Development of Peace Education in India

EDUCATION, 27 Apr 2026

Surya Nath Prasad - TRANSCEND Media Service

Although India has contributed enormously to world peace through the adoption of the policy of Panchsheel and ‘non-alignment, and not disregarding the great non-violent movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and the long historical tradition of Shanti (Peace) and Ahimsa (Nonviolence), there is almost no trace of peace education either in the form of discipline or in the form of educational institutions in India. This means that there is almost no mention of courses in peace education in the syllabus of schools and universities in India, either before or after independence, though peace activities had been started long before India’s independence, and are still continuing with the help and efforts of Gandhians and neo-Gandhians following the principles of non-violence advocated by Mahatma Gandhi, who conceived peace as non-violence restored with justice and equity. By non-violent action Gandhi meant peaceful, constructive mass action. It is true that Gandhi did not write on peace education in any very specific way, but his whole philosophy and life have been, of course, important in peace studies and peace education not only for India but for other nations of the world as well.

Gandhi was not given the Nobel Peace Prize, perhaps because peace has been so poorly understood. The word “peace” is officially used with such contradictory meanings that acts of war and preparation for war are easily passed off in its name. Virtually no campus or research institutions exist to remedy this basic lack, though some are starting to rise to the 4 challenge. Therefore, because Gandhi did not officially end an open war between two countries, his relevance to the peace process went unnoticed to many during his lifetime. It is only recently that violence, rather than war, has come to be recognized as the opposite of peace. This recognition is as yet confined largely to scholarly circles gradually acknowledging that peace is a comprehensive process involving the uplift of human consciousness and the building of a truly human community at all levels. When this is widely understood the world will recognize that Gandhi did more for peace than any other person in living memory. In fact, the essence of Gandhi’s work was peace, and he did more than raise a general desire for it: he also laid the groundwork for a specific peacekeeping institution, the Shanti Sena (Peace Army), which 40 years later was very effective in containing the Chinese incursion into Tibet as well as in other conflicts.

Gandhi’s conceptual pioneering on a spiritual view of the universe and constant testing could have great promise for peace education. Gandhi made at least four contributions to individual peace work which seem highly relevant for peace education programmes, not only in India but all over the world:

1. A principled or ethical emphasis on the link between means and ends that guided his whole life.
2. Constant testing of beliefs by his own actions.
3. The steady growth or transformation from personal views to a wider world view of peace.
4. The constant use of publicity as to motives and actions. (Herman, 1994.)

Lawson (1989) observes that it is with Gandhi that the link between peace and social justice is so dramatically shown, and it was this connection that was to make education for peace a contentious issue in years to come.

Peace education in India has been greatly influenced by Gandhi’s ideas. This was why, in the beginning, in some selected universities of India and in the Institute of Gandhian Studies, peace education and peace studies have been introduced in the discipline of Gandhian Studies and Non-Violence.

But the fact is that in India, peace education has been started with the introduction of peace research in different disciplines. However, even peace research in India had no place in any discipline prior to 1959. A 5 great Indian Sarvodaya leader, Jayaprakash Narayan (1968), clearly admitted in his Foreword to the book Current Peace Research and India written by Mahendra Kumar: “… it is a matter of much regret that social science research in this country has so far nearly completely neglected the field of peace research. Except of the study of the Rourke la riots (1964) by Dr. B. B. Chatterjee and his colleagues at the the Gandhian Institute of Studies, I know of no serious work of research in this field.” Guided by these thoughts, Jayaprakash Narayan (1966) took the opportunity, in his convocational address to the University of Mysore on the theme “Educational Ideals and the Problem of Peace” in November 1965, to draw the attention of the universities and research institutions in India towards the urgent need for taking up systematic research into the problems of peace. However, until 1958 there was no centre in this country which was devoted to peace research. After this period, the Gandhian Institute of Studies, Varanasi (though it was founded on October 1, 1961 under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan) and the Indian Sch000l of International Studies, New Delhi, established peace research units within the existing framework of their research programmes. And after the con- vocation address of Jayaprakash Narayan, the University of Mysore started a separate Peace Research Section.

The UNESCO World Directory of Peace Research and Training Institutions (1994) reports about 25 peace institutions in India which are engaged in and conducting peace research and peace education programmes.

Gandhi Shanti Pratishthan was the first peace institution established in 1959 at New Delhi. It aims to foster research on peace and peaceful conflict resolution and promote studies and activities for the understanding of non-violence through a Gandhian approach. It is concerned with weapons, disarmament, environmental studies, war, education for peace and Gandhian Studies.

The Gandhian Institute of Studies was the second institution of peace research, founded on October 1, 1961 in Varanasi. This institute works primarily in the following research areas: economic decentralization, land reform, food problems, unilateral disarmament, the Sarvodaya movement, Gandhian thought, village and regional planning, peace research and conflict resolution, integrated regional development, and education.

The Centre for Gandhian Studies and Peace Research was established 6 at the University of Delhi in 1961. This Centre carries out peace research and Gandhian studies.

The Department of Defence and Strategic Studies was opened at the University of Poona in 1964. The main fields of research of this Department include national and international security, disarmament and arms control.

The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses was created in 1965 at New Delhi. Its purpose is to initiate research and discussion on problems of national security, war, peace, disarmament, international relations and the impact of defence measures on the economic, political and social spheres.

The Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament was established at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in 1969. It runs M.Phil. and Ph.D. courses in Geopolitics of Peace. Subjects like peaceful coexistence, conflict resolution, peace and development and regional conflict are taught in this Centre.

The Peace Research Centre was founded in the Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) in 1971. The Centre is concerned with developing alternatives for the new society and the promotion of a non-violent society. It carries out research in the fields of non-violence, conflict, education for peace and disarmament and human rights education. It offers courses in Peace and the New Global Society, as well as M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Peace Studies.

The Indian Institute of Human Sciences was founded in 1972 at Konnagar in West Bengal. This institute carries out research in peace from an anthropological perspective, and deals with ethnic conflict, conflict resolution, mediation, and the origins of war. It conducts courses on peace and human sciences.

The Indian Institute of Youth Welfare was established in 1973 at Nagpur. It carries out research on peace and youth welfare. The subject of peace is taught here especially for youth.

The foundation of the Institute of Gandhian Thought and Peace Studies was laid by the Nobel Peace Laureate Mother Teresa in 1976, on the anniversary of Gandhi’s birth. The Institute is an extension of Gandhi Bhavan, University of Allahabad, the foundation of which was laid by Shri Prakash, the then Governor of Maharashtra State, on 6 February 1961. It is de’voted to the study of Gandhi’s ideas and techniques of change 7 and their relevance to contemporary society. It deals with non-violence, social change, conflict resolution and world peace. It conducts courses in Gandhian thought at the postgraduate level.

The Centre for Studies in Peace and Non-Violence was founded at Sri Venkteswara University, Tirupati by Satchidananda Murthy, the then Vice-Chancellor, and was inaugurated on October 13, 1976. It carries out studies on peace, non-violence, disarmament, environment, biological weapons and conflicts. Peaceful coexistence; conflict resolution; nonviolence; democracy and peace; non-alignment; terrorism; and education for peace are taught in this peace centre. It conducts a Certificate Course in Gandhi and Nehru Studies.

The Indian People’s Welfare Society was set up in 1978 at Howrah. It deals with inter-community conflicts and social unrest, and conflict resolution. If offers a Certificate Course in Communal Harmony.

The Human Rights and Peace Centre was established in 1979 at Annamalainagar (Tamilnadu). It conducts courses in peace studies: peaceful coexistence; the role of international organisations; non-violence; peace and development; democracy; peace; international conflict, regional conflict; education for peace are taught in this centre.

The Indian Institute for Non-aligned Studies was founded at New Delhi in 1980. It carries out research on the NAM countries and covers all the political aspects.

The Department of Gandhian Thought was created in 1980 at Bhagalpur University in Bihar. It carries out research on Gandhian thought. Gandhian philosophy, political and social thought are taught in this Department. It conducts courses on Gandhian Thought and Studies at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels.

The Institute of Total Revolution was set up in 1982 at Vedchhi in District Surat (Gujarat). It is devoted to the study of Gandhian thought and the Gandhian movement, and is also concerned with environmental problems, nuclear weapons and the peaceful use of atomic energy, and non-violence. It conducts courses on Experiments in Non-Violent Community Living, Ahimsa and World Peace, Environment and Peace, Revolution in Theory and Practice, Shanti Sena, and Hindu-Muslim Harmony on the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.

The Transnational Centre for Non-Violence and Social Change was established in 1983 at Bombay. Fields of research of this Centre include 8 non-violence, social change, causes of poverty, and social movements of Gandhian inspiration. It runs courses on non-violence and social change.

The Documentation and Dissemination Centre for Disarmament Information was set up in 1984 at Bangalore. The main focus of this Centre is on regional peace in India and South Asia, including disarmament, peace and development, and education for peace. The Institute of Peace Research and Action was founded in 1985 at Delhi. It is concerned with education for peace and peace research, including peace and development, peace movements and their relation- ships with other grass-root movements (environment, women, human rights), disarmament, arms control and international law, ethnic conflicts and violence, the place of health and peace awareness, and inter-religious conflicts.

The Peace and Disarmament Society of Kerala was set up in 1985 at Peace Bhavan Perumkadavila P. C. in Kerala. It deals with peace and disarmament. It conducts courses on Peace and Disarmament at the undergraduate level.

The India Peace Centre was founded in 1988 at Nagpur in Maharashtra. It carries out research on militarism, disarmament, environment, peace and development, justice and human rights. And these subjects are also taught at this centre. It conducts courses on Development and Peace and Study Conferences on Disarmament.

The Benaras Chapter of the Bertrand Russell Society was set up on the campus of Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi in 1990. It carries out research on the works of Bertrand Russell, promoting his ideals of peace and humanism. It is concerned with nuclear disarmament, fundamental freedoms, and political philosophy.

The Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute at Ladnun (Rajasthan), which was recognised as “Deemed University” by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and University Grants Commission in 1991, runs courses on Non-Violence, Peace & Anuvrat at M.A. level. The main purpose of this course is to enable the course participants to become aware of the various forms of peacelessness in society and their solutions.

The International Centre for Peace Initiatives was established in 1991 at Bombay. It deals with peace, peaceful coexistence, the international order, disarmament, conflict resolution and regional co-operation. It conducts a Certificate Course on Conflict Resolution in Asia.

The Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament and Environmental Protection was founded in 1991 at Nagpur in Maharashtra. It carries out research on ethnic conflicts, education for peace, nuclear disarmament, regional conflict and environment. It offers Certificate Courses on Peace and Disarmament, Environmental Protection and Nuclear Disarmament in South Asia.

The Delhi School of Non-Violence was set up on the campus of Delhi University. (The year of its establishment was not reported to UNESCO.) It promotes non-violence for conflict resolution. It offers a Certificate Course on Non-Violence in Action.

The School of Gandhian Studies and Peace Science was founded at the Mahatma Gandhi University at Kottayam in Kerala. (The year of its establishment is also not known to this author, as it was not found in UNESCO’s Directory.) It carries out peace research. It deals with weapons, disarmament, militarism, the arms trade, the conversion of military industries, and non-violent defence. If conducts courses on Gandhian Studies and Peace at the M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels.

Besides these reported institutions of peace, there are many unreported Centres of Peace and Departments of Gandhian Studies and Non-Violence in the different universities of India which offer courses in peace.

The Institute for Peace Research and Studies (IPRS) was set up in 1986 in the UN International Year of Peace at Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala by Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai. This institute has initiated steps to organize Certificate/Diploma Courses in Peace Education in collaboration with national and international institutions.

Jawaharlal Nehru University at New Delhi created the Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Studies in Peace in 1996. Recently, the Malviya Centre for Peace Research was created at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Banaras Hindu University. And the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and University Grants Commission (UGC) are working for the inclusion of human rights education in the schools and the higher levels of education respectively.

Peace Education Miniprints, No. 43 with the title “Doctoral Dissertations Related to Education for Peace and Multicultural Awareness”, edited by Ake Bjerstedt (1993), also includes references to some studies on non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi and related topics conducted in India. 1 0 10 This bibliography contains 138 doctoral dissertations of this type from the period 1982 to 1992 (7 in 1982-83; 22 in 1983-84; 5 in 1984-85; 6 in 1985-86; 12 in 1986-87; 22 in 1987-88; 12 in 1988-89, 26 in 1989-90; 10 in 1990-91; and 16 in 1991-92), that is on the different topics of nonviolende, Mahatma Gandhi and related topics. These dissertations were submitted at 47 different universities in India and in 14 different disciplines, for example in History, Political Science, Philosophy, Humanities, Social Sciences, Gandhian Studies, and International Relations.

Thus, peace education in India has to some extent been initiated together with peace activities, peace movements, and peace research, and also with the establishment of Peace Research Centres, as well as in departments of history, political science, sociology and international studies. However, it is still unusual that an institution is primarily focused on peace education.

Books and journals in peace education in India are also very rare. For example, no books on peace education from India were included in the bibliography on peace education in the World Encyclopedia of Peace (Pauling, Laszlo & Yoo, 1986).

However, Mental Health and World Peace by the present author was published in 1972 from Varanasi; and Education and World Hunger: Educational Remedy of Hunger for World Peace, edited by this author, was published in 1985 by Mittal Publications, New Delhi. More recently this author has edited, together with Dr. Suman Shukla, a series of seven books in peace education, with the following titles: 1. Women, Education and Peace; 2. Democracy, Education and Peace; 3. Disarmament Education and Peace; 4. Gandhi, Non-Violence and Peace; 5. Human Rights Education and Peace; 6. Science and Religion for Peace; 7. Papers in Peace Education. The first four of these books were published in 1995 by The Associated Publishers, Ambala Cantt., while the remaining three are still in preparation.

Peace Education: An International Journal is available in India (reported in Wien, 1985, p. 705). This journal was founded in 1977 by the author of these lines who is Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Every issue is published on a special theme of peace education. A related journal is Peace Progress. At present this author is involved in editing of this journal also, and publishes it from India. Besides these, this author has contributed several articles and written speeches on the special themes of ii 11 peace education for the last 25 years.

Some other examples of publications may be mentioned here: In 1984 Devi Prasad published a book on Peace Education or Education for Peace (Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi), and the same year a special issue of the journal Gandhi Marg on “Peace Education” was edited by R. R. Diwakar and Mahendra Agrawal. The book Relevance of Peace Education edited by K. Sivadasan Pillai was published in 1991 by the Associated Publishers, Ambala Cantt. It is also worth mentioning here that Volume 10, Number 3 of the International Educator (edited by K. Sivadasan Pillai, 1995) was a special issue devoted to peace education.

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This paper is based on the author of these lines Dr. Surya Nath Prasad’s Document on the theme: Development of Peace Education in India (Since Independence) published by School of Education, Malmö University, Sweden under its scheme of Peace Education Miniprints, No. 95, September 1998.

Dr. Surya Nath Prasad, Former President of the International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP), Retired Professor of Education (India), Former Visiting Professor at Graduate Institute of Peace Studies, Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Peace Education: An International Journal. dr_suryanathprasad@yahoo.co.in

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