Salesian Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Vol. VII, No. 1 (May 2016)
ISSN: 0976-1861 | DOI: 10.51818/SJHSS.07.2016.v-viii | Page No: v-viii | Section: Editorial
Editorial: Education and Social Inclusion: Challenges of Diversity | v

Editorial:

Education and Social Inclusion: Challenges of Diversity

George Thadathil is the Principal of Salesian College Sonada and Siliguri. He is the author of Vision from the Margin (2007) and has edited and co-edited number of books besides contributing to a number of journals and edited volumes on Philosophy, Literature and Social Science. He is the founder Director of Salesian Publications, Salesian Research Institute and Salesian Translation Centre.

Aju Kurian is the Vice Principal and Campus Minister of the Salesian College Siliguri. He has done his Masters in Microbiology from St. Joseph’s College Bangalore (Autonomous) and MBA with specialization in International Trade Management from NIBM. He holds a bachelor's degree in Education (B.Ed.) from Kurushethra University. He has a number of years of experience in school administration. His areas of interests are Recombinant DNA Technology, Oncogenes, Philosophy, Education, and Religion.

Ganga Parajuli Tirkey is the Head of the Department of Education and the Women's Cell Coordinator at Salesian College, Siliguri. She has completed her Masters in Education from The University of Calcutta. Her areas of Interest are Mental Hygiene and Special Education.

Rochelle Ann Lepcha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism. She has completed her Masters from the University of Pune. She qualified her UGC NET in Mass Communication and Journalism in December 2012. Her area of Interest includes Reporting & Television Production.

Anushree Jiten Roy is currently working as a School Counsellor at Delhi Public School, Siliguri. She was the former Head of the Psychology Department at Salesian College Siliguri and a board member of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology for the University of North Bengal. She has completed her post-graduation from Christ University,  Bengaluru. She has specialized in clinical psychology and inclusive ducation. Her areas of Interest include Curriculum Development, Performing Arts, Behavioural Therapy and Learning Languages.

The third phase of the Intercontinental Seminar organized by the Salesian University Institutions and hosted at Sonada, Darjeeling, India, on the general theme Education and Social Inclusion upon the specifically Asian aspect of cultural diversity. Diversity is regarded as an Indian cultural heritage embodying the vast diversity of the Asian continent in a uniquely Indian way represented in the adage ‘Unity in Diversity’. While there is an overall Indian Culture to which diverse peoples do subscribe, it does not negate or discount the vast linguistic, religious, regional and cultural diversity inbuilt within the Indian sub continental reality.

The issue of inclusion therefore becomes on the one hand a matter of necessary assertion by those at the periphery. This desire for assertion can be seen as arising from a here-to-unachieved integration of peoples into the mainstream. Therefore, even the demand for recognition and even autonomy need not necessarily be an evil as it only emphasizes the inherent democratic processes at work. In the case of tribal/indigenous peoples while the exclusion may be seen as the outcome of the demand and expression of their rights to preservation of unique traditional life styles, in the case of Dalits it inevitably is an issue that needs redress for the prolonged periods of exclusion of a group from privileges to education, job opportunities and ritual participation.