21ನೇ ಶತಮಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿ
ಗಾಂಧಿ ಸ್ಮಾರಕ ನಿಧಿ ೭೫ನೇ ವರ್ಷದ ಸಂಸ್ಕರಣೆಗಾಗಿ ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ವಿಚಾರ ಸಂಕಿರಣ
The Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Karnataka is greatly pleased to invite you to a two-day International Seminar in Bengaluru, India on 24-25 August 2024. We are hosting this seminar to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, a pre-eminent Gandhian organization founded in 1949.
August 24 – 25
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WHY THIS SEMINAR
MAHATMA GANDHI FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Building A Future of Peace, Justice, Fraternity and Sustainable Development
An attempt to understand contemporary global challenges in the light of Gandhian and other humanistic philosophies and actions
Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest votary of peace, justice and universal brotherhood in the modern history of humankind. Although he was the preeminent leader of India’s struggle for freedom from British colonial rule, he was truly a Vishwa Manav, a citizen of the world. He envisioned India’s national liberation as an integral part of ─ indeed, as a catalyst for ─ the efforts to create a new and better world. He championed Truth (Satya) and Non-Violence (Ahimsa) as ethical principles of eternal and worldwide relevance. Among all the leaders of national liberation struggles in the last century, Gandhi stands apart for his unwavering commitment to the essential unity of humanity, transcending the barriers of nationality, race, religion, caste and class.
Gandhi died ─ he fell to the bullets of a religious extremist ─ nearly eight decades ago. But his thoughts and ideals, like those of other saints and social reformers belonging to other countries and cultures, are immortal.
At a time when India and the rest of the world are witnessing alarming levels of religious disharmony, he speaks to us in a voice that urges dialogue for mutual understanding, trust, respect and peaceful co-existence. At a time when the world is beset with steep inequalities both within and among nations, his concepts of Sarvodaya (Welfare of All) and Antyodaya(Welfare of the Last Man in Society) show us the path toward a more just and equitable world.
Gandhi’s categorical denunciation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction as “sins against humanity” imparts strength to the worldwide campaign for peace and disarmament. He was one of the pioneers of Sustainable Development. His famous exhortation ─ “Mother Earth has enough to satisfy everyone’s need, but not everyone’s greed” ─ has become a mantra of the Green Movement. By describing women as the embodiments of love, care and compassion, he prophesied that the future evolution of the human species would be led by women.
Gandhi conducted pathbreaking experiments in education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, village industries and other areas related to human welfare. Even though times have changed, the essence of these experiments holds important lessons for our world. There is a widespread misconception that he was opposed to modern science and technology. This is not true. He had profound faith, bordering on romance, in the power of scientific knowledge and technological advancements to solve the problems of humanity and aid the search for the truth behind the mysteries of the universe. “Everything can be turned into a science or a romance,” he said. His warning was directed at the unethical and exploitative use of science and technology. Since the 21st century is going to shaped by revolutionary technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Genetics and others, there is surely a need to understand both their possibilities and perils.
There is another widespread misconception about Gandhi ─ that, as an advocate of Swadeshi (national self-reliance), he disfavored international cooperation. This, too, is not true. He wanted a balance between localization and globalization. “Interdependence (among nations) is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as (national) self-sufficiency,” he said.
Gandhi was a democrat to the core. While being firm in his basic convictions, he was never dogmatic. He was always open to learning from new situations and from others’ points of view. He had intrinsic respect for his opponents, and conducted debates and discussions with them in a manner completely free from malice and egotism. At a time when space for dissent and healthy debate is shrinking even in democracies around the world, this Gandhian tradition needs to be revived.
It is obvious that all the above-mentioned thoughts and concerns resonate with the problems and needs of humanity in the 21st century. Therefore, we feel that there is a need to debate and discuss them by bringing together leading thought and action leaders from India and abroad. This is what the International Seminar will attempt to do.
Although the Seminar focuses on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and practice, it will enlarge the scope of the debates by providing a platform for diverse, even critical, viewpoints. This, we believe, is essential for making the Seminar meaningful and fruitful for all.
Day 1: 24th August 2024 | Saturday
Inauguration
Shri. SIDDHARAMIAH, Hon’ble Chief Minister Government of Karnataka
- Chief Guest: Shri H.K. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation and Tourism Department
- Overview of the seminar: Dr. Jeevan Kumar, Member, Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi
- Overview of Gandhi Samraka Nidhi: Dr. Sanjoy Singh, Secretary, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, New Delhi
- Presided by: Shri Ramachandra Rahi, Chairman, Central Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, New Delhi
Tea Break – 11.30 am to 11.45 am
10.00 am to 11.30 am
Keynote Session
- Chairperson: Shri Kumar Prashant, Chairman, Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi
- Keynote Address: Shri Tushar Gandhi, Author & The Great-Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi
Lunch – 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
11.45 am to 1.00 pm
Session 1: Gandhi, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
- Pascal Alan Nazareth, Former Ambassador and Managing Trustee, Sarvodaya International
- Mario Marazziti, Senior Member of the community of Sant’Egidio, Former Italian
- Dr. John Challadurai, Prof. and Head, Dept. of Gandhian Studies MGM University, Aurangabad
- Mr. Ban ki Moon, Former Secretary General, United Nations
2.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Session 2: Gandhi for Sustainable and Equitable Development
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- Prasanna Heggodu, Gandhian and Senior Theatre Person
- Vinya S Ariyaratne, Honorary President, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka
- D.M. Diwakar, Hony. Director, Development Research Institute, Jalsain, Bihar
- Uttam Kumar Sinha, Joint Director, National Gandhi Museum, Rajghat, New Delhi
- Dr.Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan
Tea/Coffee Break – 4.30 pm to 4.45 pm
3.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Session 3: Gandhi, Democracy and Dissent
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- Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das, Former Judge, High Court of Karnataka
- Sibi Joseph, Director, Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan
- Prof Jagdishwar Chaturvedi, Author and Peace Promoter, Delhi
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4.45 pm to 5.45 pm
Day 2: 25th August 2024 | Sunday
Session 4: Gandhian Values and the Revolutionary Power of Technology: Is a Synthesis Possible?
- Sudheendra Kulkarni, Columnist and Author of ‘The Music of the Spinning Wheel’
- Sam Pitroda, an internationally respected telecom inventor and Information and Communications Technologist
- Carl Malamud, Technologist and advocate of Public Domain –Public.Resource.org
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Mr. Kollegala Sharma, Senior Science Communicator and Former Chief Scientist in CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute Mysore
Tea/Coffee Break – 11.30 am to 11.45 am
10.00 am to 11.30 am
Session 5: Dialogue Among Religions for Peace and Harmony
- Swami Nityasthananda ji, President of Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru
- Archbishop Rev Felix Machado, Archbishop of Vasai
- Shri Raha Naba Kumar, Director, Gandhi Ashram, Noakhali, Bangladesh
- Dr. Kezevino Aram, President, Shanti Ashram and Co-moderator, Religions for Peace
Lunch – 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm
11.45 am to 1.00 pm
Session 6: Gandhi, Globalization and Global Governance
- Shri Alagan Annamalai, Director, National Gandhi Museum, Rajghat, New Delhi
- Akbar Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University in Washington DC
- Chandan Gowda, Ramakrishna Hegde Chair Professor of Decentralization and Development, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru
- Prof. Quanyu Shang, Professor, School of Foreign Studies South China Normal University
Tea/Coffee Break – 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm
2.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Valedictory Session
- An Overview Dr.Wooday P.Krishna, President, Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi
- Valedictory address: Hon’ble Justice N Santosh Hegde, Former Judge Supreme Court of India and Former Lokayuktha of Karnataka State
- Presided by Shri H.K. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation and Tourism Department
- August Presence Shri Ramchandra Rahi, Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, New Delhi