Global conference on Satyagraha in Delhi

World leaders from 54 countries have already given their consent to attend the meet, reports Saroj Nagi.

The Congress has organised a two-day international conference on January 29-30, 2007 as part of its year-long celebration of the Satyagraha movement that Mahatma Gandhi had launched on September 11, 1906.

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the conference which will conclude with a "Satyagraha Centenary Declaration" to emphasise the relevance of Gandhian thought, values and philosophy in the contemporary world.

World leaders, including heads of states, Nobel laureates and peace activists, from 54 countries have already given their consent to attend the meet, according to Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs and convenor of the Organising Committee for the meet. Some more countries are expected to give their consent in the coming days.

The list of invitees includes South Africa's Desmond Tutu, Bangladesh's Mohammad Yunus, and Peruvian economist Hernando De Sota and Sri Lanka's Dr AT Ariyaratne.

According to Sharma, the conference will be structured around four themes: Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, Gandhian Philosophy for poverty eradication, education and people's empowerment, dialogue among people's and cultures and towards a nuclear weapons-free and non-violent world order.

An exhibition will also be organised on the sidelines of the satyagraha and renowned danseuse Mallika Sarabhai will perform a ballet on the evolution of the movement.