On National Reading Day, we recommend reading two books by Catalyst Alumna, Kusumika Ghosh, Ireland India Institute doctoral candidate at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University. :
- “Landscape of Conflicts and Peace in the Northeast: The Role of Religion“
- “Women and Peacebuilding: Perspectives from the Field“
June 19 is the National Reading Day. The day is celebrated in honour of P N Panicker, considered the Father of Kerala’s Library and Literacy Movement. It also marks the beginning of the month-long Digital Reading celebrations. Started as a Reading Day celebration on June 19, 1996, by the Government of Kerala in association with the P N Panicker Foundation, National Reading Day, became a mass movement to promote literacy and the culture of reading in the state.
“Landscape of Conflicts and Peace in the Northeast: The Role of Religion“
“All through history religion has been used for political purposes. It is so at present more than in the past decades, both in India and in some other South Asian, European and American countries. Because conflicts are created in its name, does religion become their main source? The book is an attempt to study this phenomenon from a sociological perspective. Does religion in itself cause conflicts or is it used by the powerful for their own purpose? The analytical and historical data as well as what is gleamed from a study done in four states of the Northeast, indicate that the latter is the case. Both, the secondary and primary sources presented in the book lead one to the conclusion that because religion is a powerful component in social formation, some people with power use it to sustain conflicts. But others use the same for peacemaking”
Source : Amazon – https://amzn.eu/d/0RUU7D6
Women and Peacebuilding: Perspectives from the Field
“This volume is an attempt to emphasise the multi-faceted participation of women in social and political life of communities, in Northeast India and elsewhere. It brings to light that binary frames of gendered identities and gender roles cannot adequately explain how women become part of processes of peacebuilding but also of conflicts. The contributions to this volume make evident the varied modalities through which women’s position in such contexts may be experienced, studied and understood. They bring forth new perspectives on women’s political agency and aspirations in situations of conflicts as well as peacebuilding.”
Source : Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/cE3iwOT
While pursuing a Bachelor’s degree with honours in Political Science from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, Kusumika prepared for her Masters at Catalyst and converted M.A. Peace and Conflict Studies at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati, India. She was awarded the Institute Gold Medal at TISS.
The Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies (PaCS) at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is a two-year full-time postgraduate degree program. The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the causes, dynamics, and resolution of conflict. It covers a wide range of topics, including international relations, political theory, social psychology, and peacebuilding.
The course highlights include:
- A strong theoretical foundation in peace and conflict studies
- A focus on empirical research methods
- The opportunity to gain field experience through internships and practicums
- A strong alumni network with connections to the peacebuilding community
The career prospects for graduates of the PaCS program are diverse. Graduates can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Government agencies
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Research institutes
- The private sector
Some of the recruiters that hire PaCS graduates include:
- The United Nations
- The World Bank
- The International Criminal Court
- The Red Cross
- Amnesty International
The starting salaries for PaCS graduates vary depending on the sector they work in and their level of experience. However, graduates can typically expect to earn a starting salary of at least INR 5 lakhs per year.
Here are some examples of employment opportunities for graduates of the PaCS program:
- Peacebuilding practitioner: Peacebuilding practitioners work to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflict. They may work for government agencies, NGOs, or research institutes.
- Policy analyst: Policy analysts research and analyze issues related to peace and conflict. They may work for government agencies, NGOs, or think tanks.
- Researcher: Researchers conduct research on issues related to peace and conflict. They may work for universities, research institutes, or NGOs.
- Educator: Educators teach courses on peace and conflict studies at the university level. They may also work for NGOs or government agencies.
The PaCS program at TISS is a rigorous and challenging program, but it is also a rewarding one. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to make a difference in the world by working to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflict.
About Catalyst: Since 2011, students and working professionals have been able to successfully craft a career with Bachelors and Masters programmes offered by TISS, Azim Premji University, TERI, XIM, IIT, Nirmala Niketan, NLSIU, Sciences Po, London School of Economics and Political Science, Symbiosis, IIMC, ACJ, XIC, JNU, Ambedkar University et al with capacity building training for development sector at Catalyst.
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