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August 19, 2003
Contact: John Prabhudoss
Phone: 202 547 4700
Ms. Nirmala Deshpande, the eminent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and a former parliamentarian will be in Washington DC on Friday, August 22nd for meetings with US Government officials on the Capitol Hill and in
the State Department.
Ms. Deshpande will address a Press Conference to speak about India - Pakistan issues including Kashmir, US - India Relationship after September 11, and Current political developments in
India .
Place: Policy Institute for Religion and State (PIFRAS)
110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 510
(between the US Supreme Court and the Dirksen Senate Office building. Please see below for directions)
Time: 11:15 AM - 1 PM
Date: August 22nd, Friday
Other invited guests will
include Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) and representatives of International Campaign for Tibet.
Please click here to RSVP
Background on Ms. Nirmala Deshpande:
Ms. Deshpande dedicated her entire life to work for the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
She is very active in finding solutions to India-Pakistan conflicts including the Kashmir issue.
She is a former Member of the Indian Parliament well respected by all political parties in India.
She currently serves as President of many Trusts set up to further Gandhi's work in India.
She is known and loved throughout India as the keeper of Gandhi's legacy.
This year she is making her first trip to the United States.
Nirmala Deshpande was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra on October 17, 1929. Her parents were late Shri P.Y.Deshpande and Shrimati Vimalabai Deshpande.
Her father was very active in the Indian independence movement and also served as a Member of Parliament. He brought Nirmala up in what was, for the times, an unusually open and intellectually free environment. When
she was given the chance for higher education she took the opportunity to earn her Masters Degree in Political Science from Nagpur, India. She also studied at Ferguson College, Pune. Initially, after her graduation
she served as lecturer in Political Science in Morris College, Nagpur.
However, Nirmala Deshpande was not content to remain in the safe haven of the academic community. She had a strong desire to serve the
poor, deprived and down trodden. Soon she joined the revered leader Mr. Vinoba Bhave's ashram in Paunar. Nirmala Deshpande joined the Bhoodan Movement (land Donation movement) in 1955 and undertook
"padyatras" (sacred journey) of forty thousand kilometers with Vinoba Bhave. During this historic march, thousands of acres of land were donated to the 'Bhoodan Movement' to be distributed among the poor
and the landless.
In more recent times Ms. Deshpande organized various peace marches. She held marches in Punjab in 1983 and 1984 and a Peace Mission in Kashmir in 1994. She also organized meetings in
various parts of India hoping to bring awareness and help to the downtrodden tribal groups and scheduled castes (untouchables). Throughout her life Nirmala Deshpande has made great contributions to the education,
employment and empowerment underprivileged.
One of her most passionate goals since 1996 is to reduce the tensions in India that have led religious violence and to promote peace between Pakistan and India.
Recently, without any security, she visited the disturbed areas of Kashmir. Today at 74 she continues to spread Gandhi¹s message of Peace and Non Violence as the path to a better world.
When she is not
traveling in the cause of peace, Nirmala Deshpande resides at 'Kingsway Camp' in Delhi where Gandhi stayed during his struggle against the Colonial rule in India. Her simple lifestyle and sincerity makes her one of
the few true representatives of the Gandhi era.
Among many other responsibilities Ms. Nimala Deshpande also leads the following organizations:
President - Harijan Sewak Sangh (founded by Mahatma Gandhi) since 1983
President - Akhil Bharat Rachanatmak Samaj since 1982
President - National Centre of Rural Development, Nagpur
President - Stree Shakti Pratishthan, Delhi
Director - Shantisena Vidyalaya, 1961-69
Founder Chairman - Association of Peoples of Asia, Delhi
She was Nominated to the Rajya Sabha in August, 1997.
She was conferred honorary doctorates by University of Patiala, University of
Amravati Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi.
DIRECTIONS:
PIFRAS is located at 110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 510. We are in between the US Supreme Court and the Dirksen
Senate Office Building. Once you at the door please press the red button at the key pad next to the entrance door and dial 510 to be buzzed in.
By Metro: (Red-line) : Get off at the Union Station and
take the 1st street and walk towards the US Supreme Court. After crossing the Constitution Ave, make a left on Maryland Ave. The entrance to the building is in the middle of the block facing the US
Supreme Court (north face).
By (Orange/Blue Line): Get off at Capitol South and when you come off the escalator from the metro station you will be on the 1st street SE. Make a left and walk towards the
US Supreme Court and just after the Supreme Court make a right on Maryland Ave. The entrance to the building is towards the middle of the block.
Those who drive, please note that the street parking
around the building is very limited. The best thing would be to park at the Union Station parking garage (Behind the Union Station) and walk over to the venue
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