Novel laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore believed that it was not enough to pass on information, what was important was the ability to put to use what one has learnt and to develop curiosity and alertness of mind. In the contemporary knowledge society this perspective of Tagore is of great importance as there are deluge of information. For a strong foundation of an active citizenry it is a challenge on how the citizens make use of this information for the benefit of the society. In this backdrop, media and information literacy programmes especially for young people becomes significant as it develops their capacities and enhances their skills to not only use information but also use the media to take up social concerns. It is with this goal in mind that the Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Foundation, a national think tank of academicians, communication specialists, social workers and researchers has initiated The Peace Gong, a global children’s newspaper. The aim of this initiative is also to develop communicative, semiotic and cultural skills along with critical thinking abilities amongst children so that they can negotiate the increasing complexities of today’s world.
The Peace Gong by promoting media and information literacy aims to build bridges of friendship amongst children of the world and prepare them to work towards a global non-violent future. It is not just a platform for children to write on social concerns but is also a vehicle to promote child participation for community building. It is also a vehicle to promote child rights issues. It has child reporters not just in different states of the country but also abroad.
Rather than just promoting the capacities of children to understand and express their views on different social concerns, The Peace Gong also encourages them to be the catalysts of volunteer initiatives. The editor, Spandana Bhattacharya, a student of class XI succinctly puts the spirit of volunteering promoted by the newspaper in her editorial (Special issue of The Peace Gong on Volunteerism) on what Peace Gong reporters aims for, “All of us have the light in us, a light powerful enough to purge the darkness around. We all have the spark in us, just waiting to be kindled! We are all peace warriors trying to work day and night for a better tomorrow. And that’s exactly what our newspaper “The Peace Gong” advocates – humanity.”
