Dear All,
We are living in extremely distressing times; we have seen the Gujarat genocide and the emergence of a state with strong fascist characteristics. The continuous hounding of the minorities, the creation of the ‘enemy’, fostering a fear psychosis, mobilization on the basis of an agenda of hatred – we have seen these disturbing processes over the past few years. The reaction of the Indian state following the recent bomb blasts also reveals the tendency to appropriate more and more draconian powers, indiscriminate detention of minority youth, and violation of civil and political rights of its citizens with impunity.
The attacks on the Christian minorities in Orissa and Mangalore have further exposed the hideous agenda of the Hindutva forces to strengthen their agenda of fascist mobilization, and the acquiescence of the Congress led government in the Centre in fomenting this process. In this context the civil society needs to understand the nature of the emerging fascist state and strategize on methods to counter this tendency. A one-day seminar has been organized by many concerned civil society organizations to deliberate on this issue and evolve strategies for action, on the 23rd of November, 2008. All of you are invited to this seminar. Kindly note the venue and time of the seminar.
Kindly see the attachments for more details.
'DARSHAN' – An Organization Committed to Cultural Transformation
B-2/1, Sahajanand Towers, Jivraj park, Ahmedabad – 380 051, Gujarat, India.
PHONE: +91-79-26815484, 65413032.
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THE FASCIST STATE:
Setting the agenda to counter
[A Seminar on Orissa-Karnataka experiences and lessons from Gujarat Genocide]
Time: 9-00a.m. to 5-00p.m.
Date: Sunday, 23rd November, 2008.
Venue: Ahimsa Shodh Bhavan, Gujarat Vidyavith, Ahmedabad.
SCHEDULE
SESSION-1. Time Programme/Resource Persons
9-00 am to 9-30 am Registration & Tea
9-30 am to 10-15 am Keynote Lecture on ‘Politics of Communal Fascism and Indian Democracy’ by
Girishbhai Patel
[Senior Advocate and Human Rights Activist]
10-15 am to 11-15 am Facts and Realities of Orissa (Kandhmal) experience
Speakers:
- Saroop Dhruv
- Dwarika Nath Rath
- Chittaranjan Singh
11-15 am to 11-45 am Open Session on Orissa experience
11-45 am to 12-15 pm Video Presentation on Karnataka [Manglore] experience.
12-15 pm to 1-00 pm Facts and Realities of Karnataka (Manglore) experience
Speaker:
- Fr. Cedric Prakash (To be decided)
1-00 pm to 1-30 pm Open Session on Karnataka experience.
1-30 p.m. to 2-30 p.m.
Lunch Break
SESSION-2 Chairperson: Ghanshyam shah (Sociologist and Political Scientist)
2-30 pm to 3-45 pm Key questions posed by Gujarat Genocide and
Realities of Democratic set-up
Sepakers:
- Prakash Shah
- Gagan Sethi
- Mukul Sinha
- Mallika Sarabhai (To be confirmed)
3-45 pm to 4-00 pm
Tea Break
4-00 pm to 4-30 pm Open Session on Lessons from Gujarat Genocide
4-30 pm to 5-00 pm Chair Persons Comments and Resolution Passing
ORGANAISED BY:
*
* Action Aid
* Aman Biradari
* Aman Samuday
* Antarik Visthapit Haq Rakshak Samiti
* Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
* Centre for Development
* Documentation and Study Centre for Action
* Himmat
* INSAF
* JanVikas
* Lok Kala Manch
- Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan
* Movement for Secular Democracy
* National Alliance for Women
* Niswa
* Prashant
* PUCL
* Safar
* SAHR WARU – Women’s Action and Resource Unit
* Samarpan
* Samerth
* Samvedan Cultural Program
* Sanchetna
* Saurashtra Dalit Sangathan
* St. Xavier’s Social Service
Society
* Swabhimaan Andolan
- URJAGHAR
* Please confirm your participation before 21st November-2008.
* Registration Fees Rs. 10/- per person.
* Contact No: 079- 2681 5484 / 6541 3032.
09426181334 (Hiren Gandhi)
Appeal:
The Expected Total budget of the Seminar is approximately Rs. 45,000=00. We appeal you to contribute organizationally or individually. You can send your contribution by cheque in favour of ‘DARSHAN’. (Ahmedabad) or pay directly to any one of the expenses like hall rent, food etc.
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