Break the Shackles of Caste
PARTICIPATE
Gender Justice & Sensatization
PARTICIPATE
Unemployment Crisis
PARTICIPATE
Economic Inequality
PARTICIPATE
Rationing & Healthcare System Issues
PARTICIPATE
Cultural Wing - Kafila
PARTICIPATE
Promoting Peace & Communal Harmony
PARTICIPATE
Strengthening Constitutional Values
PARTICIPATE
Salute to Real Heros of Society
PARTICIPATE
Environmental Issues
PARTICIPATE
Black is Beautiful
PARTICIPATE
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WHO WE ARE​

Lokayat is a social–political–cultural activist group based in Pune.
Our aim is to strengthen and deepen social consciousness and democratic values among the common people and unite them to build a society in accordance with the dreams of our country’s founders led by Mahatma Gandhi, which are embedded in the Preamble and the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitution.
For this, we organise a wide range of activities on the streets of Pune, in slums, schools, colleges and various public forums. We carry out canvassing on the streets, perform street plays and music programs in public places, organise public lectures, film-screenings, debates, discussions as well as protests and demonstrations, reaching out to hundreds of people every week. Through these programs, we seek to educate people on the fundamental ideals of the Indian Constitution:
  1. Making people aware of their Constitutional duties outlined in Article 51A of the Constitution, that call upon the citizens
    • to cherish the noble ideals that inspired our freedom struggle, including the values of freedom, equality, democracy and secularism; 
    • to promote fraternity amongst all the people transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities
      We believe that true nationalism means upholding these ideals and values.
  2. Making people aware that the Constitution also contains directives to all future governments regarding the policies that they need to pursue. These are included in Part IV of the Constitution, also called the Directive Principles. Explaining the reasons for their inclusion in the Constitution, Dr Ambedkar stated: “Our intention is (that) … even under hard and unpropitious circumstances, (future governments shall) always strive in the fulfilment of these Directives.” The Directive Principles direct the State to strive to:
    • build an egalitarian society; ensure that there is no concentration of wealth; ensure that all citizens have the right to an adequate means of livelihood that ensures them a decent standard of living; ensure availability of adequate healthcare and nutrition to all citizens without discrimination; and, provide equitable and good quality education for all children.
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Starting from a handful of social activists in 2004, we now have many volunteers. Our members include workers, professionals and students who dedicate their free time to the organisation. We meet organisational expenses from monthly contributions by our own activists who contribute a part of their income.

In 2018, the Government of Madhya Pradesh conferred Lokayat with the Mahatma Gandhi National Award – “For the excellent and inspirational work done for communication and propagation of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi in the new generation” (citation).

In recent times, the country is facing a new crisis. The last few decades have seen the rapid growth of fascist forces in the country. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, their political wing, the BJP, with the backing of the country’s biggest corporate houses, stormed to power at the Centre. Since then, the Modi-led BJP Government has implemented a very regressive economic and social agenda that is completely opposite to the Idea of India as visualised in our Constitution. The BJP does not believe in any of the fundamental values that are the pillars of the Indian Constitution — democracy, liberty, equality, secularism and fraternity. On the one hand, it is deepening all the age-old social divisions in our country, including the communal, caste and gender divide. On the other hand, it is running the country solely for the profiteering of the biggest corporate houses, because of which the people are facing a colossal unemployment, poverty and hunger crisis. It is imperative that all those who believe in our Constitution leave aside their organisational differences and unite to protect our democracy from the spectre of fascism looming over the country. 

In this spirit, we have been actively involved in various efforts to bring together progressive, democratic and socialist groups. Since the 2019 elections, we have lent our active support to the Indian National Congress, the largest opposition party in India that has taken a firm stand against both the BJP’s divisive and hate politics and also its pro-corporate economic agenda. The Congress is also seeking to unite all other opposition parties to build an anti-BJP front. To the extent possible, Lokayat has been involved in the various initiatives taken by the Congress such as the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and we have also been involved in training of grassroots activists and public outreach campaigns at the grassroots level. 

Lokayat Recieved Mahatma Gandhi National Award 2018 by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh

VIDEOS

We organise numerous public talks by eminent activists and intellectuals. We also organise many cultural programs.

Our Recent Activities!

Follow our latest newsletters for recent activities!

PUBLICATIONS​

We publish booklets in Marathi, English and Hindi on numerous social and economic issues.​

सरकार खरंच गरीब आहे का?

सरकार कशाप्रकारे जनतेवरील खर्च कमी करत आहे आणि उद्योगपतींच्या खिश्यात, याचे विश्लेषण आहे.
Download

The Employment Crisis

Booklet that breaks arguments of population, affirmative action and lack of skill etc. which justify unemployment.
Download

India Becoming colony again

In the name of globalization, foreign brigands are being invited back into the country. This booklet is an overview of the post-liberalisation policies and how they are instrumental in selling out the country again.
Download

अपना भविष्य भारतीय संविधान

An important booklet at a time when fascist forces are threatening the very Constitution of the country.
Download

Globalization or Recolonization?

Book which breaks common beliefs of globalization and how it leads to so called "Development" of country.
Download

JANATA MAGAZINE

We work in alliance with Janata Trust which publishes 'Janata Weekly' - India's oldest Socialist Weekly (since 1946)
For Latest Janata Articles Visit​​

LATEST PAMPHLETS

पेट्रोल-डिझेल-गॅस दरवाढ रद्द करा!

महागाईवरील मराठी पत्रक

Black is Beaultiful

मराठी पत्रक - ब्लॅक ईज़ ब्युटिफुल - मी जशी आहे, तशी सुंदर आहे!

शेतकरी आंदोलनाला समर्थन द्या!

मराठी पत्रक

बेरोजगारी... पर्याय आहेत!

मराठी पत्रक
We publish and circulate thousands of copies of these pamphlets in our campaigns. Feel free to download and use them.​

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Lokayat

Lokayat is group of Social Activists based in Pune. We work on organizing people for various social, political, economic and environmental issues.

We meet every Sunday from 5 to 7:30 pm
"Lokayat Hall, Opposite Syndicate Bank, Law College Road, Near Nal Stop, Pune-4".
You are most welcome to join us in our meetings!