SWAMI AGNIVESH
Offices Held
" Chairperson of the United Nations Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (January 1994 to December 2004)
" Chairperson of Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labour Liberation Front) (since 1981)
" President - Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (World Council of Arya Samaj) (since Sept. 2004)
" Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly (1977-1982). Minister of Education in Haryana 1979
" National Coordinator - Adhyatma Jagran Manch (Spiritual Awakening Movement) (since April 2003)
" Vice President - Niwano Peace Prize Committee, Tokyo (January 2003 - March 2006)
" Member - International Peace Council (since January 2003)
" Member - National Integration Council, India
Present Mission:
" Perpetuating the fight against the Western Model of Development leading to crass consumerism and mass poverty, ecological destruction of the Third World in general and India in particular. Questioning the Western cultural imperialism and that of market forces in the name of profits and shareholder - values negating all higher human and spiritual values.
" Carrying on anti-liquor movement throughout India - networking with Religious leaders of all major faiths, Women's Organisations and social political activists.
" Strengthening the Arya Samaj Movement to fight against various forms of casteism, communalism, religious obscurantism and other social evils.
" Assisting women's movement with a view to ensuring their equal participation in all walks of life - particularly sharing of political and economic power.
" Continuing the fight against bonded labour, child labour and child prostitution by making Right to Minimum Wage & Right to Education Fundamental Rights.
" Trying to get the religious debate into the mass media such as Radio and TV.
" Struggling against all forms of religious fundamentalism, bigotry, dogmatism, casteism and all narrow-minded racial or other such ill feelings between the different sections of society. Striving for establishing a liberal, egalitarian society based on tolerance and mutual accommodation. Coordinating efforts under the banner of "Religions for Social Justice".
" Social Action Achievement: Led a multi Religious Pilgrimage to the site of the senseless killing of Graham Stewart Staines and his two little sons in Orissa in the month of March 1999. It comprised Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religious leaders, thinkers and social activists. Prayers were held at Manoharpur and Narayanpur. The goal of this pilgrimage was to inspire people of India to form multi-religious initiative for social transformation and nation building.
Social Actions
Launched the Anti-Liquor Movement in Haryana, UP and Rajasthan. Led numerous marches against alcoholism. Introduction of total prohibition in Haryana has been a significant success. (from Ist July 1996 to 31st March 1998). It was subsequently withdrawn by the Haryana Government.
Founded a political party - Arya Sabha (1970-77). This party has been in the forefront of struggles for farmers, labourers, women, teachers and students.
Led a successful movement of wheat growers for remunerative prices for their produce (1973-1974).
Organised a communal amity march from Delhi to Meerut against the massacre of some 42 Muslim youth by the police and against the VHP led movement on Ayodhya.
Bonded Labour and Child Labour
Spearheaded the movement towards liberation of bonded labour and child labour throughout the country - especially in the stone quarries and brick-kilns of Haryana and Rajasthan, carpet-weaving belt of Mirzaput-Bhadoi (UP), glass-bangle industry of Firozabad (UP) and in the farm sector of Koddai Kanal (Tamil Nadu), Chennagiri Taluka of Shimoga District (Karnataka), etc. Approximately 1,75,000 bonded (including several thousand child bonded) labourers have been released and rehabilitated during the last 20 years.
Filed many public interest writ petitions in the Supreme Court of India for the rights of bonded and child labourers. Bandhua Mukti Morcha Vs Union of India (3 SCC 1984) is a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court of India.
Testified before the Working Group of Contemporary Forms of Slavery at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva (1983-1989).
Campaigned for the National Minimum Wage for all unorganised workers. (Nearly 350 million in India today)
Women's Cause
Led an 18 day long epochal marathon from Delhi to Deorala against the Sati (self-immolation by a widow) incident. The Indian Parliament responded by enacting a Sati Prevention Act 1987.
Led march from Delhi to Pura Mahadev (Meerut) to challenge the Shankaracharay of Puri for a public debate against his obscurantists views on Sati and on women's right to equality in the Vedas.
Launched an agitation, along with other women's organisations, against large scale female foeticide. This created conditions for the Government of India to pass a bill banning the sex determination tests.
Work for Dalits, Harijans and Backward Classes
Denial of entry to the Dalits (Untouchables) into Hindu temples, posed a new challenge for the struggle of the downtrodden class. As a symbol of this struggle, led a march to the famous Nathdwara Temple (Udaipur, Rajasthan 1988-1989)
Conducted extensive tours throughout the country to promote self-confidence and awareness among the most vulnerable sections of Indian society.
Awards:
" Anti Slavery International Award : London 1990
" Freedom and Human Rights Award : Bern, Switzerland 1994
" Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award : New Delhi 2004
" Right Livelihood Award 2004 :Sweden (Alternative Noble Prize)
" M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award 2006, Banglore, India
Published Works
" Vedic Socialism (Hindi)
" Religion Revolution and Marxism (Hindi and English)
" "Rajdharma" - Chief Editor of this fortnightly (1968-1978)
" "Kranti Dharmi" - Chief Editor of this monthly (1989-1991)
" Published various articles on national, social and political issues in leading newspapers and magazines.
" A Book titled - 'Swami Agnivesh - Religion, Spirituality, Social Action - New Agenda for Humanity' (Compilation of his writings & Social Actions taken has recently come out of the press).
" Harvest of Hate - Gujarat Under Siege
" Hinduism in the New Age
" Swami Dyanand - Man, Message and Mission
" Applied Spirituality - Inter-faith Dialogue for Peace, Human Rights and Social Justice.
" MANTHAN - Weekly programme on Doordarshan. (Anchor - expert Swami Agnivesh promoting scientific temper and rational approach to religion).
Maharshi Dayanand Bhawan, 3/5 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi - 110 002
Mob: + 9810976705 Ph: 011- 232 61843 Fax: 011 2326 1926 E-mail: agnivesh@vsnl.com
Web: www.swamiagnivesh.com
|
