paper I
Why in news?
Prejudice presents a significant challenge in translating the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam into a tangible reality.
In today's dynamic world, the definitions of certain words and phrases appear to be continually evolving. Understanding what these concepts signify to various segments of society and uncovering the subtle nuances embedded within them can be quite challenging.
- The Ancient Principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: India's ancient cultural principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which translates to "the world is one family," was recently reinterpreted during last year's G20 Summit as "One planet, One family, One future."
- If everyone truly embraced this principle, why do we see such intense polarization within our country and among nations, resulting in conflicts and wars that threaten the very fabric of civilization?
- When our ancient sages articulated the concept of "the world is a family" thousands of years ago, most people likely understood the idea of "family" but not the extent of the "world," which was often limited to their village or nearby communities. Today, despite our vast knowledge of the world and the universe, ignorance remains prevalent.
- The Persistence of Ignorance and Its Consequences: This ignorance is the root cause of hatred, conflicts, and the persistence of prejudice. Progress cannot occur unless all forms of prejudice are completely eliminated.
- What is prejudice: It's an unjust or incorrect attitude towards an individual based solely on their identity—whether race, religion, caste, creed, class, or gender.
- Understanding and Addressing Prejudice: Prejudice often arises from stereotypes and results in discrimination, creating an atmosphere of intolerance and exclusion. In today's age, people's minds are increasingly influenced by fake news and distorted narratives through various forms of media.
- Embracing Unity in Diversity: How should we address these multifaceted crises, particularly the destructive impact of prejudices at both individual and societal levels?
- Recognizing the unity of the human family doesn't imply advocating for uniformity, as true appreciation of human unity embraces diversity inherently.
- How often do we hear people from all walks of life and across nations expressing a longing for peace, harmony, and an end to daily suffering? Yet, these same individuals can easily succumb to rumors and distortions that fuel senseless violence and disorder.
- How many times have entire nations or communities been engulfed by mass hatred, extinguishing all hope and tranquility?
Global Initiatives for Inclusivity:
- The Role of Bahá’u’lláh's Teachings: Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, calls upon all people to independently investigate with an open mind the truth of his Revelation. Every human possesses the gift of understanding and a mind capable of discerning between light and darkness, truth and falsehood.
- Resolving the persistent issues caused by prejudices requires a consensus to protect diverse systems, cultures, and beliefs worldwide based on shared values and principles.
- Global initiatives have demonstrated successful collaboration among nations in addressing universal human rights, poverty eradication, climate crises, sustainable living, and joint responses to natural and man-made disasters. Building a more inclusive and fair world is entirely feasible.
- UNESCO's Educational Frameworks: An exemplary framework that embraces human diversity is UNESCO's educational curriculum, "Learning: The Treasure Within" in 1996 and "Education Futures: Conservation & Change" in 2020. Childhood, a critical period for shaping attitudes and beliefs, underscores the importance of fostering values such as acceptance, empathy, and respect for diversity early on.
- Early intervention helps prevent biased perspectives from forming and promotes an inclusive mindset that endures into adulthood. UNESCO's emphasis on lifelong learning and its four pillars learning to know, to do, to be, and to live together encourages each nation to adopt a holistic approach to education tailored to its unique needs.
- The Role of Family in Nurturing Inclusivity: While many United Nations member states have endorsed these recommendations, implementation often falls short despite strong guidance and legislation. However, beginning with the family as the cornerstone of civilization, parents bear primary responsibility for nurturing their children.
- They play a crucial role in addressing biased behavior, language, or attitudes at home or in the community. Building strong relationships with their children, especially during adolescence, is vital, considering influences from diverse cultures, media, friendships, school environments, and more.
- Strategies for Teachers to Combat Prejudice: Teachers in schools have employed several strategies in classrooms to combat prejudice and promote inclusivity:
- Integrating diverse perspectives into the curriculum.
- Facilitating open discussions about differences and biases.
- Organizing cooperative learning activities to foster collaboration among students from varied backgrounds. It's crucial for teachers to exemplify inclusive behavior, promptly addressing instances of prejudice or discrimination constructively.
- At an institutional level, schools can cultivate an inclusive environment by implementing policies that support diversity and equity, such as anti-bullying initiatives and diversity training for both staff and students.
- Many schools host regular events celebrating cultural and religious diversity, mandated to integrate marginalized students and cultivate a welcoming atmosphere.
- The Importance of Collaborative Efforts: Encouraging all students to engage in diversity clubs or committees can significantly contribute to these efforts. Collaborative efforts between parents and teachers are essential in nurturing a prejudice-free mindset in children.
- They should maintain ongoing discussions about their child’s progress and any concerns related to prejudice.
- Organizing workshops or meetings focused on diversity education is also beneficial, shielding children from influences that undermine our current morally and spiritually fragile civilization.
- Implementing these ideas requires commitment, but those who do so will find it rewarding, and children will be grateful to both their parents and teachers.
- The Vision of Human Oneness: The principle of the oneness of humankind presents a unifying vision capable of bridging diverse elements across the globe. By translating this vision into a framework based on unity amidst diversity, the world can address social divisions and promote healing. The Bahá’í community, numbering eight million strong, serves as an example, fostering collective learning and promoting humanity's shared future during times of increasing global challenges and divisions.
Conclusion:
While deeply saddened by humanity's sufferings, Bahá’ís remain proactive, embodying UNESCO's four pillars of learning, particularly the fourth pillar: "learning to live together." They cultivate understanding of others' histories, traditions, and spirituality, laying the foundation for a new ethos of cooperation and peace.
