May 2019 - Council for Social Development

Satyagraha in the 21st Century, Social Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions in the Global Pursuit of Truth

October 22-24 2019, India International Centre

To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahtama Gandhi, the Council for Social Development, in partnership with India International Centre, and in collaboration some leading academic institutions from India and abroad, organised an international seminar, Satyagraha in the 21st Century, Social Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions in the Global Pursuit of Truth on 22-24 October 2019 at the India International Centre. The conference aimed at analysing the philosophy and methodology implicit in Mahatama Gandhi’s The Story of my Experiments with Truth and the satyagraha campaigns he launched and examining satyagraha experiences in India and the world during the past many decades. Contributors to the seminar analysed social movements and philosophical discourses, raising fundamental questions about the nature and process of the unfolding process of global transformation. Spread over three days, nearly a hundred delegates, comprising distinguished public figures, eminent members of academia, independent research scholars, and domain experts representing the fields of political science, sociology, human rights, philosophy, anthropology, economics, history, law, gender studies from five countries gathered to present their ideas, addressing the many dimensions of Satyagraha and its ever-changing application.

Nearly sixty papers were presented in four plenary sessions, 14 parallel sessions and three special sessions. The highlights of the seminar included the inaugural session chaired by Prof. Muchkund Dubey in which Shri N. N. Vohra gave the inaugural address. The address by the chief guest Medha Patkar from the Narmada Bachoa Andolan on ‘Satyagraha in Contemporary India’ emphasised the need for carrying on satyagraha to strengthen democratic rights of struggling people. The valedictory address, ‘Satyagraha, Life Sustainance on Earth’ was delivered by environmental activist and founder Navdanya, Vandana Shiva who painted a vivid picture of the environmental crisis that the humanity faced today and pointed out how many innovative initiatives were being taken to promote alternative lifestyles and sustainable production.

Key plenary speakers in the conference included Prof. Mark Jurgensmeyer, Prof. Beatriz Bissio, Prof. Ashs Nandy, Prof. John Clammer, Prof. Ramin Jahanbegloo, Prof. Vinay Lal and Prof. Neera Chandoke.

Special Panels on Satyagraha and Land and Forest Rights Movements, Education and Styagraha, ‘Discourse on Truth in Global Philosophical Traditions.’, Satyagraha in Ideas and Satyagraha in Action, Satyagraha , Travel and Translation, and Women and Peace Movements, attracted a lot of attention.

A special feature of the event was the two evening cultural programmes, one a dance performance by the famous Bharatanatyam artist, Gita Chandran on the theme of Satyagraha and Satyagraha in Verse, an evening of poetry by seven eminent poets—the latter jointly organised with the Raza Foundation.

As a part of the event some sessions were organised in Jamia Millia Islamia University, Kirori Mal College, Zakir Hussain College and Ram Lal Anand College where foreign and Indian scholars made presentations.

The seminar aimed at increasing an engagement and understanding of Satyagrha through an academic and research perspective. The programme combining presentations from delgates, and through extended plenary sessions, special sessions and working groups, was designed to address challenges in creating an equitable, sustainable and just world which still forms the core of satyagraha. Fruitful discussions, engaged dialogues and lively panel discussions followed the presentations contributing to various understandings and definitions of satyagraha. By disseminating shared experiences and organising cultural programmes that underscored social cohesion and inclusion the seminar sought to break new ground.

Important Resource Persons

Ms Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan and National Alliance for People’s Movement
Ms Vandana Shiva, environmental activist and founder Navdanya
Shri N. N. Vohra, President, India International Centre
Prof. Muchkund Dubey, President, Council for Social Development
Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Vice President, Council for Social Development
Prof. Mark Jurgensmeyer, Department of Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
Prof. Beatriz Bissio, Federal University, Rio de Janerio
Prof. Ashis Nandy, Honorary Fellow, CSDS
Prof Remin Jahabegloo, Mahatama Gandhi Chair, Jindal University
Prof. John Clammer, Jindal University
Prof. R. Govinda, Distinguished Faculty, Council for Social Development
Prof. G. Palanithurai, Gandhigram University
Prof. K.B. Saxena, Distinguished Faculty, Council for Social Development
Dr Sushama Sharma, Principal, Anand Niketan, Wardha
Prof. Anant Giri, Madras Institute of Development Studies
Prof. M.M. Verma, President Interfaith Foundation
Prof. Furqan Ahmed, Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia
Prof. Vibha Singh Chauhan, Principal, Kirori Mal College
Prof. Satyababrta Chakrabarti, The Asiatic Society
Prof. Arun Bandopadhyay, Calcutta University
Prof. Uma Chattopadhyay, Calcutta University

Satyagraha in the 21^st Century

Social, Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of the Global Pursuits of Truth
Jointly organised by

Council for Social Development, India International Centre, Interfaith Foundation of India, Raza Foundation, Asiatic Society, Department of Political Science, Jamia Milia Islamia, Kirorimal College, University of Delhi, Orfalea Centre for Global and International Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, REGGEN, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University of South Africa, Institute of Social and Health Sciences, Sage Publications, Bandung Spirit Network

Venue India International Centre, New Delhi
Multipurpose Hall and Seminar Rooms-I, II and III, Kamladevi Complex

Oct 22-Oct 24, 2019

Day I October 22, 2019 Tuesday

9.30 am	Registration
10.00 am – 11.15 am	Inaugural Session Venue Multipurpose Hall, Kamladevi Block
	Chair	Prof. Muchkund Dubey President, Council for Social Development
	Inauguration	Shri. N.N. Vohra President, India International Centre
	Chief Guest	Medha Patkar Narmada Bachao Andolan, National Alliance for People’s Movement
	On the Seminar Theme	Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty Vice-President, Council for Social Development
	Greetings from Collaborating Institutions	Prof. Mark Juergensmeyer Department of Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara Prof. Beatriz Bissio REGGEN, Federal University of Rio de Janerio Prof. Satyabrata Chakrabarti General Secretary, Asiatic Society of India Prof. M. M. Verma President, Interfaith Foundation of India Prof. Furqan Ahmad Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia Dr. Vibha Chauhan Principal, K.M. College, University of Delhi
	Vote of Thanks	Prof Ashok Pankaj Director, Council for Social Development

Tea 11.15 am-11.45 am

11.45 am – 1:15 pm	PLENARY SESSION Venue Multipurpose Hall, Kamladevi Block
	Co-Chairs	Dr. Beatriz Bissio Federal University of Rio De Janeiro
		Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty Vice-President, Council for Social Development
	Speaker	Medha Patkar Narmada Bachao Andolan, National Alliance for People’s Movement Satyagraha in Contemporary India: Some Reflections
	Rapporteur	Dr. Dhananjay Rai

Lunch 13.15 pm – 2.15 pm

2:15 pm – 3:45 pm	Parallel Session I Seminar Room-I Gandhi’s Concept of Satyagraha		Parallel Session II Seminar Room-II Satyagraha Experiences
	Chair	Smt. Varsha Das Former Director, Gandhi National Museum, New Delhi	Dr. Savita Singh Former Director, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, New Delhi
	Paper Presenters	Satyagraha and the Dilemma of Self-Realisation: Notes from Post-Independent India Prof. Samir Banerjee Former Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies	A Satyagrahi’s Language: Gandhi’s Politics and Poetics on Communication Prof. Asha Sarangi Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
		A Conceptual History of Gandhi’s Satyagraha Dr. Nishikant Kolge Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi	Reminiscences of Mahatma’s Champaran Movement in Contemporary Socio-economic Crisis Dr. Bipul Kumar Centre for Non-Violence and Peace, A. N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna
		Mapping Conflict in a Gandhian Paradigm: Exploring Satyagraha Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Department of Political Science, Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi	Gandhi, Satyagraha and the Struggle for Social Equality: The ” Untold” Stories of the Vaikom Satyagraha in Travancore, 1924-1925 Prof. Raj Sekhar Basu, Department of History, University of Calcutta
		The Concept and Practice of Truth in Gandhi Dr. Rajesh Kumar Delhi College of Arts and Commerce	Chipko Movement: The Revival of Gandhian Techniques of Satyagraha and Non-Violence to Save Forests Dr. Milan Acharjya, Department of Political Science, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal
	Rapporteur	Dr. Kamala Kant Raul	Ms. Srijita Majumder

Tea 3.45 pm – 4:00 pm

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm	Parallel Session III Seminar Room-I Land and Forest Rights Movements and Satyagraha		Parallel Session IV Seminar Room-II Historicising Satyagraha
	Chair	Prof. Ramchandra Pradhan Institute of Gandhian Studies Sewagram, Wardha	Prof. Nisar ul Haq Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
	Paper Presenters	Land Rights Movements Prof. K.B. Saxena Council for Social Development	Gandhi, Truth and History Mr. Sreejith Sugunan Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
		Jan Satyagraha Samvad Yatra : Some reflections Shri. P.V. Rajagopal Ekta Parishad	Ideas on Sarvodya and the Mouman Ashram in Assam, Dr. Barnali Sarma Department of History, Gauhati University, Assam
		People’s Movements against Displacement in Odisha Shri. Praful Samantara Lok Shakti Abhiyan	Forms of Satyagraha: Creative Responses to Injustices in Contemporary India Ms. Priya Sharma Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
		Challenges before the Forest Dwellers’ Movements Shri. Ashok Choudhury All India Union of Forest Workers	Civil Disobedience as Satyagraha: History and Politics Dr. Dhananjay Rai Department of Gandhian Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar
		Adivasis and Implementation of the Forest Rights Act Shri. Sanjay Basu Mallik Jharkhand Save the Forest Movement, Ranchi
		The Challenge of abolishing manual scavenging Shri Bezwada Wilson Safai Karmachari Andolan
		Release of the book *Struggles for Peace and Justice:* *India, Etka Parishad and the Globalization of Solidarity* By *Prof.Karl-Julius Reubke*
	Rapporteur	Dr. Prashant K Trivedi	Dr. Shilp Shikha Singh

Tea : 6 PM
Cultural Evening: 6:30-8.00 pm
Venue: CD Deshmukh Auditorium (IIC Main)
Noted Danseuse
Geeta Chandran
Presents
Satyagraha

Day II October 23, Wednesday

10:00 am – 11:30 am	Parallel Session VSeminar Room-I Civilisational Movements and Satyagraha		Parallel Session VI Seminar Room-II Satyagraha, Truth and Culture
	Chair	Prof. Mohinder Singh Director, National Institute of Panjab Studies, New Delhi	Prof. Ananta Giri Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
	Paper Presenters	Probing Gandhi’s Political Strategy in view of his Civilisational Politics in India Prof. Arun Bandopadhyay Nurul Hasan Chair Calcutta University, Historical and Archaeological Secretary, the Asiatic Society, Kolkata	Embodying Satyagraha. A Critical Re-Envisioning of Gandhi’s Satyagraha in Light of ‘Biopolitical’ Political Theory and the Climate Crisis Prof. Paul Schwartzentruber Independent Scholar, Halifax, Canada
		The Black Satyagraha: A Report from America Prof. Purushottam Bilimoria Graduate Theological Union, University of California Berkeley, Fulbright-Nehru Programme, Ashoka University, Sonepat	Can Art Embody Truth? Gandhi, Aesthetics and the Transformation of Self and the World Prof. John Clammer Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities, Jindal Global University, Sonepat
		Gandhi and Recent Challenges to Women’s Movements: New Frontiers of Gender Justice Dr. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Acting Principal, Miranda Hose, University of Delhi Dr. Nupur Ray Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi	Satyagraha, Three Gunas and the Calling of Hope: Plato, Gandhi, Moltzman and Beyond Prof. Gianluigi Segarleba University of Vienna, Austria
	Rapporteur	Dr. Akhil Alha	Dr. Ravi Ranjan

Tea 11:30 am– 11:45

11.45 am – 1:15 am	PLENARY SESSION Venue Multipurpose Hall, Kamladevi Block
	Chair	Prof. Ashis Nandy Honorary Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi
	Speakers	The Global Gandhi Prof. Mark Juergensmeyer Department of Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara Satyagraha and Movements for Justice and Peace in Africa and Latin America Prof. Beatriz Bissio Federal University, Rio de Janeiro
	Rapporteur	Dr. Rityusha Mani Tiwary

Lunch 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

2.15 pm – 3: 45 pm	Parallel Sessions VII Seminar Room-I Satyagraha and Swaraj in Ideas		Parallel Sessions VIII Seminar Room-II Re-thinking Satyagraha: Truth, Culture and Religion	Parallel Session IX: Seminar Room-III Satyagraha and Swaraj in Action
	Chair	Prof. Madhulika Banerjee Department of Political Science, University of Delhi	Prof. Avijit Pathak Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi	Shri. Suhas Borker Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategy, New Delhi
	Paper Presenters	Certification and Accreditation of Traditional Community Health Providers: A Gandhian Agenda? Shri. Darshan Shankar Foundation for the Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangaluru	Rethinking and Transforming Satyagraha: Truth, Travel and Translation Prof. Ananta Kumar Giri Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai	On Economics and Ethics: Examining the Scope and Relevance of Gandhi’s Economic Ideas Dr. Priya Bhalla, Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi
		Sanskrutik Samvadke Roop Mein Satyagraha ( Satyagraha in the Form of Cultural Communication Shri.. Anshu Malviya Shahari Gareeb Sangharsh Morcha, Allehabad	Rethinking Satyagraha in a “Post-Truth” Culture Prof. Joseph Prabhu California State University, Los Angeles	Village Swaraj: Decentralised Governance for New India Dr. Ramprasad Pole, Faculty, YASHADA, Pune Maharashtra
		*Visionary Futures, Re-visioned Pasts: whither Baisvin Sadi?* Dr. Maya Joshi Department of History, Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi	Gandhi: Religion, Spirituality and Satyagraha in the 21st Century Dr. Karl-Julius Reubke Author and Independent Scholar, Colgne, Germany	Gandhi’s Concept and Practice of Truth in the Consumerist Culture of Globalisation Dr. Persis Latika Dass Assistant Professor, Dept. of History, Sophia Girls’ College, Ajmer
		Pedagogy of Constructive Work as Satyagraha Prof. Anup Dhar Director, Centre for Development Practice, Ambedkar University, Delhi	*Satyagraha, Ashram and Religion: The Idea of Swaraj and the Philosophical Matrices of Mahatma Gandhi* Dr. Payel Chattopadhyay Mukherjee Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT Delhi).	Environmental Movements in India: The Legacy of Gandhian Ideas Prof. Ambarish Mukherji, Vidyasagar University, Medinipur, West Bengal.
	Rapporteur	Dr. Nihar Ranjan Das	Dr. Sanjiv Kumar	Ms. Jaya Nair

Tea 3:45 pm– 4:00 pm

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm	Parallel Sessions X Seminar Room- I Education and Satyagraha		Parallel Sessions XI Seminar Room- II Gandhiji and Satyagraha: Bengal in the 1940s	Parallel Sessions XII Seminar Room-III Women and Peace Movements
	Chair	Prof. R. Govinda Former Vice Chancellor, NUEPA, Council for Social Development	Prof. Arun Bandopadhyay Nurul Hasan Chair Professor of History (retd.) Calcutta University, Historical and Archaeological Secretary, Asiatic Society, Kolkata	Prof. Anuradha Chenoy Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
	Paper Presenters	Dr. Sushama Sharma Principal, Anand Niketan, Wardha	Gandhi, Education and Nationalism Prof. Suranjan Das Vice-Chancellor, Jadavpur University	Nav Sharan Singh Rita Manchanda : Re-scripting women-peace -security discourse in South Asia as broader struggles for rights and justice Navsharan Singh …..Demoraic Rights Challenges before the Women’s Peace Movement Independent Researcher and social activist Arshi (Qureshi) Showkat: women’s collective activism in Kashmir Member, Kashmir women’s collective, also research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia. Sahba Husain The Long View author Love Loss and Longing: Kashmir Devika Mittal : Convener: Aaghaz-e-Dosti – An Indo-Pak Friendship Initiative. Youth mobilising for peace: affirming the significance of Indo-Pak Peace Education Initiatives’ Rosemary Duvichu, …. Prof. Nagaland University Adviser Naga Mothers Association Naga Women’s Movement
		Prof.V. Palanithurai Gandhigram Rural University, Tamil Nadu	Intimate Critique: Re-articulating Nirmal Kumar Bose Prof. Prasanta Ray Presidency University, Kolkata
		Prof. Avinash K. Singh Department of Educational Policy NUEPA
		Satyagraha, Swaraj and Education Dr.Nidhi Gaur, Associate Editor, Ektara, Takshila’s Centre for Children’s Literature and Art

	Rapporteur	Ms. Rishita Barman	Dr. Sushmita Mitra	Dr. Aparajita Sharma

Cultural Programme: 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm
Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Kamladevi Block
Satyagraha in Verse
In collaboration with the
Raza Foundation
Presentations by Poets
A.J. Thomas, Ashok Vajpeyi, Ashwani Kumar, Basudev Sunani, Keki Daruwala, Lakshmi Kannan, Savita Singh, Sudeep Sen and Sukrita Paul Kumar
Moderated by
Ashok Vajpayee and Savita Singh

Day III October Thursday 24, 2019

10.00 am – 11.30 am	Parallel Sessions XIII Seminar Room- I Satyagraha in the Modern World		Parallel Sessions XIV Seminar Room-II Discourse on Truth in Global Philosophical Traditions
	Chair	Prof. Zoya Hasan Professor Emerita, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Council for Social Development	Prof. M M Verma President, Interfaith Foundation of India, New Delhi
	Paper Presenters	Satyagraha and People’s Movement in Latin America Prof. Monica Bruckmann, Director, REGGN, Federal University, Rio De Janerio	Discourse on Truth in Indian Philosophy Prof. Uma Chattopadhyay Department of Philosophy, University of Calcutta
			Truth Discourse: Notes from European and Indian Philosophy Dr. Saroj Giri Department of Political Science University of Delhi
		Gandhi and the Discourse on Global Future in China Prof. Huang Yinghong Sun Yatsen University, Guangzhou and Jindal Global University	Truth Discourse in Chinese Philosophy Prof. Arttatrana Nayak Department of Chinese Vishva Bharati, Santiniketan
		Satyagraha and its Relevance for Fledgling Governance and Development in Nepal Dr. Avinash Gupta, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal	Gandhi’s Truth and Popular Culture Dr. Manindranath Thakur Centre for Political Studies, JNU
			Truth Discourse in the Persian Tradition Dr. Akhlaque Ahmed School of Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University
		Continuity and Change in the Ideas on Anti-Civilisation in the Works of Mahatma Gandhi, John Zerzan and Derrick Jensen Divyaraj Amiya University of Tuebingen, Germany and University of Zurich, Switzerland	Truth Discourse in Global Traditions: Some Methodological Issues Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty Council for Social Development, New Delhi
	Rapporteur	Dr. Nivedita Sarma	Dr. Satish K Jha

Tea 11.30 am– 11.45 am, Venue MPH Corridor

11.45 am – 1:15 pm	PLENARY SESSION Venue Multipurpose Hall, Kamladevi Block
	Chair	Prof. Neera Chandhoke Former Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi
	Speakers	Martin Luther King Jr. and the Gandhian Legacy of Satyagraha Prof. Ramin Jahanbegloo Mahatma Gandhi Chair, Jindal University Coloured Races and Future of Satyagraha Prof. Vinay Lal Professor of History and Asian American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
	Rapporteur	Dr. Seema Parihar

Lunch 1.15 pm- 2.15 pm

2:15 pm – 3.45 pm	Parallel Sessions XV Seminar Room- I Reclaiming Satyagraha: Swaraj and Constructive Programme		Parallel Sessions XVI Seminar Room-II *Religion and Politics in Satyagraha*	Parallel Session XVII Seminar Room- III Satyagraha and Mass Communication
	Chair	Prof. Vibha Chauhan Principal, Kirorimal College	Prof. Vinay Kumar Srivastava Director, Archaeological Survey of India	Shri. S. Gopalakrishnan Author, Columnist and Broadcaster
	Paper Presenters	The Ethics of Gandhian Politics: Satyagraha, Swaraj and Tapasya Prof. Bindu Puri Centre for Philosophy, Jawarharlal Nehru University	If Truth Be Told—Violence, the Body and Freedom in Fanon, Gandhi and Ambedkar Dr. Amitha Santiago Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, Bengaluru	Sabarimala: Adversarial Culture and the Role of Media Dr. N. Tamilselvi, Dean, Media Studies, Quaide Milleth International Academy of Media Studies, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
		Reclaiming Satyagraha: Truth, Travel and Translation Prof. Meera Chakravorty, Jain University, Benagaluru	Religion and the Political in Gandhi Dr. Rinku Lamba Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University	Satyagraha and the Modern Communication Mr. Subhranshu Choudhary People’s Mobile Network, Chhattisgarh
		Social Service, Religion and the Art of Looking for the ‘Truth’: A Post-colonial Perspective from India Prof. Koushiki Dasgupta Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Kolkata, West Bengal	Role of Church and Civil Society in Social Change and Democracy: Mizoram in the Context of Gandhian Concept and Practices Dr. Suwa Lal Jangu, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, Mizoram University, Aziawl In Search of Inter-religious Truth: The Acts of Travel and Translation in Comparative Theology Prof. James Ponniah School of Philosophy and Religious Thought, University of Madras, Chennai	Satyagraha, Truth and Communication: Gandhi in the time of ‘Fake News’ Dr. Papia Sen Gupta Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
	Rapportuer	Dr. Poornima M	Dr. Nupur Ray	Dr. Ankita Gupta

Tea 3:45 pm-4:00 pm, Venue MPH Corridor

4:00 pm – 5:45 pm	Valedictory Session Venue Multipurpose Hall, Kamladevi Block
	Chair	Prof. Muchkund Dubey, President, Council for Social Development
	Valedictory Lecture	Satyagraha and Life Sustenance on Earth *Vandana Siva* Environmental Activist and Founder, Navdanya
	Reflections on the Seminar	Prof. Vinay K. Srivastava Director, Anthropological Survey of India
	Concluding Remarks	Shri. K. N. Srivastava Director, India International Centre
	Vote of Thanks	Dr Arathi PM Council for Social Development