Conference: Women, Leadership and Community, India

India has an international reputation for localized democracy, as manifested in the breadth and success of its grassroots organizations and the activities of its non-governmental organizations, making this venue an ideal location for addressing issues of women’s leadership and activism. 

Conference Objectives

• to promote dialogue and collaboration between grassroots activists/NGO’s and academic feminists both within and across national borders.
• to assist scholars and faculty in integrating comparative perspectives on women and gender into their research and courses.
• to facilitate the creation of networks for collaborative research, organizing and the exchange of  personnel between organizations and institutions of higher education in the United States and India.
• to cultivate discussion of international issues.

Several notable Indian women will be scheduled to present keynote addresses including: 

Dr. Madhu Kishwar, editor of the journal, Manushi, Aruna Roy winner of the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership
Dr. Ratna Kapur, Center for Feminist Legal Research
Dr. Paula Banerjee, Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group
Dr. Aruna Chakravarti, author of The Inheritors
Dr. Aparna Basu, author of From Independence Towards Freedom, Indian Women since 1947
Ms. Aloka Mitra, Women’s Interlink Foundation
Dr. Malashri Lal, Professor, Department of English, University of Delhi, and Former Director of the Women’s Studies & Development Centre (WSDC)
Dr. Manjeet Bhatia, also from the WSDC