April 17, 2008
2040 VLSB - UC Berkeley

India is today's biggest and fastest growing liberal democracy, often cited as a virtuous example of secularism and religious tolerance. This myth of tolerance is built upon a history of civil rights abuses, censorship and genocide. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Tribal groups, and dissenting voices are systematically marginalized and oppressed by the world's largest "democracy."

Vaisakhi is the day on which the Khalsa Panth, the collective body of initiated Sikhs, was founded. To commemorate Vaisakhi, the Sikh Students Association is organizing this teach-in to initiate discussion on human rights issues that are crucial not just for Sikhs, but for all religious groups within India and for those interested in justice.

UC Berkeley's Sikhs Students Association invited three critically engaged speakers to talk about some of the most pressing human rights issues in India today. These included:

Dr. DARREN ZOOK of the UC-Berkeley Political Science Department will be speaking on the INDIAN BRAND OF SECULARISM AND RSS IDEOLOGY.

Dr. ANGANA CHATTERJI of the Social and Cultural Anthropology Department at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) will be speaking on MILITARIZATION, GENDERED VIOLENCE, AND SELF-DETERMINATION IN INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR.

Dr. BRIAN AXEL is an eminent anthropologist who has done research on the Khalistan (Sikh Separatist) movement and the Sikh diaspora, formerly taught at Duke and Swarthmore Universities, and is currently completing a second PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He will be speaking on the THE INDIAN NATION-STATE, TORTURE, AND THE SIKH SUBJECT.

CO-SPONSORS (so far):
Association of South Asian Political Activists (ASAPA)
Muslim Students Association (MSA)