Dear All
We met twice to discuss about the forthcoming elections. Some very good
suggestions have come up.
Also two major meetings are happening in Delhi (JAVAB and PADS) Am adding
the circulars of both the meetings. How can we take further our previous
discussion and what suggestions we give to the Delhi meetings, needs to be
discussed. The following meeting has been arranged for the same.
Day, Date and Time: 15th Feb , Saturday 4 PM
Place- CSSS office Satacruz East (602 New Silver Star Apartment, behind Bus
Depot) Prabhat Colony)
Do pass the word.
See you
Ram Puniyani
on behalf of the convener, Noorjahan Safiya Niyaz
--
*ANNOUNCING*
*NATIONAL DELIBERATIONS ON SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY & SECULARISM*
*FEB 20, 2014*
*CONSTITUTION CLUB, RAFI MARG, NEW DELHI*
Activists, academics, artists, writers and social workers are coming
together to form a National Platform for Secularism called JANVADI VICHAR
ANDOLAN, BHARAT (JAVAB) with the twin agendas of countering communal forces
and advocating for a truly inclusive society, politics and economics. This
Platform will be guided by the sensibilities forged in our collective
struggles for dignity of Dalits, the rights of Adivasis, Minorities and
other marginalised communities (pastoralists, fisherfolk, landless wage
labour, casual labourers), gender justice, the struggles of the working
classes, increasingly fissured and invisibilized; mobilizations for a more
equitable and sustainable development, environmental movements, as well as
the democratic aspirations of peoples everywhere in the country.
The combined strength of the secular forces out side the organised
political parties is far greater than within. In times of crisis this
section of society has risen and saved India. We are once again facing an
unprecedented political turmoil therefore there is a need to rise and
defend democracy. We do not have the luxury to sit and watch the outcome of
2014 election. We must intervene and make a difference.
It proposes to identify 30-40 constituencies across India , find secular
groups there, operate from the existing offices of local organisations or
any space offered by local well wishers, engage with local people, who
believe in these values and propagate constitutional values in these
constituencies and give a call to defeat communal forces. It is also
proposed to run an online campaign on social media involving creative
community and young people across the urban India.
We are proposing national deliberations to discuss threadbare the strategy
of reaching out to as many people as possible across India.
We request you to kindly attend these deliberations on Feb 20 in New Delhi.
a. Identify constituencies in your state where work is possible,
identify local groups and invite them to this meeting so that work can
start in various states.
b. If you can contribute in mounting a social media campaign or have
friends who can help with this invite them to the meeting
c. If you can help in preparing campaign material, writing do join us
and invite your friends.
d. If you can help mount a cultural campaign do join us
*This is a voluntary effort and we request you to kindly support your stay
and travel. Only those who have no means to travel or stay should contact
us for support which we will try and mobilise but cannot guarantee.*
*Schedule*
9-10.00- Registration
10.00- 11.00- Plenary Session
11.00- 1.30- Deliberations in groups: A. state
wise, B. social media, C. Campaign material
D. Cultural resistance
1.30-2.30- Lunch
2.30-4.00- Sharing of ideas, shaping the
campaign
4.00-4.30- Tea break
4.30- 7.00- Public meeting & Release of Vision
Document
Reply to:
javabando...@gmail.com
Telephone: 09727474767/ 08586942950/011-41670722
Shabnam Hashmi on behalf if over 100 activists and scholars:
*-*
National Convention to Defend Democracy & Secularism on
27th February at Delhi
[image: https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/profile_mask2.png]
*Dear All,*
Last couple of decades, the spectre of communal polarisation is once again
haunting the country. The coming general elections threaten to unleash
violence once more on a society that is still paying a heavy price for the
large scale communalization of politics during the last three decades.
Added to this is the danger of sections of the public being attracted to
authoritarian solutions.
The recent violence in western Uttar Pradesh should be taken as a warning.
Every effort must be made to resist this hate-filled polarization. We are
aware of the danger of communal politics of all colours, no matter which
religious mask they wear. All of them are marked by intolerance,
patriarchal attitudes and the habit of unleashing violence in the name of
'hurt sentiment'. Communal ideas go beyond party affiliations, and the
currency of such ideas will have a dangerous impact on the elections.
Communal sectarianism has always been a means of corrupting democracy.
Today, vested interests & their controlled media have adopted a partisan
stance - their success in this effort will undermine the struggles of
workers and oppressed people.
Communalism can be resisted only by strengthening democratic institutions
and practices. The Peoples' Alliance for Democracy and Secularism
(P.A.D.S.) is an
attempt of the secular democratic organizations and forces to deepen the
roots of democracy and secularism in Indian society.
On January 3, 2014 a meeting was held in New Delhi under the auspices of
P.A.D.S. to initiate a programme of action. It was attended by a number of
persons and representatives of organizations committed to democracy and
secularism. The meeting decided to hold a national Convention to Defend
Secular Democracy on February 27, 2014 in New Delhi.
The undersigned appeal to all organizations, groups and persons committed
to these values to participate and help forge a popular movement to uphold
and protect democracy.
Do endorse the appeal (in order to print soon and circulate it widely with
endorsers names) and confirm your participation.
In Solidarity,
Battini Rao on behalf of activists and scholars upholding secular
democratic values/
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