SAMAGAM 2026: From Tolerance to Hope — Where Art Meets Peacebuilding
A week after Samagam 2026 (February 21), I found myself reflecting on a simple but urgent question: in a world that often feels divided, what actually helps us come closer?
This year’s Samagam offered a powerful response — the intersection of art and peacebuilding.
Until a few years ago, one of my biggest fears was nuclear war. Series like Chernobyl and films like Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan only deepened that fear.
Nuclear warfare remains one of the most destructive forces imaginable. Ironically, social media often turns it into dark humor—imagining a strange sense of “peace” amid the monotony of corporate deadlines and endless meetings.
But recently, I found myself thinking differently. While war is terrifying, something more insidious looms over us—the growing desensitization and apathy people show toward one another.
The real danger begins when ordinary people start turning a blind eye to injustice and chaos. That is the point of no return—when there may be nothing left to counter the damage done by those in power.
We were joined by Dr. Bautista Logioco, who embodies both worlds: a peacebuilder in practice and an artist in expression. One of the most compelling ideas he shared was that these two fields, often seen as separate, are in fact deeply complementary. Where policy and negotiation attempt to resolve conflict structurally, art works quietly at the human level — shaping perception, emotion, and empathy.
Art, as he described it, is not just about storytelling. It is about participation. It asks the audience not to passively observe, but to step into the narrative — to question, to feel, and most importantly, to see from another’s perspective.
This ability to engage with the “other” lies at the heart of peacebuilding.
Often, conflict persists not just because of disagreement, but because of an inability — or unwillingness — to understand lived realities different from our own. Art disrupts this distance. Whether through theatre, film, or music, it creates a shared space where people can encounter unfamiliar experiences in a deeply human way.
Bautista illustrated this through his work in theatre. In one performance on “dignified dying,” audiences were invited into the intimate and painful choices of an elderly couple navigating love and suffering. In another, stories of homelessness were portrayed not as distant social issues, but as human experiences filled with complexity, dignity, and emotion. These were not stories designed to instruct — they were experiences designed to be felt.
And that is where their power lies.
When people feel, they begin to reflect. When they reflect, they begin to question. And sometimes, that questioning leads to small but meaningful shifts — in thought, in attitude, in behaviour. Bautista shared how one audience member, after watching a performance, began engaging more intentionally with people experiencing homelessness — simply by acknowledging them, speaking to them, and seeing them as individuals. A small act, but one rooted in a transformed perspective.
This is where art and peacebuilding meet: in their shared goal of expanding how we see one another.
The conversation also explored humour — described as “tragedy from a distance.” While humour can open up difficult conversations, it must be used thoughtfully. Films like Jojo Rabbit or Do the Right Thing show how storytelling can balance lightness with gravity, inviting audiences in while still leaving them with deeper questions.
What stood out most throughout the session was the idea that art creates entry points where traditional approaches often cannot. Dialogue, negotiation, and policy are essential — but they can sometimes feel inaccessible or rigid. Art, on the other hand, softens these boundaries. It invites curiosity instead of defensiveness. It allows people to engage without the pressure of taking sides immediately.
In that sense, art is not separate from peacebuilding — it is an essential partner to it.
Aastha, CPPA’s Music Engagement Specialist, captured this beautifully when she reflected on how easily we slip into passive consumption today. In contrast, art — especially live, immersive forms like theatre — demands presence. It asks us to slow down, to engage, and to think.
And perhaps that is where change begins.
Samagam 2026 reminded us that building peace is not only about large-scale solutions. It is also about the quieter, everyday work of shifting perspectives — of learning to listen, to question, and to see beyond our immediate understanding.
I’ll end with a thought shared during the session:
Don’t let fear limit your expression or your actions. Whether through art or in daily life, even the smallest act of empathy can have an impact — sometimes, just enough to help someone live better.
Contributor Vaishnavi Vyas
