“Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict -- alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence.”
― Dorothy Thompson Conflict is essential to one's existence. And how we as an individual as well as a society resolve conflict reflects our maturity. A lot of conflicts or no conflict at all in a society an imbalance; a disorder.
India as a society has been budding tree of thought masters like Kabir, Buddha,Ambedkar and Gandhi. Even then, we haven't really progressed beyond the 'win/lose' logic when it comes to dealing with conflicts.
Located in the old-city of Ahmedabad, Conflictorium is journey of resolving conflicts you take along participating throughout.
"Gujarat has witnessed various instances of conflicts and differences. Worth noting is the fact that Gujarat originated because of linguistic difference on 1st of July which we celebrate as 'Maha Guajrat Day'. It has been long we have been struggling to curb inequality and have failed. But we think it is all about celebrating differences and plurality.", explains Avni Sethi who is one of the brainchild behind the concept. When asked 'Why' this theme? Avni says, "It is high time we move beyond the satisfaction and otherwise we get by winning or losing. Most of the time, we ignore the importance of apology from 'victor' team to that who has lost families"
Okay, hold on. If you live in Ahmedabad, you aren't reading ahead. You simply got to be there. If you are a non-Amdavadi, go ahead!
As you enter the once about-to-fall-apart building housed by Gool Lodge, you walk through various verses and quotations by India's thought leaders till you land to the Conflict Timeline.
You don't have any judgmental representation of unfortunate events. You have only have representation of events and it is then up to us to resolve the conflict, understand ruler's perspective and public Psychology behind that behavior. To decide what could have been a better choice. To voice out your opinion if it would have been a better idea to be at peace or to kill each other at the name of religion. Decide it for yourself here.
Theatre of Conscience This is a restoration of conscience from where it is, to where it must be; if at all we believe truth must win. A short animated story a father tells his son.
The third phase of the museum left me awestruck. A small toilet with different size of brooms on the wall. The blurb read 'Inner Purity'.
I have switched on to Astha channel several times and have heard gurus talking about inner purity in never-understandable terminology.
This is the BAAP of all gyan. Inner purity is purity within us. If only we take pains to clean ourselves physically and emotionally, and our surrounding, the world would be better place to be in.Empathy Alley
There are these people, who talk to you. They tell us, if they could why can't we? Exemplary personalities like Chacha, Gandhi, Ambedkar etc. have so far carved our destiny and continue to do so even with their shadows. Here, shadows talk.
"Independence is no doubt a matter of joy. But we must not forget that this independence has thrown us great responsibilities. By independence we have lost our excuse of blaming Britishers for anything that goes wrong. If thereafter anything goes wrong, we would have no one to blame than ourselves", says one of the Ambedkar's poster at Moral Compass. This room confronts us with moral lessons and our own original constitution of India.
It resolves our conflict of how we can balance our ancient values and modernity in a way that they help us solve present dilemmas.Memory Lab From "I have shifted with my new roommate to new flat today and our first outing is at Conflictorium, irony" to "I lost my family in 2002 riots and we aren't still able to put back the pieces of our lives together. I really request people to not give in to politics ever again" various visitors who have visited the place put down their memories when they have felt conflicted and are now resolved.
This is followed by "In this house and in that world"'s beautiful experience where you feel Bachu Nagarwala, Ahmedabad's first beautician of its kind who lived in the same place. You sit where her customers used to sit, you look at her picture and then your reflection in the same mirror her customers saw themselves as she beautified them. You cut your hair with the same scissor she used for her customers and drop it in a bowl. With lovely sound installation by Avni Sethi herself, one can feel oneself beautify with every moment passing.
Same as Bachu Nagarwala's customer felt.
This is the Power of New. A new you. Beyond polarity is a 'third space'.
We've often come across the glass 'half full' or 'half empty' concept. It is only the perspective of the person that matters. And that is exactly what this Perpectives will make you figure out for yourself. You stand in one circle and you see a road and vehicles. You stand on an adjacent circle and you see an altogether another world which has an old house and goats wandering.
"No two people see the same thing as we all stand in different positions. Which is why conflict happens and can be solved if we start looking from other person's point of view", says Avni.
As I move ahead, I come across Third Side Cafe, a cafe of its own kind, which is soon going to start serving food that can put you in conflicts!
"Ahmedabad is divided in two by Sabarmati. One side has a different taste and the other is completely different. But both are rich in their own-selves", Avni says as she explains the concept behind this cafe. "Cafe is somewhere we get food while we hang out with friends. But what then after? What when you can't eat more but still want to hang -out more? Youngsters today need to have a different space."
A Gallery of Disputes puts us in front of unpleasant conflicts that have been. Definitely, we cannot solve any issue until and unless we accept and acknowledge it.
This is followed by a 'Sorry Tree' where we apologize for our ignorance as one leaves notes of sorry on tree branches. Something that sets us free - Apology.
The last but our favorite spot is Conversation Quadrangle commonly known as Chowk where people sit down and pour their heart out, once they are done exploring their conflicts, through conversations and interactions.
Already conflicted whether to go or not? I'll resolve, GO.
Where?
Gool Lodge, Opp. R.C Technical High School, Mirzapur, Ahmedabad. When? 11:00 AM onwards. Contact: 079- 25620747
