As part of its celebrations for the 125th birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, the Congress will this week organise a conference bringing together many writers and historians, including Left leaning, to discuss freedom, equality, democracy and secularism in today's context.
The theme of the conference is ‘No Peace Without Freedom; No Freedom without Peace: Securing Nehru's Legacy and India’s Future: Agenda for Action’.
The goal of the Conference is to develop an agenda for action for securing and strengthening the cornerstone values of the Indian Republic laid down by Nehru in his Objectives Resolution of the Constituent Assembly (freedom, equality, democracy, secularism and justice -- social, economic and political), the Congress said in a statement.
The conference convenes at a time when regressive forces have launched an unprecedented attack on the liberal, progressive, social democratic idea of India, as well as on the unity, integrity and social harmony of the nation and on our rights and freedoms, it said.
While it would be inaugurated by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Trustee Rahul Gandhi will deliver Valedictory Address.
Confirmed speakers include Prof Irfan Habib, Prof Romila Thapar, Prof Gopal Guru, Kumar Ketkar, Aakar Patel, Teesta Setalvad, P V Rajagopal, Mukul Kesavan, Ram Puniyani, Kancha Ilaiah, Brinda Grover, Sharada Sathe, George Mathew, Nikhil De, Kavita Srivastava, Narendra Jadhav, Wilson Bezwada, Chandrabhushan, Prof Adityanarayan Mishra, Prof Apurvanand, Prof B R Mungekar besides Shashi Tharoor and others.
Participants will include thought leaders, political activists, civil society activists, students, academics and Congress leaders from across the country.
