US univ. to hold workshop on 'Democracy in India'
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India's democracy is at a key moment; with global, national and local issues all becoming the focus of important struggle over power and accountability. The Indo-US nuclear deal marks a fundamental shift in Indian foreign and energy policy that commits India to a strategic partnership with the United States and expanded reliance on nuclear energy, but the decision has not been debated or approved by parliament or the country.
Economic policy is focused on encouraging private investment, exports, the service sector and the urban upper and middle classes, rather than addressing the needs of India's majority, who live in rural communities that see poor farmers commit suicide in increasing numbers. But democracy is also gaining strength as across the country, people are using the new Right to Information Act to make policy makers and bureaucrats accountable in new ways, and the right to a social audit in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is an admission peo ple have the right to see and challenge how public funds are being spent by local government officials. This two day workshop will discuss these struggles in India between global, national and local forces of dominance and people's needs, aspirations and power. We will reflect on the importance to these processes of organizing and taking a stand against inequality and injustice. We will try to understand how this can shape a more democratic balance between people and the state in India, and a better role for India in the world. AGENDA: August 25, 2007 Session I: 9.00 am to 12:30 pm Screen film 'Holy Water', made by Ekelund Lotta from Sweden. The film will be followed by a discussion on assertion of rights over natural resources by local communities, the anti-Coca Cola struggle in Mehdiganj and resistance by farmers against SEZs. Discussion: Special Economic Zones and Anti-Coke efforts Speaker: Dipti Bhatnagar Dipti Bhatnagar is a student at UC, Berkeley and has served as a volunteer for the Narmada Bachao Andolan. LUNCH BREAK: 12.30 pm to 2.00 pm Session II: 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm Is nuclear energy a solution to global warming? What are the implications of Indo-US nuclear deal? Speaker(s): Zia Mian, Princeton University. Prof. Zia directs the Project on Peace and Security in South Asia, in the Program on Science and Global Security, at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. He has edited and co-edited a number of books on South Asia. COFFEE BREAK: 4.30 pm – 4.00 pm Session III: 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm Spirit Plays is a traveling performance project that explores the intersection of art, politics, and daily breath. Through dance, poetry, prose, and music, the project addresses US-led violence and imperialism throughout the world, and visions of how to create a more peaceful, community-grounded way of life. The project is both an interactive performance and a workshop space involving everyone present. Artists: Malavika Tara Mohanan has trained in Bharatanatyam since age eight, studied theater in Singapore and California , and explored various other movement traditions in recent years. Her current projects use dance, poetry, theater and music to discover social consciousness across all aspects of living, working, playing, and believing. Denali DeGraf is a musician and instrument-builder living in Patagonia, Argentina . He has performed in various ensembles, recorded 2 original CDs, exhibited his handmade instruments in most major cities around Argentina, and performed music for dance, theater, and film in both Argentina and the U.S. August 26, 2007 Session I: 9.00 am to 11.30 am Screen film 'Rozga adhikar yatra' by Monna Pawar, Panini Anand, Avinash Raghuvanshi and Anurag Singh. The film will be followed by a discussion on the role of movements for right to information, work and food in empowerment of poor communities. Speaker: Reetika Khera, Princeton University. Reetika holds a Ph.D. from the Delhi School of Economics. Her dissertation examined drought-related government interventions (especially public works programs) and was based on fieldwork conducted in four districts of Rajasthan in 2002-3. She is currently a visiting fellow at Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton university and working with Angus Deaton (in collaboration with Jean Dreze, Delhi School of Economics), looking at the factors that affect mortality and fertility in India. Information on 'Janata Soochna Kendras', Sirish Agarwal LUNCH BREAK: 11.30 am to 1.00 pm Session II: 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm Political intervention at the grassroots. The role of people's movements and common citizens in electoral reforms. Speaker: Sandeep Pandey Asha Parivar. Sandeep is one of the cofounders and early volunteers of Asha for Education. He is the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2002 for his work for the rights of the poor and the underprivileged in India. He is currently a visiting researcher at the Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University. Discussion: Human rights in democracy, moderator Ravi Gangavarupu Contacts Ravi Gangavarapu 609 897 0431 raviemail@gmail.com Brunda Kattekola 609 240 9347 brunda.kattekola@gmail.com Hansa Shah 215 493 4289 hansa@go2g2.com Sandeep Pandey ashaashram@yahoo.com Accommodation: We will try to acc ommodate as many volunteers as possible in and around Princeton area with AID and Asha volunteers. However, please note that we have a shortage of volunteers and hence if you happen to have friends and family in the area, it will be helpful, if you could make your own accommodation arrangements. But do let us know if you are not able to make arrangements for your stay. For a similar workshop organized in 2001 and for information on various groups involved in the organization of this workshop see the following: 2001 workshop re sources http://www.ashanet.org/princeton/talks/meeting01/ Asha Parivar, www.ashaparivar.org , Association for India's Development, www.aidindia.org Asha for Education, www.ashanet.org |
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