Bija Vidyapeeth: Centre for Learning

GANDHI AND NON-VIOLENCE

December 1 to 14, 2004

Each passing day makes the futility of violence more apparent. 9/11 was the justification of the war against Iraq, and the participation in that war became the justification for the terrorist attacks in Spain on March 11th, 2004. The people of Spain said "Basta" to the violence and voted for peace. Meantime, violence against the forces in Iraq has escalated and there is no sign of "liberation"

At a time when a small minority committed to violence, terrorism and war is imposing its will on the rest, the human need for non-violence and peace has also taken higher urgency and significance.

Satish Kumar, a Gandhian and founder of Schumacher College and Vandana Shiva, who has translated Gandhi's vision of the Spinning Wheel into Navdanya, the movement for the conservation of seeds and promotion of non-violent agriculture, will lead the course of Gandhi and non-violence.

Satish Kumar and Vandana Shiva co-founded the Bija Vidyapeeth, the School of the seed.

The course on Gandhi and Non Violence will explore how Gandhi's philosophy of Ahimsa can help provide alternatives to a violent world order, and create peace and hope in a period of hopelessness.

Faculty

The main course faculty will be Satish Kumar and Vandana Shiva.