Summit of the Powerless
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India is going through a period of great change and great upheaval. At such a time, it has become crucial to ensure that voices across the country are heard, and people are given a chance to participate in the future being newly moulded for them – people whose lives are impacted daily by the decisions the powerful make.
To give voice to this silent majority, to find creative responses to some of the most difficult questions of our time, on November 20 –21 this year at Dr. M.A Ansari auditorium, Jamia Milia Islamia, Tehelka is hosting a visionary new forum: Summit of the Powerless. Perhaps for the first time in India, this unique forum will bring together on a single platform the three cornerstones of a free society: money, power and people. The agenda? Not just to air differences, but hunt for common ground, a common future. The broad theme for this year’s summit is Two Indias, One Future. Over two days, people from the ground, activists, corporate houses, policy makers and politicians will discuss some of the most pressing concerns of our time: the role of the State; reservations; the gap between agrarian and urban India; Naxals; land usage and a vision for more equitable cities. There can be no doubt that the future of India depends on continually locating a consensus that celebrates the energy of the movers and shakers without losing sight of the needs of the deprived. Recognising the crucial importance of such a forum, the President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam has agreed to deliver the keynote address to the Summit. Among others who have confirmed participation are Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Arun Shourie, Arjun Singh, Naveen Patnaik, Sitaram Yechury, Kapil Sibal, Praful Patel, Sumanto Banerjee, Omar Abdullah, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Anand Patwardhan, Mahendra Karma, and Charles Correa, to name a few. Other confirmations are coming in. But the success of the Summit will rely hugely on other dynamic and visionary participants determined to share ideas and search for answers. Kindly register your names at http://www.summitofthepowerless.net/summit_registration.asp to enable us to send in white card invites to attend the President's innaugural session on the 20th. |
User comments
"Tehelka's summit of Powerless"Author:
kalpataru kishore
Time: 21.11.2006 19:59
Comment: I have attended all the session of the summit organised by Tehelka.Thanks should be given to the team for bringing speakers from all the section of the soceity.It was infact a dogma free summit where I found people having diametrically opposite stand on social problems sitting on the same dice.For example Revolutionary poet Varvara Rao and K.P.S.Gill; had they are in the feild Gill would have order to shoot Varvara Rao.Udit Raj sitting with J.J.Irani.Had there been no reservation Uditraj's shadow even wouldn't have fall on Irani.It was an wonderful step, say an effort at least to think for one India.The discussion would definitely echoed in the long run for the problems like farmers suicide,Naxal Movements,Urban Slums and their problems,Jammu and Kashmir's problem.Tejpal tried to maintain a balance but the composition of Tehelka team shown an urban bias.Members tried more to appease the owner of capital than peoples' leader especially Udit Raj and Agnives.Charity began at home.There was little scope for the people below the dice(say the power less at that situation) to speak out.As usual the speakers are in their effort to prove their expertise on the issues rather than any sensitivity.This attitude needed to be change first because the dream of one India is dreamed by the rich India at the summit.Above all such kind of summit at a regular basis will definitely force the government to rethink on it'sagenda for the power less.who are they?The Dalits and Adivasis,the Women and the most helpless Physically challenged (again mostly belongs to Dalits and Adivasi).
Sarbeswara Sahoo Indian Institute of Dalit Studies New Delhi |
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