Civil Society Summit: The state of the Indian Republic @ 60 
22–24 January 2010, Bangalore, India

 The Civil Society Summit is a premier knowledge and networking event of civil society in India. It is to celebrate continuing freedom struggles in India, and to recognise present day freedom fighters. Its primary goal is to bring together leading thinkers and practitioners in development and human rights with their counterparts in different sectors to

• Inform civil society actors about the developments in knowledge, cutting edge technology and tools through keynote addresses.
• Inspire, by having living legends (such as Right Livelihood Awardees, senior social activists, business people and public servants) interact with upcoming leaders though round tables.
• Innovate by providing space and opportunity for diverse actors—from corporate sector, government, media, sports, medicine and the civil society—to interact, and find areas of synergy and synchronicity in panel discussions.
• Coordinate in action by providing opportunity for sharing information on their activities and synchronising them through group discussions.

 The summit will be in Bangalore, India from 22–24 January 2010. It is special since on 26 January 2010, India completes 60 years as a sovereign republic. The Civil Society Summit will discuss the state of our republic 60 years after we promised

 ‘to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.’

 The Republic Day is in some ways even more special than the independence day. The independence day (15 August) was selected by the British to be on the anniversary of the day they won World War II. R-Day (26 January) was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Quit India day. Till R-Day the Monarch of England was the head of state. From R-Day, it was our president. Till R-Day, the feudal British law of graded social inequality was the law. From R-Day we had our own constitution with promised equality, justice and fraternity—legally abolishing the caste system and ensuring universal adult franchise.

 The Summit will have keynote addresses by internationally renowned practitioners, a few panel discussions and a series of roundtables so that everyone gets to interact and gain in depth understanding on their areas of interest. State group discussions will help coordinating action. Campaign coordinators, representatives from industry and government will add to the richness of the interaction. The schedule will allow for sufficient one–on–one, informal, off–session interaction. The Summit will honour present day freedom fighters and remember those who are no longer with us.

You can contribute by:

• Registering early. It helps in arranging the logistics.
• Suggesting speakers and panellists.
• Help design the programme. The content and speakers for the keynotes, panels and roundtables have to be decided. Even the structure and the registration fees are fluid as of now. Please join by sending a mail to css2009–subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
• Identifying present day freedom fighters to be honoured.
• Letting us know who else to invite.
• Informing others so that they register and participate.

Registration

 Deadline 31 December 2009

 Email 60@openspace. org. in

 Fee (To be decided)

• Participation is by prior registration only.
• Chief executives of organisations, national or state conveners of networks and those being groomed for leadership will benefit best from the summit.
• There needs to be a broad perspective and respect for different opinions since there will be leaders from different sectors—from politics, business and art to science, technology and human rights to theoreticians, practitioners and managers.
• All shades of opinion are welcome, provided human rights are respected.

Outline Schedule (option 2)

Day 1

0900: Inaugural 
—Welcome 
—Presidential address 
—Keynote address 
—Cultural programmes

1200: Panel 1 
1300: Networking Lunch 
1430: Round table 1 (issue based, multiple) 
1600: Strategic Group discussion 1 (state–wise, multiple) 
1930: Cultural evening 1

Day 2

0830: Cultural programme 1 
0900: Keynote 1 
0930: Keynote 2 
1000: Cultural programme 2 
1030: Panel 2 
1130: Cultural programme 3 
1200: Panel 3 
1300: Lunch 
1400: Round table 2 (issue based, multiple) 
1530: Round table 3 (issue based, multiple) 
1700: Strategic Group discussion 2 (issue–wise, cross-network, cross organisation, multiple) 
2030: Cultural evening 2

Day 3

0830: Cultural programme 4 
0900: Keynote 3 
0930: Keynote 4 
1000: Cultural programme 5 
1030: Panel 4 
1130: Cultural programme 6 
1200: Panel 5 
1300: Lunch 
1400: Round table 4 (issue based, multiple) 
1530: Round table 5 (issue based, multiple) 
1630: Strategic Group discussion 3 (Network–wise, multiple) 
1830: Freedom fighter awards 
— Keynote 
— Freedom fighter awards, honouring living legends and recognising leaders 
— Remembering martyrs and comrades 
— Pledge 
— Cultural evening 3