Promoting Gandhian Nonviolent Communication in times of Hate Communication

Dr Vedabhyas Kundu,

Programme Officer,

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti

Peace should never be taken for granted. It is an on-going process, a long-term goal which requires constant engineering, vigilance and active participation by all individuals. It is a choice to be made on each situation, every life decision to engage in sincere dialogue with other individuals and communities, whether they live a block or a click away. (UNESCO 2013)

At a time when the world is hungering for peace amidst conflicts of different kinds in different societies, UNESCO’s contention that ‘peace should never be taken for granted’ is pertinent more than ever before. While UNESCO underscores the need to engage in sincere dialogue with individuals and communities, there are large number of instances in different societies where hate speech is being used to whip up passion and spread hatred amongst communities.

The UN’s International Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination describes ‘hate speech’ as “a form of other-directed speech which rejects the core human rights principles of human dignity and equality and seeks to degrade the standing of individuals and groups in the estimation of society.”

Weber (2009) explains hate speech as inclusive of all the expressions which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance, including intolerance expressed by aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism, discrimination and hostility against minorities, immigrants or people with foreign origin.

Dossou et.al. (2016) expands the concept of hate speech to hate communication that includes not only hate speech as verbal message (both written and spoken), but all kinds of messages (see below): verbal (words and formulations), paraverbal (voice), non-verbal (body language), visual (images, symbols), which may convey and also produce racism and xenophobia.

The challenge today is the strategies to be adopted to counter hate communication which could lead to violence and fuel intolerance. In the context of Dossou et.al. concept of hate communication, it is imperative that the citizenry develop critical abilities to understand and deconstruct all four dimensions: words (verbal messages), voice (paraverbal messages), body (non-verbal messages) and images, colours, symbols (visual messages).

Dossou et.al underscore on the need of enhanced awareness, they note, “More awareness raising campaigns must be organized in order for the society (wider public) to get accustomed to the recognition of hate communication.” They all stress on the need for enhanced intercultural dialogue.

As people become accustomed to stereotypes right from childhood and these are responsible for construction of hate communication, they argue, “Specific education programs and awareness campaigns for children have to be promoted. Their content should focus on human rights and the importance of diversity. Respecting one another is fundamental for a democratic society and this is a lesson young children must learn at a really young age.”

In the backdrop of the arguments of Dussou et.al. on the strategies to negotiate the challenges of hate communication, Gandhi’s nonviolent communication offers vital opportunities for enhancement of intercultural dialogue.

The nonviolent communication approach of Mahatma Gandhi consists of four ideas: (1) nonviolent speech and action; (2) maintenance of relationships and enrichment of personhood; (3) openness; and (4) flexibility. For Gandhi, the goal of communication was to build and maintain human relationships and thus enhance personhood. Gandhi’s insistence upon nonviolence recognized the importance of others, valued humanity, and appreciated the importance of human relationships and personhood.

Mahatma Gandhi’s communication approach is an apt lesson of how we can practice nonviolence in our communication efforts. From start to finish, the underlying principle of Gandhian engagement with an opponent in a conflict was to keep the channels open, to avoid intimidation and to remove all obstacles to dialogues. His idea of mutual toleration is an important element of nonviolent communication. He had said, “The golden rule of conduct…is mutual toleration, seeing that we will never all think alike and we shall always see truth in fragment and from different angles of vision….Even amongst the most conscientious persons, there will be room enough for honest differences of opinion. The only possible rule of conduct in any civilized society is therefore, mutual toleration.”

To counter the effects of haste communication, it is imperative that the citizenry learn to practice self-restraint. Gandhi had said, “My hesitancy in speech, which was once in annoyance, is now a pleasure. Its greatest benefit has been that it has taught me the economy of words. I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes my tongue or pen. I do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my speech or writing. I have thus been spared many a mishap and waste of time.” (The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi)

Here it is would be imperative to look at the different elements of nonviolent communication which are essential features to counter hate communication and enhance the practice of dialogues for resolving conflicts:

1. Nonviolent Communication means complete lack of violence in the way we communicate with others. It includes both verbal and nonverbal communication. Gandhi affirmed that non violence is the law of the human beings and violence is the law of brute. So we have to repose complete faith in the power of nonviolent communication.
2. We should learn to self-introspect. Before arguing with others, we should learn to be patient and reflect within ourselves. We can practice nonviolent communication by observing our inner self and deeply listening to our self-talk. This will help us to look for creative solutions of our feelings and needs and also how we connect with others.
3. We should try to take responsibility of our action, words and feelings and not blame others for these. Use of appropriate language and words are key to nonviolent communication. Inappropriate use of language and words can contribute to conflicts while use of nonviolent expressions can help in resolution of conflicts. As an eminent scholar had said, ‘‘Language is the key to the heart of a people’’. Language is hence a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires. Nonviolent communication is based in language skills that bring forward our inherent compassion, apathy and anger dissolve, and mutual understanding is cultivated. In nonviolent communication we should avoid cruel, evaluative, judgemental, critical and stereotyping language.
4. An important element of nonviolent communication is even in situations of personal criticisms, we should avoid being aggressive.
5. We should learn to communicate with others with respect; encouraging mutual respect is important ingredient of nonviolent communication.
6. We should be conscious of the power of empathy. By empathising with others, we can touch their humanness. In nonviolent communication, empathetic listening and expressing honestly are equally important.
7. As Mahatma Gandhi believed in divinity of all human beings, a basic premise of nonviolent communication is all human beings are capable of being compassionate. When we reach out to others with compassion, we can expect others to be compassionate with us.
8. Conscious attempts needs to be made to connect with the feelings, perspectives and needs of others. An important aspect of nonviolent communication is caring for the needs of others. However, to understand and care for others needs it is essential to delve on our core values. By practicing the Gandhian approach to nonviolent communication, we will start realizing our core values.
9. We can try to defuse a stressful or conflict situation when we empathize with others. Nonviolent communication is an important tool for conflict resolution.
10. Being flexible is important in order to practice nonviolent communication. George Bernard Shaw had rightly said, “Progress is impossible with change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
11. We must practice to express gratitude to whatever we have and whatever anyone does for us.

References:

1) Dossou, Kofi; Gabriella, Klein; Strani, Katerina; Ravenda, Andrea; Vlachaki, Eirini (2016). Understanding  hate-oriented communication and tools for anti-hate communication strategies in an intercultural dimension; RADAR Guidelines; Heriot-Watt University

2)Weber, Anne (2009). Manual on Hate Speech; Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.