Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies

About the Department

Mankind is struggling to escape itself from the evils of the industrial civilisation, greed based economic system and immoral political conditioning, but unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of. In such darkness the thoughts Mahatma Gandhi could be torchbearer. Only Gandhi Ji’s philosophy can bridge the Cartesian division (duality of mind and body). His dedication to truth, non-violence, morality, equity, human dignity and freedom is well defined and it’s well examined fact that his way to live, can free us from many paradoxes. Keeping this in mind Mahatma Gandhi Central University established the Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies in 2019.

Department offers Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes in Gandhian and Peace Studies. Department is committed towards enhancing research to all aspects of Gandhian Thought and Peace. With the aim of establishing a Gandhian ideas-based research centre, the department will endeavour to promote interdisciplinary research. Department aims to develop Gandhian thoughts as methodological tool to understand, explain and analyse conflicts and violence world-wide. By the teaching and research, department targets to develop the principles and practices of Gandhian ideas and providing profound knowledge of the history, theory and practice. Apart from class room teaching, dissertation/Seminar, Project writing and field study is the essential component of programmes. This evolving discipline is an innovation in order to explore the Gandhian philosophy in perspective of peace and conflict resolution and to offer a platform to the young generation for enlightened citizenship.

At present, humanity is struggling to break free from the grip of industrial civilization, greed-based market economy, and ethics-deficient politics. Unfortunately, no path to liberation seems visible from this situation. In this darkness, Mahatma Gandhi alone appears as a beacon of light. Gandhiji’s philosophy can bridge the mental and physical conflicts of humankind. His commitment to truth, non-violence, morality, equality, human dignity, and freedom is an essential part of his philosophy of life. Indeed, it is a fact that his philosophy of life can liberate us from many contradictions. Keeping this in view, the Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies was established at Mahatma Gandhi Central University in 2019.

The Department offers programmes of Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Gandhian and Peace Studies. The Department is primarily committed to exploring and developing the theoretical and practical dimensions of research on all aspects of Gandhian philosophy and peace. Keeping in view the importance of interdisciplinary research, the development of a research centre based on Gandhian thought is also one of the important objectives of the Department. A major aim of the Department is to understand and analyze conflicts and violence occurring in the world through Gandhian perspectives, to develop Gandhian techniques for their resolution, and to explore their practicality. Through teaching and research, the Department seeks to develop theories and practices based on Gandhian ideas and to enhance their historical, theoretical, and practical knowledge. In addition to classroom teaching-learning, dissertation writing, seminars, projects, and field studies are important components of the Department’s programmes. As an evolving discipline, this subject represents an innovation through which Gandhian philosophy can be explored not only in the context of peace and conflict resolution but also to provide a platform for the younger generation towards enlightened citizenship.