Forging New Paths in Peacemaking in Times of Conflict and Violence

Headquartered in Delhi, the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR), set up by Sushobha Barve and others, aims to build reconciliation across every divide in India and South Asia through a culture of dialogue and trust-building. The organization works in complex violence-ridden areas like Kashmir to bring healing and reconciliation to the victims of a 17-year-old armed conflict, and in other parts of the country, among Hindu- Muslim communities. In Mumbai, CDR has initiated a study project under the title, 'Listen to Our City' and dialogue amongst diverse communities in one of the communally sensitive areas of the city titled 'Connecting Communities'. Since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Sushobha has worked in far-flung areas of the country which have witnessed terrible violence at different times - in situations of bloody conflict such as the 1989 Bhagalpur riots, the 1992-93 Bombay blasts, the 2002 Gujarat riots and, currently, in Jammu-Kashmir. By far, her Peace Education program has found the largest support, especially among women participants of the CDR-organized dialogues. The modules are based on some of the concerns and needs expressed by the women and educationists in the Kashmir Valley.