Friends, The Godhara and post-Godhara carnage have shocked the whole world. Serious concerns have come from various quarters of the country. Many human rights organisations and bodies including NHRC, Editor's Guild, Human Rights Watch, Women's Group Peoples Tribunal have come out with revealing reports, which have drawn the world-attention and put pressure on both Centre and Gujarat State reluctant Governments to act. Togetherness, Solidarity of the concerned people with the victims of Gujarat, in fact is overwhelming. Voices against fascism and peace, voices for justice were echoed throughout the country through rallies, dharnas, human chains, demonstrations, conventions, and of course through debates in Parliament and State Assemblies. No less role has been played by the mainstream print medias and electronic media. With all our limitations and constraints the secular, democratic and peace loving people of Gujarat tried their best to cop up with relief, rehabilitation, legal aid and put pressure on the government and to match with the outside response of the concerned people.
The overall response from inside as well as outside Gujarat against fascism is the only silver lining. There is a potent danger of fascism, which is looming large. Today it is Gujarat; tomorrow it can be the whole of India. Now it is high time for the co-ordination and consolidations of all secular, democratic, anti-fascist and peace loving forces of the country. A broadest possible platform is the call of the hour. And all our efforts should be aimed in this direction. The concerned citizens, various organisations of Bombay, Maharashtra have come out to host a National level Convention to evolve the process of a co-ordinated action, which MOVEMENT FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY fully endorse. The people of Gujarat and Mumbai share a common history and have a certain organic relationship. Mumbai as the venue of the convention is very significance. In this two-days convention, the papers will be placed on the followings:
- The Gujarat Genocide in the laboratory of Hindutva.
- The caste politics underlying the carnage.
- Impact on women and children
- Gujarati Muslims; where do they go from here?
- A history of the riots in Gujarat.
- Collapse of the institutions of the State,
- The onslaught of Communal Fascism - response and resistance from the People's Movement.
Delegates from all walks of life are expected to attend the conference from all over India.
VENUE OF THE CONFERENCE
Abhinav Sikshan Prasark Mandal,A.B.
Goregaonkar High School
NR.Goregaon Rly. Station(West) ,
Membai, 400062
Time-9 A.M. onward
DATE-1st.& 2nd. JUNE.
Registration Fees:
Rs.50/-Arrangements for boarding and lodging have been made for the delegates. Please send in the confirmation at the earliest on: E. mail: natconongujarat@yahoo.co.uk
For any other information contact the following organisers at Mumbai
Prof. Uday Meheta +91-22-6491478
Jiten Desai-022-6361795
Subodh More +91-22-8815067
Feroz.H. Mithiborwala +91-22-8515165
Details of the programme will be sent to you soon.
For any other clarification contact
NARMAD_ MEGHANI LIBRARY MSD
A. bad
Ph-tel/ fax 91-79-6404418 Email-dnr@icenet.net
Yours Prakash.N. Shah, Convenor, MSD. D.16-5.02
Movement For Secular Democracy
C/o Narmad-Meghani Library,
Opp. Mithakhali Crossing,
Mithakhali,
Ellis Bridge,
AHMEDABAD-380006.
Ph.no.:-(079) 6404418.
E-mail:- dnr@icenet.net