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India: National Deliberations on Safeguarding Secular Spaces And Thought (20 Feb 2014, New Delhi) Full programme

19 February 2014

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FEBRUARY 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 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

e. If you can help in raising funds for the campaign do join us.
f. If you can travel to the selected constituencies and speak in meetings do Join Us

Schedule

9-10.00- Registration & breakfast

10.00- 11.00 Plenary Session

11.00- 1.30 Deliberations in groups:

1. SELECTION OF FINAL CONSTITUENCIES, 2. CAMPAIGN MATERIAL,
3. SOCIAL MEDIA, 4. CAMPAIGN ON THE GROUND, 5. FUND RAISING 6. ARTISTS AGAINST FASCISM

1.30-2.30- Lunch

2.30-4.30 Sharing of ideas, shaping the campaign

4.30-5.00 Tea break

5.00-7.00 ROUND TABLE WITH MEMBERS OF SECULAR PARTIES