Binayak Sen to speak at college fest

Dr Binayak Sen, out on bail on charges of sedition, will deliver the keynote address at Malhar, the inter-collegiate festival of St Xavier's College at Dhobi Talao.

Dr Binayak Sen, out on bail on charges of sedition, will deliver the keynote address at Malhar, the inter-collegiate festival of St Xavier's College at Dhobi Talao.

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The college has been supporting Sen ever since his arrest. Apart from a statement by the principal on the college website appealing for his release, the college allows the Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen to hold meetings on its campus.

Sen will deliver the address as part of The Conclave, an event that will be held on August 13. "Binayak Sen as a common man took the fall for so many of us. We believe that his address will create a stir among the youth who attend the keynote," said Shivanee Agarwal, vice-chairperson, The Conclave, Malhar 2011.

Sen, accused of sedition by the Chattisgarh Government will speak on a variety of subjects, including the concepts of justice and the Indian state. His address will be followed by an interactive session with the audience.

The Conclave will include three forums and a town hall session. The forums will be based on topics such as culture and identity, the great Indian tamasha and a new approach to the idea of corruption.

Past speakers include Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Rahul Bose, Lord Meghnad Desai, JP Narayan and Harsha Bhogle. "Conclave is a great way of getting people to think, so that individual voices can come together to make a difference," said Ankiti Bose, chairperson of Malhar 2011.