THE FIRST ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM (ASF) with `Another world is possible` as its theme began in Hyderabad on January 2, 2003 with the call to fight the neo-liberal and imperialist agenda of globalisation, besides communalism and war. It also appealed to work for building an Asia that is genuinely democratic, just and sustainable in order to retain people`s inalienable rights over natural resources like water and land. Nizam College Grounds, the venue of the forum, wore a festive look and was flooded by activists, intellectuals and numerous social organisations. People all over the world witnessed the massive gathering in the historic City of Nizams.

The ASF attracted representatives of 840 organisations, 14,426 delegates and 780 foreign delegates, involved in fighting globalisation and communalisation and for people’s rights. The prominent participants were groups and NGOs fighting for the rights of dalits and women, research institutions, trade unions, film-makers and political and cultural activists.

Inaugural Plenary

The inaugural plenary session was marked by the beating of 200 drums and the ballet rendering of noted Telegu revolutionary poet late Sri Sri`s famous `Maro Prapancham` (Another World), a free verse telegu poem. The theme of the ballet suited the theme of the forum.

ASF host committee member Dr Asma Reddy welcomed the speakers and said Hyderabad was the political seat of the Telengana movement which gave rise to the anti-feudal struggle. The city is also a centre of learning with six universities and is known for its hospitality, was proud to get the opportunity to hold the historic first ASF meet.

The speakers in the opening plenary cautioned people against the threat of US imperialism in the form of globalisation and within India the divisive impact of communalism and casteism. Those who addresed the session included Nora de Cortinas of Argentina, who founded `Mothers of Plaza de Mayo,` an organisation for mothers and grand-mothers who lost their children during military dictatorship in her country, Egyptian-born political economist Samir Amin (Senegal), Abdul Jawad Saleh, a member of the Palestine Legislative  Council, Prof Prabhat Patnaik of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, veteran Gandhian and member of Indian Parliament Nirmala Deshpande, dalit    activist Bojja Tharakam, noted theatre  activist Habib Tanvir, social activist, Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, labour leader Amarjit Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress.

Twelve conferences, 160 seminars and 164 workshops and more than 100 film shows and street play performances dotted the six-day ASF.

The conferences focussed on the following:

1. Peace and security
2. Social right in the context of globalisation
3. Debt development and trade
4. Democracy, nation state and exclusions
5. Women resist Globalisation
6. Dalits, other social groups and globalisation
7. Alternatives and People’s movement
8. Ecology, culture and knowledge: Defending people’s right to resources
9. Contours of Asian solidarity
10. Ecological democracy, justice and equality
11. Religious fundamentalism in Asia and citizen’s initiative
12. Alternative visions: Another Asia is Possible

Labour in Asian Social Forum

Seminars on labour related issues were organised by the Central Trade Unions, AICCTU, AITUC, CITU, HMS and UTUC and other trade unions AIAWU, AIBEA, AIBOA, AIFTU, AIIEA, AIKS, AIRF, AISGEF, ALIEF, APPSEF, BEFI, BKMU, Chemical Mazdoor Panchayat, CPSTU, HKMS, Hyderabad PSU Co-ordination Committee, IFTU, MKSS, NCL, NMPS, TUCC and UTIE. The seminars were facilitated by the Centre for Education and Communication(CEC), New Delhi.

Seminars on Labour issues had the following themes:

1. Against Privatisation and Disinvestment (January 3)
2. Communalism and Impact on Workers (January 3)
3. Globalisation and Labour Rights (January 4)
4. Financial Sector Reforms (January 5)
5. Impact of Globalisation on Unorganised Sector Workers and Remedies     (January 5)
6. Impact of Globalisation on Working Class and Building Global Resistance (January 6)

Closing Ceremony

The closing plenary of the the Asian Social Forum was held on January 7 at the College grounds. K.R.Narayanan, the former President of India, Brinda Karat, General Secretary of All India Democratic Women`s Association, Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain, a representative of Afro-Asian Peace and Solidarity Network, Iraq, Ramdayal Munda, ex-Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University, and Francisco Whitaker, member, WSF International Secretariat, Brazil, addressed the closing plenary. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi (Indonesia), who was to address the closing plenary, could not attend the session. But her recorded speech was a highlight of the session.

Hyderabad Declaration

In a declaration released at the conclusion of the ASF, many organisations, and people`s movements decided to include more social and democratic movements into the resistance process and took a decision to evolve more democratic and transparent processes for coordinating activities and action.

The `Hyderabad Declaration` resolved to strengthen the solidarity of the people for resisting imperialist hegemony and undemocratic and exploitative structure of neo-liberal globalisation. It also decided to protest the next WTO ministerial meeting to be held in Cancun. It gave a call to strengthen the solidarity action for resisting imperialist globalisation and communalism. It decided to oppose religious fundamentalism and communal, ethnic, caste and gender-based violence. Deciding to move away from development based on foreign capital, it appealed for mobilising national resources to support sustainable and equitable development of indigenous economies. It also decided to assert people`s right to work, basic necessities and natural resources.

A massive people`s rally was taken out from the College Grounds to the sprawling Sundarayya Park at the Bagh Lingampally to end the five-day meet.