The Hindu : New Delhi News : Conference to mark centenary of satyagraha in January

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Friday, Dec 15, 2006
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Conference to mark centenary of satyagraha in January

Special Correspondent

Eminent persons, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mohammed Yunus, invited

NEW DELHI: Eminent persons and Nobel laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mohammed Yunus of Bangladesh Grameen Bank would be among the distinguished people invited to take part in the two-day international conference being organised on January 29-30 next year by the All India Congress Committee to mark the centenary of the launch of satyagraha.

Entitled `Peace, Non-violence and Empowerment - Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century', the conference would be structured around four presentations by scholars and Gandhians. The subjects for these papers would be conflict resolution and peace-building; Gandhian philosophy for poverty eradication, education and people's empowerment; dialogue among peoples and cultures; and towards a nuclear weapons free and non-violent world order.

"The conference has generated global interest. This is reflected in the impressive response extended to world leaders and heads of major political parties. Several Heads of State and Government, 29 Ministers and leadership delegations from more than 52 countries have confirmed participation," the Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

Mr. Sharma, who was speaking in his capacity as an organiser of the international conference on behalf of the party, said other eminent persons include South African freedom fighter Ahmed Kathrada, noted Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, Lord Bikhu Parekh, Gandhian activists A.T. Ariyaratne, Gene Sharp of the Albert Einstein Institute and Chaiwat Satha-anand from Thailand.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the two-day conference.

The conference is part of many events being organised by the party to acknowledge the historical contribution made by Mahatma Gandhi and the values espoused by him and to commemorate the centenary. "This will also be an occasion to renew the commitment of our people to his noble mission of building a world that is in peace and harmony with itself," Mr. Sharma said adding that the conference will also have an exhibition that will document the milestones of satyagraha.

On the occasion, party treasurer Motilal Vora launched a website http://www.satyagrahaconference.com.

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