Training Workshop for Young Activists – Secularism, Democracy & Documenting the Violations – May 25-27, 2016

The urgency to intervene in defense of democracy, secularism and justice has never been more pressing than in the conditions prevailing in the country today. There is a recognizable change in the general tenure of public discourse; unlike in the past, it is informed more by the communal than by secular ethos. The prejudices against the minorities are widely shared as a result of motivated and sustained propaganda.

We are deeply concerned with the grave assaults that are being mounted on the Republic. Political forces represented by the Sangh Parivar are trying to subvert our Constitution by imposing upon the whole country their ideology of majoritarian tyranny, persisting caste and gender inequality, religious intolerance, and abolition of dissent. Today they have entered into a dangerous alliance with neo-liberal market fundamentalists and a section of unscrupulous capitalists and financiers who see constitutional democracy as a hurdle in the path of so-called ‘development’. This alliance of religious fanatics and neo-liberals want nothing less than an overthrow of the state’s constitutional commitment to social welfare, the public provisioning of health, education and social security, affirmative action for women, Dalits and Adivasis; the freedom of belief and worship of religious minorities; and the subversion of the criminal justice system.

Today our society is witness to increasing religious polarization and fear; and attacks on women, Dalits, Adivasis, religious minorities and working people; the criminal neglect of agriculture leading to an epidemic of farmer suicides; the theft of natural resources; and attacks on livelihoods and workers’ rights; gender violence; the neglect of persons with disabilities; discrimination against Dalit students in schools and universities across the country; and the persecution of people marginalised on the basis of their religious identity .. Worst of all, the members and allies of the so-called SanghParivar are bent upon curbing our freedoms. They tell people what to wear, write and speak; whom to love and what to eat.

Dr Narendra Dabholkar

All critical voices are dubbed anti-national and asked to leave the country. All this is accompanied by open intimidation that often leads to violence. This climate of intimidation has led to mounting fear among dissenters and minorities of all kinds. The lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri on the rumour that he ate beef; the assassination of rationalists Dr. Narendra Dabholkar and Shri Govind Pansare; and of the scholar

Govind Pansare

Professor Kalburgi are manifestations of this climate of intolerance and intimidation. It is the current climate of continuing social inequality that led to the heart-breaking suicide of Rohith, declaring that his birth is his fatal accident; and the unmaking of the developmental state that has led to grave cutbacks on social sector public spending on health and education; to curbing of labour rights; to reckless dilution of environmental protections; and the bullying of dissent.

Professor Kalburgi

We feel that to combat these forces it is very important as a first step to document these attacks from across India.

We are organising a two -day training workshop to sensitise and equip young activists who are willing to document the attacks from their respective districts.

The Training Workshop will be held in Delhi on May 25 – 27, 2016. The participants must reach Delhi by 8am on May 25.  They can leave after 6pm on May 27.  

Organisers will look after the local stay and food arrangements. Participants are expected to pay for their own travel or get their organisations to sponsor it. The sleeper train tickets/ ordinary bus fare will be reimbursed only to those who cannot afford to pay the fare.

Last date for registration is May 20, 2016. Maximum 5 activists will be registered from one state as we do not have space for more than 100 participants. 

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All registration requests must be sent to

Dev Desai at  likedesai @ gmail.com  and
Shabnam Hashmi at shabnamhashmi @ gmail.com

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