Public Lecture: 'Unequal India' by Harsh Mander

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Public Lecture: ‘Unequal India’ by Harsh Mander Speaker: Harsh Mander, Director, Centre for Equity Studies, New Delhi Date / Time: January 16, 2013 - 6:00pm - 7:00pm Venue: The Energy and Research Institute (TERI), Domlur II Stage, Domlur, Bangalore, Karnataka Enquiries / RSVP: [email protected] Facebook Link: Link to Facebook Abstract: The speaker will dwell on the many fractures of inequality and discrimination which characterize contemporary India, and discuss ways to reclaim the idea of a humane, equitable, pluralist and just India and world. He will also discuss his recent book ‘Ash in the Belly: India’s Unequal Battle against Hunger’ (Penguin). A Note on the Speaker: Harsh Mander, is a social worker and writer. He founded and works with Aman Biradari, a people’s campaign for secularism, peace and justice; Nyayagrah, for legal justice and reconciliation for the survivors of communal violence; and Dil Se, which works with street children, and homeless people. He is Special Commissioner to the Supreme Court of India to advise it in the Right to Food case on hunger and state responsibility, and Director of the Centre for Equity Studies (working on public policy for the poor). He writes columns for the Hindu and Hindustan Times, and is Visiting Professor at IIM, Ahmedabad on poverty and governance. He worked formerly in the Indian Administrative Service in Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh for almost two decades. He is associated with social causes and movements, such as communal harmony, tribal, dalit, and disability rights, the right to information, custodial justice, homeless people and bonded labour. He writes and speaks regularly on issues of social justice. His books include ‘Unheard Voices: Stories of Forgotten Lives’ and ‘Fear and Forgiveness: The Aftermath of Massacre’ published by Penguin India. Other major books include ‘The Ripped Chest: Public Policy and Poor in India’ and his co-authored ‘Untouchability in Rural India’. He was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for peace work, and the M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award 2002. For more information, visit http://nac.nic.in/members/harsh.htm .

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