8th International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action (8th ICPNA)

Theme:

Towards a Nonviolent Future:
Seeking Realistic Models for Peaceful Co-existence and Sustainability

organized  by

ANUVRAT GLOBAL  ORGANIZATION (ANUVIBHA), INDIA

in association with

ANUVIBHA JAIPUR KENDRA, JAIPUR

Nonviolent Revolution in Rajasthan; a study of Gandhian Political strategies

Vidya Jain, Dr.

There is enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's Strategies for social transformations through non-violent action. According to Gandhi non-violent revolution is a program of transformations of relationships among communities, classes and people. Since marginalized and deprived people are left behind in the development syndrome, non-violent action is the imperative of time. Thus we attempt to examine the interconnectedness between non-violent action and theoretical framework of Gandhi. As well as we want to understand how the Gandhian activism in post-independence Rajasthan inspired and encouraged social activist leaders and NGO's to launch civil society movements for social change. The movements inspired by Gandhian vision have a great degree of voluntarism. The decisions are taken by consensus. The symbols used in the movements are not of aggression but are of non-violence, harmony, togetherness, human love and oneness. In the process of political action, the idea is not to hurt defeat or win over the enemy but instead transform reform and uplift him. The proposed paper would focus primarily on different non-violent movement of Rajasthan and understand the efficacy and relevance of Gandhian techniques of non-violent action in Rajasthan. The people's movements run in post-independence Rajasthan are non-violent in nature because their emergence can be traced back to Gandhian era of national movement. The people's movements are inclusive, voluntary, self- sustained and self- managed. Secondly, they are fighting for Truth and want to establish a dialogue with state machinery, corporate sector or the police. The financial management is inspired by Gandhian trusteeship.

Is Nonviolent Future Possible?

Vijay Mehta, Mr.

Vijay Mehta will concentrate on exploring, finding and attaining holistic peace for a non-violent future. Universal application of inner and outer peace opens a life of freedom, expression and opportunities for all to fulfill their potential. It brings tranquility, harmony and reverence for life through a philosophy of nonviolence, in a world beset by violence and wars. It is pertinent to explore killings/violence which manifests in our society in the form of violent crime, homicide, public disorder, weapons crime etc. and deprivation in the form of the worst effects of poverty including hunger and oppression. Some of the deadly conflicts in the past and present have been undertaken in the name of religion and ethnicity based on faith, nation, race, class, and gender and thrived by propaganda of division by politicians, military, corporate, thinkers, priests and historians. Violence, whether it is at home or bullying or war abroad, simply leads to more violence. Power, elite, rulers use violence to control, dominate and legitimize it by creating fear in the masses. Alternative solutions to reduce violence are described in Eastern and Western traditions. Indian scriptures in various ways in Vedic culture, Buddhism and Hinduism advocate the practice of prayer, meditation, and yoga for attaining holistic peace and building a just and violence free society. In a multi-polar, interconnected and interdependent world, holistic peace is a power within every human being which can be effectively used to change the world to a more peaceful place. One of the ways to do it is via dialogue and living compassionately in unity for constructive co-existence leading to a non-violent future.