An Invitation : Samaj, Sanshadhan and Samividhan Bachao National Convention December 6, New Delhi

SAMAAJ – SANSADHAN – SANVIDHAN BACHAO
NATIONAL CONVENTION

&

Felicitation of Intellectuals, Writers and Cultural Activists
6 December 2015 | 9 AM – 5 PM
Gandhi Peace Foundation, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi, 110002

AN INVITATION

In a Government of India advertisement numbered DAVP22201/13/0048/1415, which was published on 26 January 2015 – the words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ were ominously missing from the Preamble.[1]




Was it deliberate? After numerous attempts to distort the social fabric of India, is this government trying to alter the very fabric of the Constitution of India? Infamous for its prejudiced and insensitive policies towards a host of minority communities, the present government has invited criticism from all quarters. However, its constituent elements namely the Hindutva outfits have been openly attacking social institutions starting from places of worship and education to daily lifestyles of the people with active support from state, police and administration. Burning of churches, hate crimes towards Dalits and Muslims over the sensationalized issue of beef, rampant pro-Hindu replacements in educational, research and art institutions further proved the ulterior motives of this government which wants to turn India into a majoritarian, militant state where voices of the marginalized can be openly stifled. Writers, poets, singers, historians, scientists – flag-bearers of our rich and evolving culture are being threatened and humiliated by these same elements whose only objective is to cause a rift between communities and reap the benefits of a voter base divided on caste and religion.


‘Communalism’ is however only the tip of the iceberg. It only serves as a tool for power consolidation by fascists. Just the way Nazi Germany fanned the ‘German – Jew’ divide. Fascists in turn are a greedy corporation’s best friend. Authoritarian, anti-people political forces are nurtured by multi-billion corporations in almost all countries. In India, it’s no different. This government won after consolidating ‘majority community’ votes and by spending millions of corporate money on advertising. After winning, they are eager to please their funders by forcibly amending the – Land, Labour and Environmental Laws to suit corporate interests. In the name of Single-Window-Clearance they are uprooting entire forests and selling it for corporate profit. There is no regard for constitutional processes and safeguards for the people.



Everybody knows who killed Pansare, Dabholkar and Kalburgi. The question is who will challenge this audacity. As citizens of India, will we tolerate this distortion of our consitutional values? As India’s eminent cultural icons have set an example by returning their state sponsored awards, we take this opportunity to carry forward the dialogue and invite you for a 1-day convention in Defence of India’s Constitution at the Gandhi Peace Foundation on the 6th of December, 2015.



A constitution is not a parchment of paper; it is a way of life and has to be lived up to. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and in the final analysis; its only keepers are the people."

-       Making of India's Constitution, Justice Khanna

Tentaive Schedule

9:00 – 09:30 TEA & REGISTRATION
09:30 – 09:40 WELCOME ADDRESS BY VIMAL BHAI
09.40 – 09:50 INTRODUCTION BY MEDHA PATKAR
09:50 – 10:50 FELICITATION OF INTELLECTUALS,  WRITERS AND CUTLURALS ACTIVISTS & INTERACTION
10:50 – 11:00 TEA
11:00 – 1:00 TESTIMONIES ON VIOLATION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS & CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES

[REPRESENTATION FROM DALIT, TRIBAL, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN & PROJECT AFFECTED COMMUNITIES]

1:00 – 1:45 LUNCH



01:45 – 03:45 PANEL ON “SAMAAJ BACHAO”, “SANVIDHAN BACHAO” and “SANSADHAN BACHAO”
[3 Eminent Speakers]
03:45 – 04:00 CONCLUSION
04:00 - 4:45 WAY FORWARD
04:45 – 05:00 TEA



ZINDABAD !

Medha Patkar - Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Prafulla Samantara - Lok Shakti Abhiyan & Lingraj Azad – Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, NAPM, Odisha; Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava - Kisan Sangharsh Samiti & Meera – Narmada Bachao Andolan, NAPM, MP; Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe - NAPM, Maharashtra; Gabriel Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; C R Neelkandan – NAPM Kerala; P Chennaiah & Ramakrishnan Raju – NAPM Andhra Pradesh, Arundhati Dhuru, Richa Singh - NAPM, UP; Sister Celia - Domestic Workers Union & Rukmini V P, Garment Labour Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Vimal Bhai - Matu Jan sangathan & Jabar Singh, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Anand Mazgaonkar, Krishnakant - Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat; Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan – Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan & Mahendra Yadav – Kosi Navnirman Manch, NAPM Bihar; Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar, & J S Walia, NAPM Haryana; Kailash Meena, NAPM Rajasthan; Amitava Mitra & Sujato Bhadra, NAPM West Bengal; B S Rawat – Jan Sangharsh Vahini & Rajendra Ravi, Madhuresh Kumar and Shabnam Shaikh – NAPM, Delhi, Brother Varghese, Hyderabad and Subhash Lomate, Jai Kisan Andolan


For details contact : 9971058735 | 9818905316 | email : napmindia@gmail.com