“Wo Kaun Hai Jo Nizam-e-Hasti Chala Raha Hai”
Anil Chaudhary Memorial Meet
5 June 2025 | Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan, New Delhi
The life of Shri Anil Chaudhary – one of the founders of PEACE, a guardian and educator to hundreds of social activists, and a motivational force behind many social organisations, alliances, and networks – was a remarkable mix of his internal depth and external expanse. His persona and thought guided and motivated this society for over four decades before he passed away on April 14th 2025.
In the last five years, even as acute illness restricted his physical movement, Anil ji remained deeply and actively engaged with socio-political developments throughout the world. He regularly shared his thoughts, reflections, and analysis with friends. Especially after COVID, he keenly observed the fast changing socio-political landscape and often discussed his insights, articulated his findings and debated upon them with colleagues and close friends. Whatever he wrote and shared remains publicly unpublished and undiscussed, yet it is available for deliberation in tit-bits.
We have tried to sort and compile some of his random reflections and renderings, as we believe that they would serve as a valuable key and an ideological compass to our public action and social work. It is now imperative to publicly discuss those concerns. At the same time, we also feel the need to remember Anil Chaudhary’s life and times. Both these tasks remain pending after his death.
Therefore to honour his memory, PEACE, INSAF, CNDP, PCSDS, CAAJ, Bhoomi Bachao Andolan, Nation for Farmers, and other like-minded initiatives linked to Anil Chaudhary have joined hands to organise a memorial meeting on June 5th, 2025. This day also happens to be his 75th birthday. We have named this event: “Wo Kaun Hai Jo Nizam-e-Hasti Chala Raha Hai” which means, “who is managing the order of life”. This title is inspired by a powerful couplet from a Sufi qawwali that Anil ji often posed as a political question, asking us to reflect on the structures and processes of power in our times.
This meeting is not just a tribute to Anil Chaudhary from the social and development sector, but it also provides space and opportunity to revisit and engage with the questions he constantly raised and alternatives he pushed us to imagine.
The day-long event will feature two sessions based on concerns that Anil Chaudhary expressed deeply in his recent conversations. The first session will focus on the question of “experiential learning”, and the second on the question of “alternatives” to capitalist development.
In the evening, Anil Chaudhary’s long-time friend and classmate P. Sainath — a veteran journalist and chronicler of rural India — will deliver the 1st Anil Chaudhary Memorial Lecture. This lecture will now be held annually and focus on important contemporary issues. The topic of the first lecture in the series concerns “increasing inequality” in access and control of fast depleting natural resources, with a special focus on water.
We would deeply value your presence and participation in this memorial meet.
PROGRAMME
5 June 2025 (Thursday), Harkishan Singh Surjit Bhawan, New Delhi
| Date & Time | Themes | Speakers |
| 05th June, 2025 | ||
| 9.00 AM -9:30 AM | Registration | Vinod/Mahipal |
| 9:30AM- 9:45 AM | Welcome Address | Jitendra Chahar |
| 9:45AM- 10:30 AM | Tribute to Anil Chaudhary | Aanchal Kapur/Richa Singh/Ranjana Saxena and others |
| 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM | Background Note on the Program Title based on the reflections of Anil Chaudhary | Abhishek Srivastava |
| 10:45 AM to 11.00 AM | Tea Break | |
| Session 1
11.00 AM-01:30 PM
| The Question of Experiential Learning
Chair: Aanchal Kapur (KRITI)
Introductory Note (Read by Abhishek after calling Chair and speakers on stage, then handing over moderation to the Chair) | 1. Kalyani Menon Sen (WSS) 2. Shivani Nag (Faculty, Ambedkar University) 3. Archana &Purnima (Nirantar) 4. Amit (Aadharshila Learning Centre) 5. Richa Pandey (ex-PEACE) 6. At least three participants from organisations who received training |
| 1:30 PM: 2:30 PM | Lunch | |
|
Session 2 02:30 PM-05:30 PM | The Question of Alternatives Chair: Ashok Chaudhary (Adivasi Ekta Parishad) Introductory Note (Read by Abhishek after calling Chair and speakers on stage) Video Massage from Radha Bhatt | 1. Dinesh Abrol (Nation for Farmers) 2. Jaya Mehta & Vineet Tiwari (Joshi Adhikari Institute of Social Studies) 3. Richa Singh (Sangatin Mazdoor Kisan Sangathan) 4. Kalyan Anand (Lok Shakti Abhiyan) 5. Keshkali (Dalit Adivasi Jan Sangathan) |
| 05:30 PM-0600 PM | Tea Break | |
|
06:00 PM-08:00 PM | Welcome Address | Dr. Sunilam (Organising Committee, Anil Chaudhary Memorial) |
| Release of the book on Anil Chaudhary “Nepathya ka Nayak – Shikshavid Anil Chaudhary ka Jeevan, Vichar aur Sansar” (Moderator – Dr. Sunilam) | Ranjana Saxena, P. Sainath, Richa Singh, Prof. Achin Vanaik & Dr. Sunilam | |
| Announcement of Anil Chaudhary Research Fellowship by a PEACE Board Member Balaji Pandey (Moderator – Shweta)
Introduction of Fellowship Program (Abhishek) and handing over moderation to Dr. Sunilam | Aanchal Kapur & Balaji Pandey | |
| Anil Chaudhary Memorial Lecture The Colour of Water : Increasing Inequality and | P. Sainath, Senior Journalist | |
| 08:00 PM to 08:10 PM
| Vote of Thanks | Prof. Achin Vanaik (Organising Committee, Anil Chaudhary Memorial) |
We hope you will consider joining us for this important day — to reflect on Anil Chaudhary’s life and work, and to take forward the ideas and values he stood for.
Please note:
- You are requested to send a confirmation of your presence along with the names of colleagues from your organisation participating in the program to peaceactdelhi@gmail.com. This will help us in making arrangements.
- For any information related to the program or any other information, you can contact Jitendra Chahar (9999046291).
With thanks,
On behalf of the Organising Committee,
Anil Chaudhary Memorial
Richa Singh (Sitapur)
Ghanshyam (Ranchi)
P. Sainath (Mumbai)
Dr. Suneelam (Baitul)
Prof. Achin Vanaik (Delhi)