Thematic Social Forum

Call to participate: July 31 -1^st of August 2016, Hyderabad

All India Thematic Social Forum: On Dignity, Diversity and Democracy

Another India is needed- together it’s possible!

Opening Plenary on 31 July @ RTC Kalyana Mandapam, Baghlingampalli; Hyderabad @ 10 am

Speakers: Kanhaiya Kumar (JNU), Chintu Kumari (JNU), Harishankar Nachimuttu ( FTII), Sudhanya Pal (Jadavpur University), Dontha Prashant (HCU), Naliganti Sharat (Osmania University) , Richa Singh (Allahabad University) (TBC), Name (Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle) , Khushnawaz Rashid (Maulana Azad Univesity) , Mohan Dharavat (EFLU) will Moderate

Workshops and other events: Dr. B R AMBEDKAR COLLEGE, BAGHLINGAMPALLI, (31^st July2.00pm – 6.00pm and on 1^st August 9.30 am – 1.30 pm)

Closing Plenary on 1st August @ 2.30pm: Sundariya Vigyana Kendra, Baghlingampalli.

31^st July 2016 – Opening Plenary ( @10.00am)

13 years ago, on Jan 2-7, 2003, the Asian Social Forum was organized in Hyderabad. It was the first Social Forum event in Asia, organized around the slogan of “Another World is Possible!” . The focal issues were imperialist globalization, war, religious and sectarian violence, casteism and patriarchy. 20,000 people participated; and it prepared the ground for the mobilization of more than 100,000 at the WSF IV in Mumbai.

WSF 2016 will be held in Montreal, Canada in August 9^th to 14^th, 2016.

This year Hyderabad will host an All India Thematic Social Forum on Dignity, Diversity and Democracy on 31July – 1 August, 2016.

The global crisis and conflicts link people in the South and North, and creates the need for a real solidarity of the South, of the common working people world over. In India, the state is creating conditions for better corporate management. The ruling elite markets Brand India to global capital: its industry, technology, market friendliness and natural resources. This has meant increased economic disparities, more state repression and denial of human rights and the ruthless exploitation of peoples and natural resources in the name of development, investment and profits. There is an atmosphere of fear and repression against dissenting views, in particular against religious minorities, Dalits andtribal and sexual minorities. The threat to Idea of India as a diverse, multi-cultural society are real and have serious implications for our collective future.

The people of India are resisting. New voices, new movements are providing hope. A new social revolution, with the message of social justice, has begun to rise from the campuses, from the wadas, and the bastis of this country; and women have been mobilizing against gender violence.

In the rapidly changing economic political and social scenario in India, the need for a broad discourse reflecting the huge diversity of political and social realities is urgently needed. While corporate interests and right wing, communal sectarian forces are gaining strength, solidarity among people’s movements is lagging behind. We need to build a clarity of our vision of the India of the future, to meet the challenge of building solidarity based on diversity, to forge broader alliances before events overtake democratic and progressive people’s movements.

Social forum processes have proved to be extraordinarily popular, as an open space where activists come together, reflect, listen, debate. This thematic forum is a small step, towards creating a space for broad solidarity of all forces that are fighting for dignity, diversity and democracy, of all those who believe that such solidarities are the need of the hour. We call upon people’s movements, NGOs, political party-led mass organisations, cultural groups, trade unions, women’s organisations, dalit and indigenous movements, and others from all over India to participate.

The event is open to all. Registration at Venue and online (www.wsfindia.org)

Contact details for Secretariat:
Secretariat, Hyderabad, Thematic World Social Forum
Anju Reshma Manikoth (anjureshma.9@gmail.com), Tejaswini Madabhushi (mtejaswini@gmail.com), M. Abhinav (m.abhinav@gmail.com)

Office:
Address: Yugantar Office, 3-4-142/6, Barkatpura, Hyderabad, Telangana, India – 500027, Phone: +91- 40- 23449193, Email: thematicwsf@gmail.com

Local Organising Committee:
Yugantar, Your Needs – TRSSS, Young Socialist Front, Vision KCR Foundation, UOH (ASA), TPUS, Telangana Joint Action Committee, Telangana Yudha Samithi, Telangana Writers Forum, Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika,Telangana Vedika K S, Telangana PUCL, Telangana Praivak, Telangana Praja Samiti, T.V.P.C, T G Vanarulararikshama Committee, Samajwadi Forward Block, SADED, S.F.B, R V.S. Community, PSAU, KSA, Praja Udyamala sanghibhavam, Pepsy, Peoples Monitoring Committee, NSS, NRSC employees associations, Hyderabad, Navbharat Nirman Trust, National Domestic Workers Movement, Muslim Front, Montfort Social Institute (MSI), JDS, JCS, Hyderabad Zindabad, Human rights forum, Communications For Change, Grace of God, FSMI, SWECHA, Dalit Bahujana Front, Dalit and Rural Poor Development Organisation, CSCS, Citizen’s Rights Collective, Chhatri, Centre for Environmental Concerns, CCC, Rayathu Swarajya Vedika, Caring citizen collective, BCCE, Anveshi, Amanvedika/ BMN, All India Lawyers Union, ActionAid Association, 1969 Telangana Movement foundation Forum and others