Civil Society in Malerkotla, Punjab

Civil Society in Malerkotla, Punjab: Fostering Resilience through Religion by Karenjot Bhangoo Randhawa explores the direct role that religion plays in conflict and peace that has often been difficult to isolate. This study extends previous work on peace and conflict resolution by looking at a town which has witnessed many outbreaks of violence in the past but still holds peace as the norm.  The former princely state of Malerkotla, Punjab is a place where riots did not occur during Partition. In this unique Muslim majority town, there are four distinct religious groups that live in close proximity to each other. Yet, the overall pattern of peaceful plurality in the town has resulted in the transcendence of violence even when the threat looms close by. The unique case of Malerkotla, Punjab provides an opportunity to look more closely and critically at Sikhs and their relationship with Muslims in India.  As a case study, this work captures the overall pattern of Sikh-Muslim interaction in a town that can transcend conflict and make peace the norm. Randhawa uncovers how religious associations, expressions and activities have helped to build social capital and stabilize peace. This book also emphasizes interreligious understanding, cross-cultural awareness, and conflict transformation, and discusses how interfaith communities can work together to bridge understanding in order to prevent violence.   

Karenjot Bhangoo Randhawa's Civil Society in Malerkotla, Punjab: Fostering Resilience Through Religion examines the prevalence of peace between Muslims and the Sikhs in the city of Malerkotla, Punjab. Based in the literature on religious studies and peace and conflict studies, this book provides a unique glimpse at the ways in which peace is built and maintained in a religiously diverse society. . . .This book is a valuable addition to the peace and conflict studies literature and would be useful for scholars in peace studies/conflict analysis, as well as conflict resolution practitioners. This book is also beneficial for those studying religion and civil society., Though ethnic conflict grabs the headlines, the good news is that in some areas of the world inter-faith relationships actually work. The region of Malerkotla in India's Punjab state is one remarkable example, a place in the middle of ethnic conflict where Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh harmony is a way of life. This insightful study shows why. Through case studies, survey research, and theoretical analysis, it explores the various facets of intercultural toleration and demonstrates that if multicultural harmony can work in Malerkotla it can be a model for our complex and divisive world.

Karenjot Bhangoo Randhawa, PhD, currently teaches Peace and Conflict Studies in the International and Area Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley and is adjunct professor of law at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University. Her core areas of focus include cross-cultural conflict resolution and the role of religion in conflict and civil society. She also specializes in designing and delivering training on negotiation skills, facilitation, strategic planning and consensus building for a variety of public and private entities in the United States and internationally.