Seventh Ambedkar Memorial Lecture: Aruna Roy says mantra of development displacing millions of Indians

Noted social activist Aruna Roy has questioned the concept of development as is being espoused and projected by various arms of the government.

Delivering the seventh Ambedkar Memorial Lecture at the India International Centre here earlier this week, which was organized by the Ambedkar University Delhi, Roy speaking on the theme 'Is unbridled capitalism a threat to Constitutional democracy in India?, said the mantra of development as is being projected in present-day India, is displacing millions of people who do not have the capital to withstand the onslaught of capitalism in the name of progress.

Through a series of anecdotes and real-life examples and experiences, Roy, who founded and heads the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana, and a leading light of the leader of the Right to Information movement, highlighted the provisions within the Constitution of India that help guarantee inclusive development and freedom of choice.

She urged the youth of the country to resist, to express and to dissent from any attempt of manufacturing consent.

Dr.Usha Ramanathan, an independent researcher in the jurisprudence of law, poverty and rights, made extremely witty, critical observations as the discussant of the talk.

The AUD has been organizing the Ambedkar Memorial Lecture since 2009. Apart from Roy, the other distinguished people who have delivered this lecture include distinguished academicians /policy makers /public intellectuals like Veena Das, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Upendra Baxi and Asish Nandy.