FAQs
FAQ'S
WHY CONVENTION?
Religious fanaticism poses a grave and imminent danger to the survival and safety of India and its citizens and will have a drastic effect on world peace. The brutal Gujarat pogrom conducted as "an experiment" was a success in the eyes of the Hindutva ultranationalists, which they plan to repeat all over India.
To counter this trend the only way is to:
1) Organize
2) Increase awareness of the danger posed by religious fanaticism to India's democracy, secularism, pluralism and religious minorities and its global implications
3) Form effective coalitions with groups representing India’s different religions, ethnic minorities and US-based human rights organizations.
The IMC convention will do all of the above. This is the first time that Indians of all religious affiliations and political orientation will have assembled together in the US. This is itself a towering and crucial achievement and will go a long way towards building an effective coalition.
India's communal woes should be viewed alongside concerns of poverty, economic development, and universal human rights. We must find hope in the darkness. That hope is the cooperation that can emerge from all faiths that see an injustice to one as an injustice to all.
Hence the agenda of the IMC National Convention is two-fold:
1) Generate a wide discussion and conduct debate on India's drift towards religious extremism.
2) Build a broad based coalition to stop this drift and revive the character of India that can serve as a model of pluralism, diversity and tolerance for the rest of the world.
WHY ATTEND?
The convention and its speakers will increase awareness, not only among the delegates and attendees but also through the media, to the broader audience outside. The Convention offers attendees the opportunity to participate in workshops, interactive sessions and discussions on a variety of topics of interest.
From Innovative sessions by best minds in Indian Journalism, research and academia to invigorating discussions from Human Rights and Secular groups, the IMC National Convention has something that will inspire, invigorate, and renew your commitment. You'll be able to contribute new ideas, volunteer, build alliances and work towards promoting and safeguarding the pluralistic and tolerant ethos of Indian Society. We hope that you will be able to attend, benefit and contribute.
You can make a difference.
WHEN & WHERE?
The Convention begins Saturday, June 28th 2003 from 9:00 AM and lasts through Sunday, June 29th until 12:00 PM. Workshops and meetings of organizations are held on Sunday, June 29th. Sessions will be held at the Ballroom in the Santa Clara Marriott.
WHO?
According to pre-convention surveys, the attendees are of diverse faiths and backgrounds. Muslims, Hindus, Dalits, Sikhs, Christians and Secular groups are among the many participants. Many of the attendees will be from the host city and surrounding areas.
The convention will also give us an opportunity to share ideas with Indian Muslims living all across the US allowing us to better organize and train our volunteers. It provides a forum for activists to gather and share ideas, reflect on the latest policies and research on issues related to communalism in India while listening to renowned speakers.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The cost of the registration is $30.00 per person for the entire day, which includes banquet dinner. The deadline for early registration is June 24, after which the ticket prices may increase. There are limited seats, so register early and save.
For more information call (408) 219 1433 or (408) 980 9130 or e-mail: program@imc-usa.org. You can register online by clicking here
EXHIBITORS
Exhibitors can sell products or offer services. For a complete listing of exhibitors, please click here.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
In addition to the incredible sessions led by leading scholars, researchers and journalists, the Convention features luncheons and general sessions with speakers and a banquet dinner. Click here for a complete list of speakers.
MEETINGS OF ORGANIZATIONS/GROUPS
In addition to the sessions and speakers of the IMC-USA Annual Convention, a number of groups, assemblies, caucuses and other organizations will also meet and/or hold special events for their members
