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Concept NoteThe Hum Kadam Dialogues

The Hum Kadam Dialoguesare an attempt in the direction of realizing the objective of establishingmeaningful, unconditioned and sustaineddialogue between the youth of Kashmir and Delhi.The first Dialogue, scheduled for September 2015, is envisaged as the first in a series of dialoguesbetween undergraduate and postgraduate students from Kashmir and Delhi. The theme fordiscussion at Hum Kadam Dialogues 1 is Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir.This will befollowed by a second meetingtitled Hum Kadam Dialogues 2with the same group of students

in January 2015.

Why Dialogue?

The Hum Kadam Dialoguesis a response to the absence of a genuine and sustained dialogue thataddresses, directly and unapologetically, the factor that affects the relationship between the youth ofKashmir and Delhinamely the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. We in the MSEG (Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Group) believe that a more direct approach helps in two very importantways. First, for the Kashmiri, it acts as a means by which s/he can express his/her anger, a righthitherto denied. Second, a direct approach helps both sides come outin an organic and naturalway

of preconceived notions about the other.

We at MSEG see the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as an interlocking of conflict at three main levels:the personal-human level, the level of society, and the level of politics. We also identify three majorstrandswith some degree of oversimplification of courseof thinking with regard to the dispute,each centered around one of the above mentioned levels of conflict:

The majority opinion of Kashmir which is based on the conflict at the political level.

The Indian Nationalist opinion which is based on the conflict at the level of societyseeing the Jammu and Kashmir question as essentially one of integration.

The peacebuilding perspective which is based on the conflict at the personal-human level.

The Hum Kadam Dialoguesshall be a space for dialogue between various perspectives. The threeperspectiveseach centered on one of the three levels of conflictact as lens producing images ofthe entire problem. A particular perspective while producing images of the conflict also producesimages of the other perspectives, but in so-doing produce understandings that are different from aview of those other perspectives from within. The result is a situation where myriad images of the

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conflict are createdeach reflecting and refracting the other to create a complexity that ismindboggling. The Hum Kadam Dialoguesseeks to be a space where we can begin to contemplate onthe complexity thus created. The MSEG believes that a dialogue on these varying perspectives mustnecessarily precede any action based on these perspectiveselse there is the danger of us

indoctrinating the other. Indoctrination can only be avoided once space is given where views

nomatter how radical, biased or inaccuratecan be expressed freely.

Selection and Participation

There shall be a total of four teams each with three members that shall participate in HumKadam Dialogues 1. Two of the teams shall be from Kashmir while the other two shall be fromDelhi.

Application for participation is open to all undergraduate and postgraduatestudents.Applicants are requested to apply in teams of three.They are required to submit a 2000word opinion-piece on the above mentioned theme. The final four teams shall be selected based onthe quality of these opinion pieces.

The opinion piece submitted by a team must include contributions from all three members.Theteam is supposed to identify a sub-themewithin the broader theme mentioned above.1Memberone of the team should discuss the problem they have identified, its context and implications.Member two should propose a solution to the problem. Member three should identify hindrances tothe solution.

The Format

Hum Kadam Dialogues 1 shall be a two day event. Each of the four teams shall be given a sessioneach to present their opinion-pieces. A session shall last for roughly two hours. Each member shallspeak for 15minutes so that the team shall complete in a total time of 45 minutes. Following this anexpert panel and members of the other three teams shall provide their feedback (Time allotted = 30minutes). Please note that the four selected opinion pieces shall be circulated amongst theexpert panel and the other teams prior to the event. The expert panel members and theparticipating students are therefore required to prepare a feedback based on a criticalanalysis of the opinion pieces of the other teams before coming to the Hum Kadam

Dialogues.The presenting team shall be given 15 minutes to respond to the feedback of the expertpanel and the students of the other teams. This shall be followed by an Open House discussion for

1For example, The Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir:Views on the Trust Deficit between Kashmir and

Delhi;The Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir:Its Relation to Gender Roles in Kashmir, The Militarization in

Jammu and Kashmir:Its Relation with the Idea of Peace; The Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir:Its

Implications on the Regional Polarizations within J&K State.

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30 minutes. These sessions shall be moderated by two guests one from Delhi and another fromKashmir.

In addition to the four sessions centeredon the presentations of the four teams, there shall also be

an Introductory and Concluding Session. The introductory session shall aim at

apart fromintroducing Hum Kadam Dialogueslistening to the expectations of the participating students (thefour teams as well as the audience) from Hum Kadam Dialogues. The Concluding Session shallinclude final comments from the four teams and an open discussion aimed at providing feedback.The objective in the open discussion is to collectively contemplate on the views exchanged over thepast two days.

The goal is not to achieve a major agreement on the above theme but to inaugurate aprocess of dialogue where thoughts can be expressed without fear and favour.

The MSEG welcomes interested students to apply for participation.