The 137th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) aired on the subject theme. The programme aimed to deliberate and emphasize on the need to cultivate positive and empathetic attitudes in the society as an investment in and essentiality for peace and harmony in the society.
The first guest in the show, Mr. Shakeel Waheed Ullah, a senior journalist and columnist noted that social attitudes can tell a lot about social dynamics or even determine them to a great extent. This is because the way we think and what we believe in have a profound effect on the way we act and our behavior with other members of the society. Therefore, the efforts to strengthen social cohesion – at the individual, familial, communal, academic and national levels – should be considerate of the behavioral needs and aim for attitudinal changes. A mere change at the individual level; just a small instance of positive action has the potential to influence even the overall social dynamics.
Promoting the values of respect and cultivating the habit of empathy; listening and giving others a fair chance to be heard only nurtures social cohesion and humanity. To cultivate these ideals, there is no better opportunity than sensitizing the young minds especially during their formative years of education and development.
The second guest on show, Mr. Izhar Ahmed, CRSS’s Ulasi Taroon Alumnus from Karak University underlined the need for more youth leadership development platforms like CRSS to expose the future leaders to the values of acceptance and rule of law. To be of any service to the community and contribute to addressing any social issues, youth first need to educate themselves to be able to effectively carry out their social change drive. Social inclusion only comes through the promotion of social environment where all the members of society feel meaning, belonging and to be equal citizens.
The third guest on phone, Dr. Sadia Shafique, a psychologist noted that an essentiality for outer peace is inner peace; an individual needs to make peace with oneself first to be able to promote peace in the society.
Self-development journey starts with the identification and addressal of negative attitudes, and cultivating the habit of empathy and selflessness; the outcome is a community of individuals with shared goals aiming a collective vision.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of strengthening social cohesion and promoting peaceful co-existence.