12 March
Inaugral session (10AM – 1 PM):
Tributeto Comrade Arvind. Introductory speeches.
Release of Collection of papers (English & Hindi) presented at the Second Arvind Memorial Seminar on labour movement. Published by Arvind Memorial Trust
Release of collection of articles (English & Hindi) by Ranganayakamma: Caste and Class: A Marxist Viewpoint. Published by Rahul Foundation.
Second Sessions (3 PM – 8 PM): Commencement of presentation of papers and discussions
1. (Caste Question and its solution: A Marxist Viewpoint — Arvind Memorial Trust) – in Hindi
2. (Ambedkarism and Dalit Liberation – Sukhwinder, editor, Pratibaddh, Punjab) – in Hindi
13 March
3. The Historiography of Caste: Some critical observations — Abhinav, editor, Muktikami Chhatron-Yuvaon ka Aahvan – in Hindi
4. Marxism and the caste question – Based on Anuradha Gandhi’s book ‘Caste Question in India’ — Asit Das, Researcher and Activist, New Delhi
5. Caste-class symbiosis and conjoint relevance of Marx(ism) and Ambedkar(ism) — Sukhdev Singh Janagal, Punjab
6. Background note on caste in India — Prof. Irfan Habib, Aligarh (to be circulated)
7. Towards A Programme for Abolition of Material Basis of Casteist Hierarchy — Anant Phadke, Shramik Mukti Dal (Democratic), Pune (to be circulated)
14 March
8. Caste and Politics in West Bengal: The Changing Face of the Left Front — Praskanva Sinharay, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta
9. Class, Caste and Identity Politics — Shivani, Delhi University – in Hindi
10. Distinctiveness as Ideology or Pain and the Politics of Specificity — Prashant Gupta, B.R. Ambedkar College, Delhi University
— Presentation by Anand Teltumbde
15 March
11. (The Dalit Question and Aesthetics — Ninu Chapagain,Politburo Member and in charge of the Cultural Division of UCPN (M) – in Hindi
12. What is to be undone: Caste and Sex in Marxist Traditions — Dr. Rajarshi Dasgupta, Centre for Political Studies, JNU
– Presentation by Katyayani, Renowned Hindi poet and activist
16 March
13. Dr. Ambedkar or Dr. Marx — by Prof. William Paul Cockshott, University of Glasgow
(The paper will be circulated as a background note and Prof. Cockshott will make a presentation through skype from London.)
— Presentation by Dr. Tulsiram, noted Marxist Dalit writer and thinker
Discussion on issues summed up during the past 4 days.
Some of the other confirmed participants:
- Prof. DN Jha, Marxist Historian, Delhi
- Prof. Satish Deshpande, Deptt of Sociology, Delhi University
- Prof. Tulsiram, Hindi writer, JNU
- Prof. (Mrs.) Vimal Thorat, IGNOU
- Anand Teltumbde
- Tilak Parihar, Senior leader,CPN (M)
- Sangeet Srota (Nepali poet and activist)
- Prof. PK Vijayan, Delhi University
- Dr. Saroj Giri, Delhi University
- Namdev Laghve, Nagpur
- Dr. S.B. Rai and Aditya Narayan Singh (Granthashilpi), Delhi
- Arjun Prasad Singh, PDFI
- Jai Prakash and Sudhakar, Jati Virodhi Aandolan
- Anant Acharya , DAFODWAM, Kolkata
- Uttamrao Jagirdar,Sharad Gaikwad & 3 others, Republican Panthers, Mumbai
- Hargopal Singh, Solan, Himachal Pradesh
- Prof. Chamanlal, JNU
- Prof. Manjit Singh, Chandigarh University
- Representatives from ‘Mazdoor Patrika’, Patna
- Ajay Sinha. Patna, Bihar
- Deepti and 2 others, International Airports Employees Union, Mumbai
- Prabhakar and 2others, Reliance Energy Employees Union, Mumbai
- Santokh Singh Virdi, Writer, Punjab
- Varinderpal, Inqualbi Vidyarthi Sabha, Bathinda
- Ch. Premchandra Singh, Manipur
- Jitendra Bharti, Dehradun
- Vijay Prakash Singh, Journalist, Mumbai
- Fabian Dsouza, Researcher, Delhi
- Johannes Paul Raether, Artist and left social activist from Germany
- Representatives from several groups from Punjab.
- Activists from various mass organisations from UP, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana & Maharashtra.
Representatives from some groups from Bihar, UP and Maharashtra have not yet confirmed but they may come.
We are expecting that several individuals and people from some groups may reach Chandigarh directly.
We request all those who are coming for the seminar to intimate us about your travel plans so we can receive you at the station and make arrangements for your comfortable stay.
For friends coming from Delhi by bus, please get down at the Tribune Chowk, as soon as the bus enters Chandigarh. The venue and the guest accommodation (Garhwal Bhavan) are 100-150 meters from there.