Madhya Pradesh LJA Conference, Singrauli 29-30 Sept. 2012 : Preparations

We have just been through a trip to the eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh. On 27th May there was a preparatory meeting in Singrauli to discuss the content, organization and  preparation of the Madhya Pradesh LJA Conference. About 25 persons attended. From out side Singrauli Sanjeev, Dilip, Ravi, Ekta, Chitra and myself were present. This gives a substantial start to the preparations. We expect to hold preparatory meetings during coming months in several districts of MP. A large contingent is expected to participate in the event through a 'yatra' from the Indore region. The dates of the event have been changed to 29-30 September 2012. And a largish preparatory meeting is proposed in Baidhan, Singrauli on 9-10 August 2012.

                      Awdhesh speaking at Singrauli prep. meet on 27th May 2012

From Singrauli many of us moved on for meetings in Katni, Jabalpur, Shahdol and Anooppur. 30th May saw some thousands of farmers descend on Anooppur in the leadership of Bharatiya Kisan Union to protest against the high handed and repressive administrative action against the farmers on 5th May when they had gathered outside the Moser Baer Thermal Power Plant for increased compensation for their lands which have been forcibly taken away. They are being paid a pittance, Rs. 65,000 per acre. Hundreds were arrested and later released. However a large number continued to be detained on a variety of charges, this includes Rakesh Tikait, the National Leader of BKU.

                                 LJA Meeting in Jabalpur, 29 May 2012

We spent time in the villages of Anooppur, namely Mahuda and Kyontar and also near Jaithari, the plant site. Mahuda is a center of Kisan Union activity and was selected as an alternate site for the kisan panchayat on 30th May, which was of course prevented by the administration. There is enormous resentment against the terror tactics of the government. On 30th the entire district of Anooppur was turned into a police chhavni. Extensive arrests took place on and before 30th May. Anyone suspected to be with the Kisan Union was detained. Local farmers were mostly arrested between 5th May and the day of Panchayat. Farmers were also arrested at various stations from trains going towards Anooppur. The administration has let loose the propaganda that BKU leaders are from outside, they are outsiders creating nuisance in Anooppur. They are saying this in support of Moser Baer, a German company. So in the eyes of the administration the German company serves the interests of the people of the region and and farmer leaders from Uttar Pradesh are seen as outsiders !

                              Group meeting in forest in Bandhav Garh 28 May 2012
                                           Chitra missing because photo taking

Our dialogues in meetings and in the villages do find a response. Lokavidya Jan Andolan is seen as creating new terms of debate, a possible pathway in an otherwise closed kind of situation. It does convey an idea which can work towards producing  a larger unity to be able to stand up against the bulldozing policies underway. Specifically we found responsive activists in all the districts we visited and farmers in the villages in a mood to take new initiatives. We expect to continue this process through the coming months to add to the gathering in Singrauli on 29-30 September. Remember Singrauli produces 13,000 MW thermal power today and so many projects are underway that there is a ' promise' of another 20,000 MW in a few years. The communities, the forests, air, water, livelihoods, everything is devastated. We hope that the LJA conference here will break some fresh ground for a new social and political imagination.

                                        
        On 31st May, 2012, LJA team with Kolaidas on his land on the bank of river Son in village Kyontar in Anooppur district, where a Lokavidya Ashram is being planned.  This is the site where Moser Baer is building a dam on river Son for steady supply of water to their thermal plant.

Vidya Ashram

LOKAVIDYA JAN ANDOLAN MEETING, May 2012, Chirala, Andhra Pradesh

LOKAVIDYA JAN ANDOLAN MEETING

24^th and 25^th May 2012, Chirala,Andhra Pradesh

A two-day Lokavidya Jan Andolan meeting was held at Chirala, Andhra Pradesh on 24^th and 25^th May,2012. The meeting was held at SB & SN High School and was attended by about 75 activists of the Handloom Weavers Association, Srikakulam Peoples Action Committee, Dalit and Tribal rights activists, farmers association etc.

First day, 24^th May,2012

The first session speeches by Krishnarajulu and Narayana Rao centred on the role and relevance of Lokavidya in forming the basis for united action by various sections of Lokavidyadhar samaj against the exploitative and anti-people policies and programmes of the government, industrial and multinational institutions. The demand for a right to livelihood based on Lokavidya and for a minimum wage for ALL Lokavidya based productive and service activity (currently not covered under MNREGA) was explained in detail. These ideas were received very well by all present.

                                  Krishnarajulu and Narayan Rao addresing the gathering

The afternoon session started with a report by activists from Srikakulam regarding their 2 year old agitation against land acquisition for the proposed thermal power plants in Kakarapalli and Somapeta. A photo exhibition showed the inhuman atrocities perpetrated by the police and officials on the agitating men and women. These activists were very appreciative of the ongoing LJA and expressed a desire to join in this nation- wide movement. Tribal rights activists then outlined the struggles in the tribal areas for the rights of tribal people to market minor forest produce and against acquisition of forest areas.

Section of the gathering at the meeting

A public meeting was held at Jandrapeta square on the evening of the first day and was addressed by Krishnarajulu, Narayana Rao, Mohan Rao, Rama Rao (all of LJA) and Subba Rao (of Dalit centre)

Second day, 25^th May 2012

The session started off with a report by Subba Rao of Dalit Centre on the current thinking in the dalit movement and was followed by a report on the labour movement yby a former Trade Union leader. Handloom Weavers Association leaders spoke about their struggles and demands and Mohan Rao explained the importance of LJA .

The following resolutions were passed at the conclusion of the meeting at about 1 p.m. on 25^th.

1. Every person has the right to pursue a livelihood based on his/her knowledge(Lokavidya) and there should be a constitutionally guaranteed Right to do so.
2. Every person should receive a minimum wage for whatever productive or service activity he/she is engaged in.
3. The proposal to acquire farmlands or water bodies should be placed before the appropriate local body/community of farmers, tribals or fisherfolk and their unanimous consent be obtained before any acquisition takes place.
4. The meeting resolved to promote and expand the LJA in every possible way.

LJA and Farmers' Struggle in MP

On 5th May 2012 there was a major clash between the farmers of Anuppur and the police in Madhya Pradesh. A large number of farmers are still in prison on a variety of charges. The farmers were protesting against the high handedness and total injustice meted out to them in acquiring their lands for the power plant being built by Moser Baer (first phase 1200 MW). Lands have been taken away at a compensation rate of Rs. 65,000/- for one acre. More than a year of protest under the shifting leadership of political parties brought no relief and now the struggle has been launched in the leadership of Bharatiya Kisan Union. Dilip Kumar from Varanasi made a trip last week to Jaithari, the site of the plant some 15 kms from the district center at Anuppur. He went around the region meeting farmers and BKU activists. There  is extreme resentment and anger against the company and the administration. It is the same story of completely false promises and no relief. Now BKU has given a call for a Kisan Maha-panchayat on 30th May 2012 at Jaithari. The entire region is in the grip of these huge coal based power projects- Anuppur, Umaria, Shahdol, Singrauli, and the adjoining districts of Chhattisgarh. The leadership of BKU may show some path to the farmers and adivasis of the region to face up to this assault.

A number of workers of Lokavidya Jan Andolan work with farmers organizations and also specifically with BKU. A group of us is planning to be in Jaithari on 30th May. There is our MP LJA Convention at Singrauli on 9-10 August 2012. On 27th May there is a preparatory meeting in Singrauli and on 29th May a preparatory meeting in Jabalpur. Those who can join these meetings can come with us to Jaithari, Anuppur for the farmers' maha-panchayat.

It is our understanding that farmers' and adivasis' interests can be understood and attended to, if we take to a lokavidya point of view, that is, their knowledge point of view. The farmers' struggle at Jaithari may have a great bearing on the struggle and organization of the people of that region who are so badly affected, literally uprooted, by these massive power plant bull-dozings. Lokavidya Jan Andolan needs to stand with these people and work with them to find a way. Our Singrauli convention and preparation of the same needs to develop organic links with these processes in this region.

This is to request you to think about this and send your suggestions, which can be considered in the preparatory meetings in Singrauli and Jabalpur. on 27th and 29th of this month.

LJA Secretariat
Vidya Ashram

Lokavidya Ashram

The idea of building Lokavidya Ashrams has been in debate for quite some time now among the close associates of  Vidya Ashram. Preliminary explorations have been done in Varanasi, Singrauli, Indore, Darbhanga and Hyderabad. These ashrams mainly located in the rural areas are expected to become places that symbolize the emergence of lokavidya philosophy as a social force and also develop into some kind of models of processes that are entirely inclusive in the knowledge domain. In a broad sense the objective of these ashrams could be 'contribution to the development of a knowledge based society in place of the present capital based society'.
The following is proposed for discussion on the question of thought and activity of the Ashram.

1. Lokavidya Ashrams give equal respect to all traditions and locations of knowledge, refusing to accept any hierarchy in the world of knowledge.
2. These ashrams stake a claim of unconditional priority  for lokavidya in the sense that all knowledge starts with lokavidya and must return to the world of lokavidya. Knowledge that does not come back to lokavidya becomes an enemy of the human kind, nature and society.
3. These ashrams are the places from where Lokavidyadhar Samaj, that is peasants, adivasis, artisans, local artists, women, small retailers and those who genuinely serve the society derive their epistemic energies. 
4. Here Gyan Panchayats take place on the problems of society. 
5. Lokavidya Satsang are organized in these places.
6. These ashrams shall actively initiate processes for building the competencies of the children and youth of the lokavidyadhar samaj in the areas of language, art, communication and connectivity. 
7. The ashrams shall shape a concept and practice of 'epistemic up-bringing' and 'epistemic socialization' which is true to the values of lokavidya.

Vidya Ashram

Lokavidya Tana-bana

A new framework with new initiatives

in the areas of communication, connectivity and building relationships

in the lokavidydhar samaj to establish unity based on lokavidya.

In the Information Age the world of knowledge has begun to undergo a huge destabilization. New claims, new criteria, new places of knowledge activity, new types of knowledge activity and new instruments have come into existence throwing out of balance the entire world of knowledge. Possibilities have arisen to liberate the world of knowledge from the clutches of science. On one hand fundamental debates have begun in the philosophy of knowledge, creating respectable spaces for staking the claims of lokavidya. On the other, knowledge management and social media are creating new paradigms for development and politics, because of which new opportunities have arisen for conceptualizing new social formations based on the philosophy and reality of lokavidya and building a new politics of change based on lokavidya connectivity-communication frameworks. Lokavidya Jan Andolan and Lokavidya Tana-bana may be seen as enterprises shaping the initiatives of lokavidyadhar samaj in these new spaces.

The following emerged as the consensus in the Lokavidya Jan Andolan (LJA) Conference at Varanasi in November 2011 :

1.     LJA is the knowledge movement of the lokavidyadhar samaj.

2.     It places before the society the wide ranging and far reaching claims of lokavidya.

3.     It develops lokavidya perspectives on various movements of the constituents of lokavidyadhar samaj (farmers, artisans, adivasis, small shopkeepers and women).

4.     It shapes variety of initiatives to infuse lokavidya perspectives into the movements of the lokavidyadhar samaj.

5.     It spreads the idea of lokavidya in the world of activists through participation in and active relations with small and local organizations, institutions, struggles, publications and initiatives for connectivity and communications.

6.     It shapes all its activities in the light of the broad objectives of unity in lokavidyadhar samaj. It is in this unity that it also sees the criteria and tests of lokavidya perspectives.

7.     There is need of a new framework with new initiatives in the areas of communication, connectivity and building relationships in the lokavidydhar samaj to establish this unity and also for staking the desired claims of lokavidya before the world. It is this which is visualized as lokavidya tana-bana.

Lokavidya Jan Andolan (LJA) is in need of a connectivity-communication framework which is like media for the lokavidyadhar samaj. In the November conference at Varanasi related ideas were discussed in the name of ‘alternate media’ or ‘lokavidya media’. Since then in the discussions concerns are being voiced about the appropriateness of using the word ‘media’ for such purposes. It is contended that using the word ‘media’ invokes ideas and images that belong to a certain tradition which has not been in the interest of the lokavidyadhar samaj and also that it becomes a hurdle in the progress of ideas emanating from and connected with the world of lokavidya. It is in these discussions that the phrase lokavidya tana-bana emerged to suit the purpose. We need to deliberate on it and experiment with it to test its appropriateness and effectiveness. So, lokavidya tana-bana is suggested to be the name of the instrument for connectivity and communication in LJA.

1.     Just as lokavidya lives in society and does not reside in any institutions or instruments, similarly lokavidya tana-bana ought to be an inseparable part of society.

2.     It is constituted by people who take initiative from a lokavidya perspective to develop communication and connectivity within the lokavidyadhar samaj and take the message of LJA into the larger society.

3.     It does not see economics, politics, culture, social and philosophical aspects as separate from one another, but on the contrary insists on their being integrally related aspects of human thought and activity.

4.     It establishes connection between the activities and expressions of the lokavidyadhar samaj and develops new relations among them to facilitate and enhance the processes of recovery of their lost world and reconstruction of a new one.

5.     While working to build lokavidya tana-bana, we will need to understand the limitations and pitfalls of the concept of ‘representation’ belonging to the English-educated society of our country. In the ‘representative’ lies the sanction to legitimate existence outside and above the society. However moral, responsible, sensitive and efficient be this servant of society, these qualities fail to bring the representative back into the society. The idea of ‘representative’ itself presupposes a philosophy or world outlook that legitimizes existence outside and above society. This inevitably leads the society into rot, in different ways, in different places, at different times.

6.     Lokavidyadhar samaj does not want representative, on the contrary it needs to develop such limbs of its own which are capable of contention in the larger world to pave the way for its liberation. Lokavidya tana-bana is imagined to be such a limb of the lokavidyadhar samaj.

The conferences, publications and dialogues that will take place in the LJA during 2012 may open the debate on the idea of lokavidya tana-bana.

In a meeting in Vidya Ashram in February 2012 a committee was constituted for the Lokavidya Tana-bana initiative. It consists of the following.

1.     Ravi Shekhar, Convener        Lucknow

2.     Dilip Kumar ‘Dili’                 Varanasi

3.     Ekta Singh                            Singrauli/Lucknow

4.     Sunil Mandal                         Madhubani

5.     Ajay                                      Singrauli

6.     Gunjan Singh                         Wardha

Posted by Vidya Ashram