NEW DELHI, February 14 (Pervez Bari): Stage is all set for a three-day International Conference on “Towards Equality, Justice and Fraternity in Contemporary India Creating a Better Tomorrow” which is being organised here from February 16-18, 2018 at Constitution Club of India.
The International Conference is the concluding programme of the 30th Anniversary Celebrations of Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi. The delegates from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have confirmed their participation in the conference. The delegates from Indian cities participating in the conference include: Srinagar; Lucknow; AMU, Aligarh; Meerut; Varanasi; Ludhiana; Patna, Bodh Gaya; Kolkata; Gauwahati; Hyderabad; Bangalore; Chennai; Pune, Jodhpur and New Delhi.
The three-day International Conference will have in all 19 sessions of which 16 will be Business sessions while an inaugural, Valedictory and a Special session.
Justice A. M. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India, shall preside over the inaugural session while inaugural speech will be delivered by Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, former Chief Justice of India.
Prof. Z. M. Khan, Secretary General, IOS, will welcome the guests and give introduction of Institute of Objective Studies. Dr. M. Manzoor Alam, Chairman of IOS will speak on “IOS Journey through 30 Years: Vision and Projection”.
The Guests of Honour at the inaugural function include: Mr. K. Rahman Khan, Member of Parliament and former Union Minister of Minority Affairs; Prof. Omar Hasan Kasule, Secretary General, International Institute of Islamic Thought, KSA and Dr. Mrs. Aroub A.Y.A.H. Alrifai, Member of the General Assembly, International Islamic Charitable Organisation (IICO), Kuwait.
Meanwhile, a Special session on the Theme of “Role of Religion in Contemporary India” shall be held soon after the inaugural session. This session will be presided over by Maulana Abdullah Mughesi, president of All India Milli Council.
Speakers in the Special session include: Dr. Abdullah Al Lheedan, Supervisor, Knowledge Exchange Program, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Swami Agnivesh, Founder, Arya Samaj; Dr. M. D. Thomas, Founder Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi; Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board; Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, Founder, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, New Delhi; Dr. Yaseen Ali Usmani, former Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy & Vice President, AIMC; Baba Baljit Singh Talwandi, Religious leader, Sikhism; Dr. Rahul Das, Secretary, Boudh Upasak Sangh, New Delhi; Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahli, Chairman, Islamic Centre of India, Lucknow.
Meanwhile, a Question and Answer session will be held after all the speakers put forth their views.
On the second day 10 Business sessions will be held. The 10 themes on which discussions will include: 1. Ideational foundations of concepts of equality, justice and fraternity for minorities in the light of the Indian Constitution; 2. Placement and role of higher education in bringing about a universal family – National scenario; 3. Ideational foundations of concepts of equality, justice and fraternity for minorities in the light of the UN and other Bodies’ concerns; 4. Placement and role of higher education in bringing about a universal family – Internationalisation of education; 5. Patterns and agents of change in different sets including public health; 6. Role of values of equality, justice and fraternity influencing the contours of international relations – Indian foreign policy; 7. Patterns and agents of change in different sets including technology and development models; 8. Role of values of equality, justice and fraternity influencing the contours of international relations – Dominant patterns in international relations; 9. Role of national and international law in modern-day globalised world with reference to equality, justice and fraternity – National legal system & 10. Role of national and international law in modern-day globalised world with reference to equality, justice and fraternity – International law in the age of globalisation.
Meanwhile, on the 3rd and last day of the conference six Business sessions are scheduled. The six themes on which discussions will include: 1. Economic development and elimination of poverty: Role of these values at national scene; 2. Character and role of national and regional media in fostering values of equality, justice and fraternity; 3. Economic development and elimination of poverty: Role of these values and international commitments; 4. Character and role of international media in fostering values of equality, justice and fraternity; 5. Role of Islam in promotion of peace, equality, justice and fraternity & 6. Role of other religions in promotion of peace, equality, justice and fraternity.