HYDERABAD: Touted as an annual marquee feast of thoughts, ideas and intelligent conversations, the second edition of Manthan Samvaad is back in the city.
Organised by Manthan Foundation, a not-for- profit organisation, the day-long event will be held at JRC Convention Centre, near Shaikpet, in the city between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm on October 2.
Following the runaway success of last year’s event, the organisers believe that the meet has become one of the most important events in the city’s calendar drawing huge interest from denizens.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, former chief secretary Kaki Madhava Rao, who is associated with the foundation, said that the overwhelming response last year made them select a bigger venue this year.
“All speakers are leaders of good thinking and the issues they will talk on are critical for us,” he said.
Intellectual Arun Maira will speak on ‘Reforming our Institutions’, architect and urban designer KT Ravindran on ‘The Future of Our Cities’, social activists Kalpana Kannabiran and Vandana Shiva on ‘A Bill on Rights for Women’ and ‘What Future of Our Agriculture: GM or Ecological?’, eminent journalist Shekhar Gupta on ‘When Aspirational Turns Illiberal: Rise of an Impatient New India’ and psephologist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav on ‘The Future of Alternative Politics’.
Ajay Gandhi, trustee of the foundation, said that over 1,200 registrations for the event had been received till date and 300- odd more were expected.
“The idea is to promote public discourse and initiate intelligent debates. Apart from hundreds of discussions on our Facebook and Yahoo groups, we want Samvaad to be an annual marquee event of Hyderabad,” he said.
Artist and social worker Chandana Chakrabarti said, “The event will probably be the only such platform which does not intend to propagate any agenda and does not require public to pay for their participation.”
Participation in Samvaad is free, including lunch, but online registration on www.manthansamvaad.com is necessary.