FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY An ISO 9001:2008 Certified Organisation Volume III, Issue IV Newsletter October - December, 2012 Upcoming Highlights Talks by eminent personalities: • Narayan Murthy • G. Parthasarthy • Lord Meghnad Desai • Azim Premji All our programmes are now on Youtube. Visit - http://www.youtube.com/user/icggoa?feature=watch Goa Dialogues 1 The International Centre Goa FINAL.indd 1 07-01-2013 15:11:49 Director’s Message Dear Friends, Greetings and Best Wishes for a Happy 2013, in an India where there is peace, justice and equality ! Two small words-justice and equality, yet they hold the key for a year which we hope will be different from the one which just went by. The insensitive brutality of the horrific rape left everyone stunned and reeling with shock. I wonder how many generations it will take to change the mindset of these men, who not only rape their womenfolk, but also kill their daughters and sell their sisters to the highest bidder! Enough has been written and said on this in the national media. But it is still not enough. We also intend to start a series of discussions and debate at the Centre, focusing more on the laws pertaining to women and its implementation and awareness, especially amongst the youth, and also try in our own small way to try and change the feudal mindset which treats women as second class citizens. For us, the year ended with another successful Goa Arts and Literary Festival - this time we focused on Kashmir, its literature, music and theatre. M.K.Raina, the doyen of Kashmiri theatre, came down with his troupe of 30 artists who performed at the Governor’s palace as well as at the Kala Academy. Shri Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, flew down especially for the Inaugural. Many authors and journalists also graced the occasion from the valley. For all this, we are grateful to His Excellency the Governor of Goa, Shri Bharat Vir Wanchoo and Shri Omar Abdullah, for their generous support throughout in organizing the festival. From its inception in 2010, the Festival has strongly emphasized ‘different ways of belonging’, by showcasing the best artists, musicians, writers and poets from the At the High Tea for the GALF Delegates hosted by zones of most profound confluence at the margins of H. E. the Governor of Goa, at the Cabo Raj Niwas India. More than 75 delegates from across the country and abroad were hosted by us during this Festival. For those who could not make it, I urge you to go on ‘youtube’ and see the live sessions. Despite our outstanding list of delegates, we were somehow very disappointed by the number of participants. Though some sessions were packed, there were many which could have done with a few hundred more people in the audience, especially students. They would have benefitted immensely by interacting with such luminaries. How often do you find Jatin Das, Jeet Thayil or a Kiran Nagarkar sitting by themselves sipping tea, in our lawns, not averse to a little tete a tete ? Come on friends, grab this opportunity next time! 2012 also saw a spectacular lineup of celebrities visiting the Centre. From Anil Kakodkar, S.Y.Quraishi, Kiran Karnik, Maroof Raza to Shailesh Gandhi, we had them all coming to share their thoughts with us. In the new year too, we intend to get you many more dynamic speakers like Narayan Murthy, G.Parthasarthy, Lord Meghnad Desai and many more. There will be exciting panel discussions and seminars on topics pertaining to India and South Asia, that need urgently to be discussed, thought provoking films from around the world, cultural activities spanning a wide range from music to theatre—all in all I promise you a very provocative and interesting year, packed with action. But I also need a promise from you that you will attend in large numbers. So hope to see you all at ICG during the year. I wish you good health and happiness always! Nandini Sahai. Goa Dialogues 2 The International Centre Goa FINAL.indd 2 07-01-2013 15:11:50 Seminars The IX Annual South Asia Media Summit on ‘Government Right to Information: A Curbing Media? Regulation v/s Self Regulation of Media in Potent Weapon Against South Asia’ Corruption The The IX Annual South Asia Media Summit on ‘Government Curbing Media? Regulation v/s Self Regulation of Media in A regional seminar on Right South Asia’ was held from October 14 -16 in association with to Information: A Potent Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Media Information Communication Weapon Against Corruption Centre of India. H. E. Shri. Bharat Vir Wanchoo, Governor of Goa was held from October 28 -29 inaugurated the summit. in association with Friedrich Eminent responsible media professionals/subject specialists Ebert Stiftung and Media from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated and deliberated on how best to Information Communication preserve the dignity and integrity of the media in South Asia. Centre of India. Subhash The sessions of the summit were: Chandra Agarwal – The • Market Driven / Commercialised / Corporatised Media: Change Maker, RTI Crusader Huge Compromise on Media Ethics ? holding the Guinness World • Governments’ Dilemma: Total Freedom of Media or Regulation/Control Record for writing ‘Letters to • Self Regulation of Media: Farce or Reality the Editor (Delhi) delivered the keynote address. • Social Media: Absolute Freedom vs. Regulation The sessions of the seminar were: • Broadcast Content: Regulation vs. Self Regulation • Strengthening Participatory Democracy: How Village • Recommendations and Future Course of Action: An Open Panchayats can become Information Centres? Forum • Is the Govt’s changing attitude a blow for the RTI? A GOA DECLARATION as expressive of the sense of the deliberations at the Summit was formed as follows: • Fighting Corruption through RTI: Challenges faced by activists and the common man in Goa • Deep concern about the increasing influence of the State, political parties, commercial interests, extremist elements and • Exclusive Interactive Session of Goa RTI Forum with Subhash moral crusaders on the media establishments in South Asia Chandra Agarwal • Recognise the need to initiate processes to enable Social Eminent RTI activists from different parts of Goa, media persons, Audits to provide platforms to the readers to evaluate and government officials and other social spirited citizens participated comment on the content and editorial policies of different in the seminar. media houses. • Seek appropriate and effective mechanism for self regulation and promote professional journalism that is always better and to be preferred over State control. • Concerned over reducing role of journalists in control over Top Right: Subhash Chandra Agarwal – The Change Maker, RTI content and editorial space Crusader • Issues generated by the emergence of social media need more Below: Media professionals / speakers at the IX Annual South study for understanding this new dimension of the media and Asia Media Summit with H. E Governor of Goa, Shri Bharat Vir to evolve appropriate mechanisms for regulation. Wanchoo and Shri Pratapsingh Rane, President, ICG. Goa Dialogues 3 The International Centre Goa FINAL.indd 3 07-01-2013 15:11:50 Talk cum Interactive Session Lectures Workshops “Spiritual Alchemy and 1st World RTI and Good Parliament on Spirituality in Governance by Shailesh India” Gandhi A talk cum interactive session on Continuing with our series ‘Spiritual Alchemy and 1st World Parliament on Spirituality in India’ of Lectures on Good by Darryl D’Souza, Therapist, Governance, Mr. Shailesh Essene Master & Author of ‘Become Gandhi, eminent RTI Healthy or Extinct’ was held on activist and Former Central October 21. Information Commissioner of India, delivered a “Energy Matrix Astrology” lecture on ‘RTI and Good A talk cum interactive session on ‘Energy Matrix Astrology’ with Governance’ on December Shivo Osho, inspirational astrologer, 1. was held on October 26. Mr. Gandhi urged the With the mission of turning public to stand for their right astrology into the tool for making right choices in the current and in many instances, question the judiciary system as well. He chaotic environment, he is the opined that the Right to Information is even more important than the inventor of Energy Matrix Astrology, Freedom of Expression. He listed possible norms that could help which provides unparalleled accuracy to astrological predictions. He is also make the RTI process easier. Disposal of cases pending should be making immense efforts to popularize dealt with quickly limiting it to 5,000 per year if possible. He also the scientific dimension of astrology suggested publicly holding interviews of short-listed candidates and hence making it free from the fear for the post of IC’s for clearer, transparent functioning. psychosis and superstitions. Shivo is also an astrology coach with unique “Back to the Future” by teaching methods and also hosted a TV show named ‘ Bhavishya Aapka’. Dr. G Sreekumar Menon He unravels the complex mysteries of Continuing with our series astrology in a simple, interesting and of Lectures by eminent practical manner. people, Dr. G Sreekumar Menon, IRS, Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise BUZZ and Service Tax (Appeals) - ICG is now an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Goa, gave a presentation organisation. on “Back to the Future” on - Most of our major programmes are now available on December 8. Youtube. - http://www.youtube.com/user/icggoa?feature=watch He is the author of several - ICG is now affiliated to India Habitat Centre, articles including a book New Delhi. Members watch this space for rules and ‘Chasing the Dragon” on regulations. Narcotics & Psychotropic - Aura Ayurveda & Spa at ICG now open. Indulge substances. As Commissioner Appeals, he has created a record in yourself in treatments that pamper, rejuvenate and the Customs & Excise Department by passing over 6000 Orders- re-balance.