Gandhi-Mandela-Freire Fellowship Programme
Initiating Self and Eco-Socio-Spiritual Transformation.
The Grounding of Peace, Reconciliation, Civic Engagement, Sustainability, Social Communication, Creative Regeneration and Engaged Spirituality in Compassion . Fostering Dialogical and Inclusive Community, Common Good and Eco-Socio-Spiritual Futures in Public and Private Spaces.
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Jointly initiated by the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, India and the Loyola Institute of Peace and International Relations, Kochi, India. The Indian Social Institute holds a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The fellowship has been further developed, nurtured and now based at the LES Multiversity, Loyola Extension Services, a registered charity as well as the social lab and incubation centre of Loyola College of Social Sciences (LCSS Autonomous), Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India. A (growing) number of like-minded institutions have offered moral support for this effort. (Note: This website belongs to the LESMultiversity , Loyola Extension Services/LES Multiversity, Loyola College of Social Sciences (A), Thiruvananthapuram, India.)
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The Gandhi, Mandela and Freire Dialogues
Forthcoming Sessions in August & September 2022 (Details in July 2022)
The Gandhi, Mandela and Freire Dialogues
Seeking, Shaping, and Sharing Ideas for Disruption and Regeneration
Exploring their Relevance today
Our Maiden Session On:
4th June 2022 (Saturday):
10.00 am to 12.00 Noon (Indian Time)
"I suppose the challenge is how to - in the limited time of our format of ‘sharing’ rather than ‘presenting‘ - pertinently distil the philosophy/ ideology of Freire/Madela/Gandhi for our discussion without essentializing them. Of course, only an expert on the person can do this."
Sashi Kumar, Moderator
Dialogue Guidelines
The dialogue event is meant for the GMF fellows (on Conscience and Compassion), students, teachers, well-wishers and collaborators.
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(1) This event aims to promote an active dialogue between Gandhi, Mandela and Freire and help the youth community learn from their 'tricontinental wisdom'. It is an attempt to reach out to their relevance today. (The effort will be a ongoing series.)
(2) It will feature contemporary proponents of Gandhi, Mandela and Freire from across the globe, linking the three continents.
(3) The time allotted to each speaker for opening comments may appear short. But we hope a lot more is brought to the table during the interaction among the speakers, commentators and the audience during the 2-hour event.
(4) Keeping in mind the many directions in which the discussion may unfold, we are not looking for a formal technical paper. We would appreciate a process of sharing that provides a deeper understanding of each person's point of view and/or raise issues of universal concern and responses to them, including hard and hearty disagreements.
(5) We hope that the presenters will share their observations on Gandhi or Mandela, or Freire in all or some of the following themes: (a) violence, (b) politics, (c) peace, (d) education and (e) compassion/compassionate practice.
(6) Please try to include, where possible, some comparative details -- agreements, disagreements, innovative departures or counter-narratives (to dominant, weaponised or toxic ones).
(7) For the commentators.
(a) Please add to the presenter's comments to enrich our understanding of Gandhi, Mandela or Freire.
And/Or:
(b) Please deeply connect the wisdom of the three as they responded to their times or how they may respond to today's difficult, broken world.
Programme Details
Welcome By : Ranjit George SJ,
Director, Multiversity Platform, Loyola Extension Services,
Welcome By Dr. Saji Jacob
Principal, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Kerala, India
Moderator: Sashi Kumar
Speaker: Prof. Ana Cristina
Commentator: Ela Gandhi
Speaker: Prof. Neera Chandhoke
Speaker: Prof. Siby Joseph
Commentator: Prof. Douglas Paterson
Commentator: Ashish Kothari
MC/GMF Fellow: Marnie
MC/GMF Fellow: Hom
MC/GMF Fellow: Nirmal
MC: GMF Fellows: Nirmal, Marnie and Hom
Moderator: Sashi Kumar, Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, India
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10.00 - 10.10: Opening and Welcome
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Rajit George SJ, Director, Multiversity Platform, Loyola Extension Services, India
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Dr Saji Jacob, Principal of Loyola College of Social Sciences, India
10.10 - 10.40 am: Main Presentations (10 Minutes per Speaker)
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Prof. Ana Cristina, Loughborough University London, UK. (On Freire)
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Prof. Neera Chandhoke, Centre for Equity Studies, New Delhi, India (On Mandela)
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Prof. Siby Joseph (Earlier), Sevagram Ashram Pratishhan, Wardha, India (On Gandhi)
10.45 to 11.15: Commentators (10 Minutes per Commentator)
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Ms Ela Gandhi, South Africa
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Ashish Kothari, India
11.20 to 11.55 am: Dialogue
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Q & A / Dialogue
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11.55 to 12.00 Noon: Thank You & Close