India Conference Organisers

War Resisters' International
War Resisters' International was founded in 1921, and is based on the WRI declaration:

War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war, and to strive for the removal of all causes of war

War Resisters' International exists to promote nonviolent action against the causes of war, and to support and connect people around the world who refuse to take part in war or the preparation of war. On this basis, WRI works for a world without war.

WRI has autonomous 40 affiliates in 80 countries. Beyond basic coordination, the work of the international office in London is organised around two programmes: the Right to Refuse to Kill programme, which primarily deals with conscription and conscientious objection, and the Nonviolence programme, which includes the production of resources on nonviolent action, and a regular email bulletin in English and Spanish on war profiteering. This seminar is part of this programme.

Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal
Established in the 1950s, Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal was the central organisation in the Bhoodan (land gift) movement, led by Vinoba Bhave.
Today it is involved in raising awareness on development issues, organising people against unjust and destructive development projects, and the search for alternatives in fields such as agriculture, energy etc.

Gujarat Vidyapith (University)
Founded by Mohandas Gandhi in 1920 to train Indian youth in the nonviolent struggle for India's freedom, today it is one of the few national universities seeking to promote Gandhi's ideals of service-oriented education.

Sampoorna Kranti Vidyalaya ('Institute for Total Revolution')
This training centre for nonviolent activists was founded by Narayan Desai in the 1970s during the movement for "total revolution" led by Jayaprakash Narayan (at the time of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi). activists. It has also played a significant role in challenging India's commitment to nuclear energy.