NATIONAL SEMINAR ON “WOMEN FOSTERING A CULTURE OF PEACE “

A NATIONAL SEMINAR ON “WOMEN FOSTERING A CULTURE OF PEACE “ was
organised by Pune University Gandhi Chair and Gandhi National Memorial Society, Aga Khan Palace, Pune, from 23rd March to the 25th March 2006.

The main objective of this seminar was to provide a platform for young social workers, activists and students who are motivated to do peacework in the community to share their thoughts and experiences. Participants for the seminar came from all over India including Pune. Among some of the speakers at the seminar were, Smt Shobhana Ranade(Trustee Secretary, GNMS), Dr Aparna Basu, Patron -All India Womens Conference, N.Delhi, Dr. Savita Singh ,Secretary, Gandhi Smriti New Delhi, Dr Ravindra Kumar Ex V.C Meerut University, and Ashgar Ali Engineer. Delia Maria, Mallika Mistry, and Asha Deshpande, from the Friends of the Gandhi Museum, also presented papers.

At the end of the Seminar, all the delegates present took a Peace Pledge, promising to shun any form of violence and to become mediators for peace where ever they are.

Women's Day 2006 in Pune city

International Women's Day 8th March 2006 was a memoriable celebration , the Stree Mukti Andolan Sampark Samiti completed 25 years of active work in women's movement in Pune. The Sampark Samiti is an umbrella organisation for over 20 local women's groups and has been in the forefront in organising Pune women for their rights.

On 8th March 2006, the Samiti took out a procession in which all its members participated. Violence against women, rations for the poor, more representation for women in the Parliament, campaign against sex determination tests and female foeticide were among many of the issues that were addressed this Women's Day.

To commemorate the silver jubilee year, a souvenir covering the years of struggles, victories and events, will be published by Bayaja Trust in July 2006. FOGM wishes the Sampark Samiti and all our sisters in the movement, our solidarity and support.

Long live the Sampark Samiti, Long life the women's movement in Pune!

New from Lexington Books: Gandhi's Experiments with Truth

*Gandhi's Experiments with Truth*Essential Writings by and about Mahatma Gandhi*Edited by Richard L. Johnson*

Richard L. Johnson* professor of Germanic languages and director of peaceand conflict studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne. This is a new book from Richard Johnson, his book is the first Gandhi reader in 50 years with writings by and about Mahatma Gandhi and the first ever with a biography.

*"Those looking for an introduction to Gandhi, seasoned nonviolentactivists, and long time students of Gandhi will all find this to be aremarkable collection. Johnson has brought together key selections fromGandhi's writings with insightful essays by a variety of Gandhian scholarson Gandhi's nonviolence, views on religion, methods of political, economic,and cultural change and his continuing influence and relevance for today. Icannot think of a better book that unites Gandhi's own words with veryreadable essays covering a breadth of topics on Gandhi's life andthought. Johnson'sbook makes clear again Gandhi's importance as a resource for creating a morejust and peaceful world."**-Peter R. Gathje, Christian Brothers University

For more information about this book, please click here, or copy andpaste in your browser this w39111426">ww.LexingtonBooks.com/ISBN/0739111426