A CALL TO CONFRONT AND RESIST HATE
An Action Plan for activists and concerned citizens
Background:
Friends, we are all aware of the deep inroads that this new, and dangerous ideology, has made across our land: its assaults on the Constitution of India, the Supreme Court, the Reserve Bank, the Press Council of India, major Investigative Agencies and, at the street level, its impact on the lives of the minorities, Dalits and Tribals. Even dissenting academics, activist lawyers and journalists, writers, painters and students have been singled out for retribution. The net has also spread to include all those people who believe in the plurality and diversity of this vast land…who believe in the equality of the law for all citizens beyond caste, creed, religion and gender and who believe in the freedom of speech. In fact it is an onslaught on our foundational and core principles of citizenship and civilisation itself.
We are also aware that this ascent to power has been achieved by manufactured half-truths, shrill jingoism, the whipping up of a fear psychosis and, tragically, hate. How do we confront this juggernaut that has immense financial resources at its disposal, a pliant mass media that acts as an echo chamber and a huge army of indoctrinated cadres to both enforce this counter-ideology and also spread its message.
We know the battle is going to be long and hard and needs to be fought at the political, legal, cultural and media level. But we also know that there have been numerous instances where individuals and institutions have stood up bravely, and successfully, to challenge this state of affairs and yet…
This is a call to all teachers, students, activists, community mobilisers and citizens who are deeply concerned about this state of affairs. It is a call to come together to combat these pernicious ideas that attack the fundamental framework of what our democracy is about and the ideals of what we want to be that are enshrined in our Constitution.
We, at the Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics, are organising a workshop of five days that will help you find the necessary ideas and tools to combat the juggernaut that spreads this web of lies and deceit and a group of dedicated and reputed resource people will help you on this journey to dismantle it.
Saeed Mirza | Prashant Bhushan
About the workshop:
- Understanding the history, origin, nature and narrative of the current propaganda of hate, divisiveness and fear
- Exploring the counter and positive narratives that existed in history: ideologies and ideologues in support of diversity, equality, freedom and justice.Tukaram, Namdev, Kabir, Gurunanak, Buleshah, Baba Fareed, Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule.
- Underlining our syncretic and inclusive civilisation.
- Equip ourselves with cultural and popular education tools and language to combat bigotry and instill constitutional values: popular Hindi film songs on equality, friendship, inclusiveness.
- Identifying and combating fake news and disinformation, which spreads hate and divisiveness.
This workshop is not meant as an academic exercise and is a call to action to people to want to challenge the status quo and contribute in meaningful ways using whatever skills and tools are there at their disposal.
Methodology and Language: The workshop will have speakers and thinkers who will share their experience and will also equip participants using activities and exercises to come up with creative ways to combat this politics of hate. The workshop will be facilitated in Hindi, Hindustani and some English.
Resource Persons: Aditya Nigam, Gauhar Raza, Bhasha Singh, Nandini Rao, Aparna Dewal.
Dates and Venue: April 11 to 15, 2021. Sambhaavnaa Institute, VPO – Kandbari, Tehsil – Palampur, District – Kangra, PIN 176061, Himachal Pradesh
Participant Contribution: We hope that the participants would contribute an amount of Rs. 2000 for 5 days towards workshop expenses, inclusive of all onsite workshop costs: boarding, lodging, and all the materials used in the workshop. Need-based partial waivers are available; we have a very limited number of partial waivers, so, please apply for a waiver only if you really need it. Please do remember that there may be others who need it more than you.
How to reach: Please visit, getting here
For any other info: WhatsApp or call Shashank: 889 422 7954 (between 10 am to 5 pm), and e-mail: programs@sambhaavnaa.org
Please fill the application form below:
(There is a sincere request we have to make. If you fill the form and get a confirmation from our side for your participation, please do not make cancellations at the last moment, unless there are unforeseen circumstances. So, while filling the form, please try to make sure you do not have anything else planned in advance for the dates of the workshop. It takes some time to process the forms and begin our preparations for the workshop. If you back out after the confirmation, it sends our preparations for a toss, in addition to the time and effort we are expending. Also, many other people who are eager to attend miss out on the opportunity. We shall really appreciate your consideration; and hope you understand the need for such a request.)