Dear Friends,
On the basis of our
learning from previous campaigns such as the Jan Chetavani yatra in 2006, the Jan Adesh march in 2007 and Jan Sathyagraha in 2012, Ekta Parishad is now
positioned to launch a new campaign called Jai Jagat 2020. You may take note that in previous campaigns
we used the adage Jan, meaning ‘people’,
and this is because we focused on marginalized people. In the 2020 campaign we
are broadening to Jagat, meaning all
people in the world. This does not mean that the work of Ekta Parishad alters its
direction from changing its focus away from the lives of poor people. We
continue to organize marginalized communities for their control over land and natural
resources, as a way to fight poverty. At the same time we realize that this problem
is not limited to India alone and that people from almost every country across
the world are experiencing similar challenges. Market driven globalization is
depriving millions of people from their land and accessing resources. People
are being dispossessed and forced into cities and slums. This means that we need to work at a global
as well as at the grassroots level to bring about real change.
Jai Jagat actually means VICTORY
OF THE WORLD. That is very close to the concept of Sarvodaya (‘well being of all’) that was given by Mahatma Gandhi.
The underlying principle is that, if there is a victory then it should be the
victory of our common humanity not the victory of one nation over another. The
victory should also be based on the victory of living commodiously together,
and of people coexisting with nature. If the victory is for everyone and for
everything, then this is the best. A modern world needs to imbibe these new
values, the values of Jai Jagat and Gandhi’s
notion of Sarvodaya.
We are aware that the
above terms and terminologies are drawn from the Hindi language and are
generally confined to India, but we believe that these words are very relevant
in a global campaign. What is being proposed,
as the forthcoming global action, is that no one country or group of people can
bring about genuine change. The increasingly destructive trends need to be
counteracted by local and global action that is coordinated and done simultaneously.
Such a large-scale effort needs to challenge and sensitize global organizations
and global players. While a very strong component of Ekta Parishad’s actions
will be in India responding to the local problems, we are very keen to work
with as many organizations as possible at every country level and at the global
level in order to advance the survival agenda of nature and people on the
planet.
In relation to Jai Jagat2020, some action plans are
already in the pipeline. These have emerged through various discussions and we
are still open and willing to incorporate new ideas and new programs in order
to gain wider participation.
The following eight
proposed actions are being considered:
1.
Youth training in non-violent
action will be a major component of this campaign. This is an opportunity to
train and sensitize as many young people as possible in the coming years. In
India there have been widespread alliance building with many other organizations.
The plan is to reach out to more than hundred thousand young men and women in
all 660 districts of the country. We are planning to organize youth and work
camps in every district involving a minimum of 200 youth in each district.
These camps will provide the opportunity for young people to discuss, to understand
issues and also to make action plans that challenge deprivation and alienation
of land and resources from the poor non-violently.
2.
We also plan to
involve collaborative partnership with civil society groups in various other
continents and countries. Friends in Ekta Parishad have
been involved in youth training programs in Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru,
Senegal, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, England, Spain as well as
in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. We have been most willing to share
our limited skills and capacities with those who are looking for such skill training
to work more effectively among young people. We have also provided
exposure and training to many who have come to India from various parts of the
globe to learn from our way of working among the marginalized groups. We believe in alliance building and
networking with all like-minded people and groups.
3.
An international youth
program has been designed for the month of September 2014, in which about 30
young social leaders from 15 countries are expected to participate. This
program will be organized in India in order to give people exposure to building
social actions nonviolently. If anyone finds this interesting, please consult
the International Initiatives site at www.internationalinitiative.org.
4.
In 2016 a similar
program is being designed for women leaders who may visit India to see how
grassroots women leaders have been able to transform their lives through their
own efforts. Again this visit will be through the Indian villages and the
visitors will travel and interact with grassroots women leaders for a period of
two weeks. This travel will culminate in to a women leadership camp and a
conference by women.
5.
In 2018 we are
planning to organize an international conference on Non-violent Economy. You
may be aware that in some parts of the globe, this alternative economy is
called ‘social economy’, ‘solidarity economy’, etc. In India we call it nonviolent economy. These economic
relations encourage and promote a development model based on self-reliance,
reciprocity and more fair exchange, and counter the current violent and
dominant economy. The challenge will be to create a non-violent economy while
continuing with non-violent social change through struggle.
6.
In this note we are
only providing an initial action calendar in India. We are sure other
timelines will emerge from different organizations in other parts of the world.
In order to link all these actions to a global process, a group of 100 friends
(an international team) will march from Delhi Rajghat (the resting
place of Mahatma Gandhi), to Geneva or the United Nations HQ. The UN was
established in order to uphold the human values, dignity as well as human
rights of every individual. This is time for ordinary people to remind citizens
in different parts of the world that we need inclusive and equitable
relationships. This is the time for people to walk, talk and sing in the
reshaping a world in which the diversity of people and nature can be
maintained. This march will take nearly 15 months and this is the time for all
partners to organize small and big marches in their own cities, countries or in
the regions to march for a new world order.
7.
The entire campaign
of Jai Jagat 2020 is built around the notion that “our world
can be different if we are not indifferent”. Another important notion is that “in
a world torn between silence and violence we need to come together to introduce
the culture of active nonviolence”.
8.
This is a call for
every one interested to join the campaign or to support the campaign in whichever
way people feel it is fitting.Some possible actions are as below.
a.
Connect us with
organizations and campaigns with which you are familiar.
b.
Get this document into
your publications, websites, newsletters and other channels of dissemination.
c.
Encourage journalists
to write about it.
d.
Find an opportunity to
visit India or invite us to your in-country programs.
e.
Make small financial
contributions to support the youth training.
We hope to receive
your valuable suggestions and inputs in shaping this campaign as it is going to
impact the lives of millions of people as well as on the planet. We believe
that such a campaign can have a huge impact on the
institutions and policies at the global level.
Rajagopal P.V.
