World conference to mark Satyagraha Centenary on Jan 29-30

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) Around 300 foreign delegates, including Nobel Laureates, several Heads of States and representative delegations of major political parties, will participate in a two-day international conference beginning here on January 29 to mark Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha Centenary Commemoration.

Being organised by the Congress as a major event in the commemorative programme, the conference will be chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi and addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, according to Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Convenor of the Organising Committee Anand Sharma.

Mr Sharma told reporters here that the conference had generated global interest. Several Heads of States and Governments, 29 Ministers and leadership delegations from more than 54 countries had confirmed their participation.

These included Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mohammad Yunus, South African freedom fighter Ahmad Kahrada, noted Peruvian economist Hermando de Soto, renowned intellectuals Lord Bhiku Parekh, Prof C K Prahlad and Gandhian activists A T Ariyaratne, Gene Sharp and Chalwat Satha-anand.

According to Mr Sharma, the conference would be structured around four papers/presentations by eminent scholars and Gandhians.

The subjects would be conflict resolution and peace building, Gandhian philosophy for poverty eradication, education and people's empowerment, dailogues among peoples and cultures and towards a nuclear weapon-free and non-violent world order.

The conference would conclude on January 30, martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi, with a ''Satyagraha Centenary Declaration''. It would underscore the continuing relevance of Gandhian ideals in the contemporary 21st century world in the backdrop of conflict and violence that prevails today.

A website on the conference and events connected with the life of Mahatma Gandhi was also launched on the occasion by AICC Treasurer Moti Lal Vora.

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