Rahul Gandhi to inaugurate; American Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King III among galaxy of speakers

Bengaluru: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will inaugurate a three- day international conference to mark the 126th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar here tomorrow (July 21).

The theme of the conference organised by the Karnataka Government being held at the University of Agriculture Sciences, Bengaluru, GKVK Campus, is ‘Quest for equity – reclaiming social justice, revisiting Ambedkar.’

Speakers

There will be a galaxy of speakers at the conference including American Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King III, son of Civil Rights Advocate Martin Luther King Jr. who made the famous speech “I have a dream…”

More than 200 scholars, including 83 from different countries, will speak. Scholars such as Cornel West, Sukhadeo Thorat, Lord Bhikhu Parekh, K. Raju, Deepak Nayyar, Ramachandra Guha, Valerian Rodrigues, Rajeev Gowda (Congress MP), Upendra Baxi, Ashis Nandy, Shiv Visvanathan, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Prakash Ambedkar, Bhalchandra Mungekar, G. Haragopal, Satish Deshpande and Mani Shankar Aiyar would speak on the life, teachings and philosophy of Ambedkar. There will be 3,000 special invitees, who will participate in the conference.

Cultural programmes today

As a prelude to the conference, cultural programmes will be held throughout the State today (July 20) under the title ‘Mooru Nudi, Nooru Dudi’ that includes Rangothsava and musical treat, said Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya yesterday.

The event will see delegates deliberate on universal principles of democracy and importance of social justice in the current global environment. The conference will come out with a ‘Bengaluru declaration outlining a new deal for India – who are & who we can be.’

“At a time when divisive forces threaten the idea of India, the conference will see a coming together of all progressive forces in Quest for Equity,” tweeted Chief Minister Siddharamaiah.