October 2005

FRIENDS OF FREEDOM, CHENNAI

Friends of Freedom in Chennai has been active for the last two years. It was inaugurated by Dr Parth J Shah at Madras Christian College campus in 2004. As a part of the activities, FoF members conducted a study on street hawkers in Chennai city. As a culmination to the study, FoF organised a seminar on ‘Rules and Regulations on Chennai street vendors’ at Madras Christian College. The study was included under the Life, Liberty and Law publication of Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi. This has been a major achievement of FoF in Chennai and has become the guiding principle and model since then.

FoF has the members from different colleges in Chennai. Some of them include research scholars and Directors of Jeevika Film Festival. Most of them have attended LSS seminars conducted by Centre for Civil Society at various times. In this academic year, there is an effort from all to live up to the expectations of members of FoF. We have found that year after year, when a new academic year starts FoF requires a sustained leadership to look after its activities. This year the thrust is been given to the leadership of FoF. At the same time, various plans have been chalked out for the coming months. On September 16, a meeting with renewed vigour was conducted. A discussion on the rights and duties of the student with a liberal perspective was held. Mr. Cherian Kurien, Faculty to Department of English, Madras Christian College and Managing Trustee to Help for Helpless, a leading NGO in Chennai presided over the function. The discussion was very encouraging and divulging especially at a time Chennai has been in the news for moral policing in recent times. On October 30^th, Final solution directed by Mr Rakesh Sharma was screened. The documentary is on the communal violence of Post Godra period in Gujarat. It was well received by the audience and a discussion was held on the theme after the screening.

This year, FOF has plans to conduct Jeevika festival in the first week of December in Chennai in association with Department of mass communication, Madras Christian College, Chennai. The arrangements are underway for this big event. It is also decided to invite eminent persons and luminaries from respective fields to conduct monthly lectures. FoF has also conceptualised the idea of publication as a New Year gift so that members will get an opportunity to write and exhibit their talents. FoF is also in touch with Centre for Public Policy Research, Help for Helpless and similar organisations to make the frontiers of FoF limitless.

Dhanuraj D, FOF Chennai Coordinator dhanuraj@hotmail.com

Centre for Civil Society
K 36 Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi  110 016 Tel: 011 26537456, Fax: 26512347, Web: www.ccsindia.org

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