Lokavidya Satsang
( meaning a seekers' gathering on knowledge with the people)
Vidya Ashram has decided to organize a discursive gathering on the bank of the Ganges, the holy river, in Allahabad on 14-15 Jan. 2008. This is the day of the great festival of Makar Sankranti, the day on which the Sun moves from one terrestrial hemisphere to the other. Close to million people would be expected to take a dip in the Ganges on this day seeking emancipation. The majority among these comes from poor and middle peasant and artisan background. For Vidya Ashram this satsang is a way to take the knowledge dialogue among the people. The issues that will be discussed are –
The back drop of the event will be enlivened by posters, art exhibits, songs, music and other cultural activities.
A 15 strong group from Vidya Ashram will organize this dialogue and come back to organize a dialogue in Varanasi at Vidya Ashram on 25th Jan. 2008, on the idea and practice of Thinkers' café. Vidya Ashram has started organizing a chain of such cafes in the semi-urban and rural areas as places of serious knowledge dialogues centered on issues concerning the people , mainly the poor who constitute the vast majority. It is around the possibilities associated with lokavidya , the knowledge with the people, that the discussion at these cafes has been started. The event on the 25th will be a participatory event in which about 50 young persons of peasant, artisan and worker background are expected to participate.