Chairperson of the United Nations Trust Fund on
Contemporary Forms of Slavery (January
1994 to December 2004)
Chairperson of Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labour
Liberation Front) (since 1981)
Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly
(1977–1982). Minister of Education in Haryana 1979
National
Coordinator – Adhyatma Jagran
Manch (Spiritual Awakening Movement) (since April 2003)
Vice President - Niwano Peace Prize Committee, Tokyo
(since January 2003)
Member - International Peace Council (since January
2003)
Present
Mission:
Perpetuating the fight against the Western Model of Development leading to crass consumerism and mass poverty, ecological destruction of the Third World in general and India in particular. Questioning the Western cultural imperialism and that of market forces in the name of profits and shareholder – values negating all higher human and spiritual values.
Carrying on anti-liquor movement throughout India – networking with Religious leaders of all major faiths, Women’s Organisations and social political activists.
Strengthening the Arya Samaj Movement to fight against various forms of casteism, communalism, religious obscurantism and other social evils.
Assisting women’s movement with a view to ensuring their equal participation in all walks of life – particularly sharing of political and economic power.
Continuing the fight against bonded labour, child labour and child prostitution by making Right to Minimum Wage & Right to Education Fundamental Rights.
Trying to get the religious debate into the mass media such as Radio and TV.
Struggling against all forms of religious fundamentalism, bigotry, dogmatism, casteism and all narrow-minded racial or other such ill feelings between the different sections of society. Striving for establishing a liberal, egalitarian society based on tolerance and mutual accommodation. Coordinating efforts under the banner of “Religions for Social Justice”.
Social Action Achievement: Led a multi Religious
Pilgrimage to the site of the senseless killing of Graham Stewart Staines
and his two little sons in Orissa in the month of March 1999. It comprised
Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religious leaders,
thinkers and social activists. Prayers were held at Manoharpur and
Narayanpur. The goal of this pilgrimage was to inspire people of India to
form multi-religious initiative for social transformation and nation
building.
Social Actions
Launched the Anti-Liquor Movement in Haryana, UP and
Rajasthan. Led numerous marches against alcoholism. Introduction of total
prohibition in Haryana has been a significant success. (from Ist July 1996
to 31st March 1998). It was subsequently withdrawn by the Haryana
Government.
Founded a political party – Arya Sabha (1970-77).
This party has been in the forefront of struggles for farmers, labourers,
women, teachers and students.
Led a successful movement of wheat growers for
remunerative prices for their produce (1973-1974).
Organised a communal amity march from Delhi to Meerut
against the massacre of some 42 Muslim youth by the police and against the
VHP led movement on Ayodhya.
Bonded Labour
and Child Labour
Spearheaded the movement towards liberation of bonded
labour and child labour throughout the country – especially in the stone
quarries and brick-kilns of Haryana and Rajasthan, carpet-weaving belt of
Mirzaput-Bhadoi (UP), glass-bangle industry of Firozabad (UP) and in the
farm sector of Koddai Kanal (Tamil Nadu), Chennagiri Taluka of Shimoga
District (Karnataka), etc. Approximately 1,75,000 bonded (including several
thousand child bonded) labourers have been released and rehabilitated during
the last 20 years.
Filed many public interest writ petitions in the
Supreme Court of India for the rights of bonded and child labourers. Bandhua
Mukti Morcha Vs Union of India (3 SCC 1984) is a landmark judgement by the
Supreme Court of India.
Testified before the Working Group of Contemporary
Forms of Slavery at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva
(1983-1989).
Campaigned for the National Minimum Wage for all
unorganised workers. (Nearly 350 million in India today)
Women’s Cause
Led an 18 day long epochal marathon from Delhi to
Deorala against the Sati (self-immolation by a widow) incident. The Indian
Parliament responded by enacting a Sati Prevention Act 1987.
Led march from Delhi to Pura Mahadev (Meerut) to
challenge the Shankaracharay of Puri for a public debate against his
obscurantists views on Sati and on women’s right to equality in the Vedas.
Launched an agitation, along with other women’s
organisations, against large scale female foeticide. This created conditions
for the Government of India to pass a bill banning the sex determination
tests.
Work for Dalits,
Harijans and Backward Classes
Denial of entry to the Dalits (Untouchables) into
Hindu temples, posed a new challenge for the struggle of the downtrodden
class. As a symbol of this struggle, led a march to the famous Nathdwara
Temple (Udaipur, Rajasthan 1988-1989)
Conducted extensive tours throughout the country to
promote self-confidence and awareness among the most vulnerable sections of
Indian society.
Awards:
Anti Slavery International Award : London 1990
Freedom and Human Rights Award : Bern, Switzerland 1994
Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award : New Delhi 2004
Right Livelihood Award 2004
:Sweden (Alternative Noble
Prize)
Published Works
Vedic Socialism (Hindi)
Religion Revolution and Marxism (Hindi and English)
“Rajdharma” – Chief Editor of this fortnightly (1968-1978)
“Kranti Dharmi” – Chief Editor of this monthly (1989-1991)
Published various articles on national, social and political issues in leading newspapers and magazines.
A Book titled – ‘Swami Agnivesh – Religion, Spirituality, Social Action – New Agenda for Humanity’ (Compilation of his writings & Social Actions taken has recently come out of the press).
Hinduism in the New Age
Swami Dyanand – Man, Message and Mission
Maharshi
Dayanand Bhawan, 3/5 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi – 110 002
Ph: 011- 232 61843 Fax: 011 2326 1926 E-mail: agnivesh@vsnl.com
Web: www.swamiagnivesh.com