Dear Friends,
On behalf of the organising committee of PAHAL, I am writing to
invite you to a social forum that some organisations are organising
in Patna from 12th to 25th April 2005. The event is named "PAHAL
2005".
There will be Itihas Yatra, debate, discussions, public hearings,
consultations, cultural events including film festival and festival
of street plays during this period. A detailed list of programme is
given at the end of this mail. In brief, the programmes are:
a) 12-22 April - Itihas Yatra by eminent historians of Bihar,
starting from Patna and passing through 13 districts of Bihar. The
purpose is to inculcate a progressive view towards history and fight
against the growing influence of communal forces.
b) A festival of documentary films in Patna from 19th to 21st
April. Shows will be organised in different colleges in Patna and
will generally be followed by discussions with the audience.
c) 23-25 April - a social forum in Patna which will include 22
seminars/workshops/consultations/public hearings during the span of
three days. These will be on some of the most important issues
facing the poor and the marginalised today in Bihar.
d) Festival of Street Plays - This will take place during April 23-
24, every day in the evening for 2 hours.

The entire event is dedicated to the memory of Sarita and Mahesh,
the two social workers who were killed by criminals last year in
Gaya for raising voice against local power lobbies.

The deliberations will be documented and the output will also result
in publications of a few books, reports, short documentaries, and
above all, a civil society charter of demands on each of the issues
which will later be submitted to the Governor through a civil
society representation.

The event also falls during the Global Week for Education
programme. Preceeding to PAHAL, the Right to Food Campaign is
organising a Bihar state level convention on 22nd April.

Apart from eminent personalities from Bihar, till date following
persons have given their consent to participate - Prabhas Joshi,
Venkat Reddy, KN Panniker, JPS Uberoi, Anand Kumar, Maulvi
Vahiuddin, Kamleshwar, Amod Kanth, Kunika, Govind Chandra Pandey and
Justice BP Singh.

I take the opportunity to invite you for the event. Please join us.

With warm regards.
Pushpendra and the organising committee


April 23, 2005

Inaugural Session Challenges of Social Activism in the Present
Context 10 AM to 1 PM Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir, Frazer Road,
Patna by PAHAL 2005 Organising Committee
Parallel Session-1 Colloquium on Social Relevance of Religion (I)
2 PM to 5 PM A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Hall-II,
Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Aman Sadbhavana Abhiyan, Patna
Parallel Session-2 People's Hearing on Hunger
2 PM to 5 PM A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Hall-I,
Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Samajik Sodh Evam Vikas Kendra,
East Champaran
Parallel Session-3 River Linking Project: Whose Agenda It Serves?
2 PM to 5 PM Patna Museum Hall Patna by Nadi Vapsi Abhiyan &
helplinebiharflood
Parallel Session-4 Globalisation and Culture
2 PM to 5 PM Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna
by Hinsa Ke Virudh Sanskritikarmi, Bihar
Parallel Session-5 Right to Education (Equity, Excellence and
Social Justice): Legal and Policy Framework
2 PM to 5 PM Nalanda Open University BISCOMAN Building,
West Gandhi Maidan, Patna by East and West Society, Patna
Parallel Session-6 Campaign against Violence and Corruption
2 PM to 5 PM Youth Hostel, Fraser Road, Near Hotel Maurya, Patna
by Jan Chaukidar, Patna
Cultural Programme: Street Plays and Songs 4 PM to 7 PM
Safdar Hashmi Rangbhumi, Gandhi Maidan by Hinsa Ke Virudh
Sanskritikarmi


April 24, 2005

Common Session Bihar : Agony, Aspirations and Struggles
10 AM to 1 PM Kalidas Rangalaya, South East Gandhi Maidan, Patna
by PAHAL 2005 Organising Committee
Parallel Session-1 Colloquium on Social Relevance of Religion (II)
2 PM to 5 PM A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Hall – II
Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Aman Sadbhavana Abhiyan, Patna
Parallel Session-2 Joint People's Initiative on Water Management (II)
2 PM to 5 PM Patna Museum Hall,
by Nadi Vapsi Abhiyan & helplinebiharflood
Parallel Session-3 Challenges before Dalit Movements
2 PM to 5 PM Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna
by Ambedkar Mission, Patna
Parallel Session-4 Right to Education (Equity, Excellence and
Social Justice): Administrative Reforms
2 PM to 5 PM Nalanda Open University BISCOMAN Building,
West Gandhi Maidan, Patna by East and West Society, Patna
Parallel Session-5 National Health Policy and Bihar
2 PM to 5 PM Youth Hostel, Frazer Road, Near Hotel Maurya, Patna
by Center for Health and Management, Patna
Parallel Session-6 Labour Movement in the Era of Liberalization
2 PM to 5 PM A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Hall – I
Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Patna Trade Union Coordination
Committee
Cultural Programme Street Plays and Songs 4 PM to 7 PM
Safdar Hashmi Rangbhumi, Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Hinsa Ke Virudh
Sanskritikarmi



April 25, 2005

Parallel Session-1 Struggle for Land Rights
10 AM to 1 PM A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Hall – I
Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Bhoo Adhikar Morcha and Ekta
Parishad Bihar
Parallel Session-2 Public Hearing on Shelter Rights
10 AM to 1 PM A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Hall – II
Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna by Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, Patna
Parallel Session-3 Struggle of Pasmanda Muslims
10 AM to 1 PM Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Northwest Gandhi Maidan, Patna
by Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj, Bihar
Parallel Session-4 Right to Education (Equity, Excellence and
Social Justice): State Plan of Action
10 AM to 1 PM Nalanda Open University BISCOMAN Building,
West Gandhi Maidan, Patna by East and West Society, Patna
Parallel Session-5 Women's Movement in Bihar: Challenges Ahead
10 AM to 1 PM Indian Medical Association Hall, South East Gandhi
Maidan, Patna by Samata Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Bihar
Parallel Session-6 Communalism and Imperialism
10 AM to 1 PM Youth Hostel, Frazer Road, Near Maurya Hotel, Patna
by Al-risala Promoters Center, Patna
Parallel Session-7 Crisis of Development and People's Science
10 AM to 1 PM Bihar Industries Association, Opposite Sinha
Library, Patna by Science for Society, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha

Concluding Session An Agenda for Pro-poor Politics
2 PM to 5 PM Kalidas Rangalaya, Southeast Gandhi Maidan, Patna
by PAHAL 2005 Organising Committee