National Youth Assembly Against Violence and Terror

Invitation to the Youth of India to join national efforts to fight terror, violence and killing by attending the historic

National Youth Assembly Against

Violence and Terror

(dedicated to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi)

during ‘Quami Ekta Week’ and

being organised by

Indian Council of Gandhian Studies &  Himsamukt Bharat Andolan

in association with

Gandhian, Educational and Service Organizations

Date: Saturday 21 November 2009

Venue: Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi

Youth below 35 years with commitment to Nonviolence and willingness

to serve as Peace Volunteers/Shanti Sainiks welcome to join

Register online giving –

Name:

Student/Non-student:

College/Organization:

Full address:

Phone & Email:

Note: Local hospitality will be provided by the Organizers

Sponsoring Organizations

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan

Shobhit University 

Ekta Parishad

Forum for Gandhian Thought and     Traditional Values

Gandhi Global Forum

Himsamukt Bharat Andolan

   

National Youth Assembly

Against Violence and Terror

(Dedicated to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi)

during ‘Quami Ekta Week’

Date:

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Venue:

Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi

organised by

Indian Council of Gandhian Studies &

Himsamukt Bharat Andolan

in association with

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan (NYKS)

Shobhit University

Ekta Parishad

Forum for Gandhian Thought & Traditional Values

Gandhi Global Forum

Address

19 Rajghat Colony, New Delhi 110002

Email: icgsdelhi@yahoo.co.in

Phones:  011-23345211

National Youth Assembly

Against Violence and Terror

The biggest challenge the country faces today is from widespread violence and terror. Folowing this the Indian society is fast becoming increasingly intolerant and violent. It is a known fact by being indifferent or merely condemning it, violence will not disappear. Nor can combating this menace be left to the government alone. Should not the citizens reflect on appropriate strategies and creative initiatives to reign in these monsters who have dug their feet very deep and have assumed ominous proportion capable enough to threaten the very existence of our nation?

As responsible citizens, what should then be our response? The civil society, especially the youth, should be brought in to the forefront of any effort towards Peace-buildings, Peace-making and Peace-keeping initiatives.

 

Background and build-up

For the past five years, through a series of activities, the Indian Council of Gandhian Studies has been engaged in a National Campaign for a "Violence-Free India" – HimsaMukt Bharat. The more significant and important activities undertaken in different parts of India during this period include:

Ø       A three month-long campaign to enlist 100,000 families to nonviolence.

Ø       Youth Camps in Universities and Colleges in 17 States on the problem of violence.

Ø       Essay and elocution competitions for school children on "violence and its adverse impact."

Ø       Peace Padayatras and discussions on violence in several places.

Ø       110 Lectures/Seminars as part of the observance and commemoration of the Centenary of "Satyagraha" started by Gandhiji and the "UN Decade of Nonviolence and Culture of Peace" (2001-2010) in the context of the growing menace of violence and terror in India and abroad.

Ø       Campaign for establishing a Department/Ministry of Peace in the Government of India to exclusively pursue, promote, cultivate, build and cherish Peace.

Ø       Set up "Shanti Kendras" (Peace Cells) in schools and other educational institutions to inculcate among children the values of tolerance, understanding and respect for each other, and to train them how to deal with differences, disputes and conflicts.

Ø       Two National Conferences: "An India Without Hunger and Violence" at IGNOU (2007), and two, on "Challenges from Violence and Terror – Methods and Strategies to Counter Them" at Anuvrat Bhavan, New Delhi (2008). They were attended by social and peace activists, youth leaders, Gandhian constructive workers, tribal leaders, women activists, legal luminaries, academics, Spiritual leaders and Media experts.

Ø       Twelve regional seminars in different parts of India on citizen’s role in compacting Violence and Terror.

Ø       Twenty-four youth interactive sections of three day each on the Problem of Terror and Violence.

Ø       Twenty Youth camps on Nonviolent conflict management through Gandhi’s Shanti Sena

Ø       186 Youth Assemblies held in different parts of India during the last two years to sensitize the youth against extremism, violence and terror.

What is the National Youth Assembly?

As a sequel to the national campaign through these 186 of Youth Assemblies held in different parts of the country during the last two years, we now propose to organize a National Youth Assembly against Violence and Terror, dedicated to the sacred memory of former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi – a martyr for harmony, tolerance and unity – in New Delhi during the ‘Quami Ekta Week’ on 21 November 2009.

Theme and objectives

The main theme of the National Assembly is Youth Against Violence and Terror. This national event will focus attention on the specific role the youth of India can play in both understanding the gravity and nature of extremism, violence and terror the country is facing now, and encourage them to reflect on the role each one of them may play back in their places of study, work or activities.

The aim, in short, is to encourage them to reflect and help take initiatives at individual, local and institutional levels, so that each one will become a partner in promoting harmony, reconciliation, peace and development. This is also to remind the youth of India that in a crisis, instead of remaining silent or indifferent, they have a special positive role to play.

Objectives:

The objectives of the National Youth Assembly are:

a

To sensitize the youth that intolerance, extremism, violence and terror are against the Indian ethos and culture, and the youth should avoid them and become aware that they disrupt and impede development and national progress.

a

To drive home the point that combating violence and terror cannot be left to the government alone and that the Civil Society, especially the youth, too has a major role in augmenting the efforts of the government in fighting violence and terror.

a

To organize various educational programs in schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions to prepare the students and youth to reflect and develop appropriate strategies to fight these two evils.

a

To revive and re-launch Gandhiji’s Shanti Sena and create a National Standing Body of Young Peace Volunteers (Shanti Sainiks), who will promote and maintain peace and harmony in the community in their respective places. And for this purpose, prepare a National Register of Peace Volunteers (Shanti Sainiks).

Launching of Shanti Sena

Realizing that every youth of India has a great role to play in ensuring harmony, peace and goodwill among various segments of our population and more so the youth since it is they who are most affected, it is imperative that we create a conducive atmosphere for development, which will offer them opportunities of employment leading to peace and happiness. The proposed National Youth Assembly dedicated to Sri Rajiv Gandhi will be an appropriate occasion to launch Shanti Sena of Mahatma Gandhi’s conception to promote peace and harmony in society. The participants in the National Youth Assembly will constitute the first batch of Shanti Sainiks/ Peace Volunteers. Soon thereafter, we will launch a nationwide campaign to enroll more and more Shanti Sainiks/Peace Volunteers.

We are confident that these young Shanti Sainiks/Peace Volunteers working in the villages and towns of India as agents of peace, harmony and unity will be a revolutionary step and this will also be a fitting tribute to the memory of Sri Rajiv Gandhi to whom harmony and unity were integral to development.

Participants

The Youth Assembly will be attended by over 700 youth leaders representing all the States as well as a wide spectrum of youth activities in different parts of India and will therefore be a very significant event.

Date

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Venue

Mavalankar Hall, Rafi Marg, New Delhi

Language

Hindi and English will be the languages of the National Youth Assembly.

Selection of participants

The Sponsoring Organizations will be responsible for selection of the participants. The Nehru Yuva Sanghatan has agreed to depute 300 youth participants belonging to NYKS on their own, representing all the States in India.

The rest will be selected and sponsored by the other Sponsoring Organizations, the bulk being from Delhi Colleges and Universities and other civil society organizations in Delhi.

It is important for the sponsors to remember that the participants should be below 35 years of age and they should have faith in, and commitment to Nonviolence. They should also be willing to serve as Peace Volunteers/Shanti Sainiks on a long-term basis.

Board and lodging

Board and lodging to all the out-station participants will be provided by the Organizers free of cost on 20th and 21st November at convenient places in Delhi. Lunch and refreshment will be served to all the participants on 21st at the venue of the Assembly.

Travel costs

The Sponsoring Organizations will try and provide the cost of travel, depending on availability of funds.

The selected participants, if employed, may seek travel cost from the organizations or institutions they are working with, wherever possible.

Chairman
Indian Council of Gandhian Studies
MGRA 30, Neelakantom, Marappalam Gardens,
Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India - 695004