WE THE PEOPLE

1st to 5th July, 2026

Background

This workshop emerges from the need to equip people interested in social development, nation-building, and social justice, and anyone who seeks to engage with a deeper understanding of the Indian Constitution. Given the evolving political and social landscape in India, constitutional knowledge is essential for effectively navigating issues of rights, governance, and equality. The Constitution is not just a legal document but a transformative tool that shapes India’s democracy and societal structure. Through this workshop, participants will learn how the Constitution can address contemporary challenges like inequality, discrimination, citizenship, and the role of institutions in upholding democracy.

What is the workshop about?

The workshop aims to explore the following key questions:

How did the Indian Constitution come into being, and what historical forces and discussions shaped it?
What lies at the heart of the Constitution as its basic principles and values in the Preamble?
As commonly understood in the mainstream, are societal traditions and constitutional rights and values mutually opposing, or can they work together?
How is the Constitution a blueprint for transforming India into a democratic, egalitarian society? And how does it serve as an emancipatory tool for the marginalized?
How have rights-based movements used the Constitution for advocacy and expanding the ambit of rights?
What are the rights of citizens, and how can the Constitution and its principles be applied to present-day issues of equality, justice, anti-discrimination, and citizenship?
What is the connection between the Constitution, constitutional values, and the development sector?
What role do constitutional institutions (the Election Commission, the judiciary) play in ensuring democratic governance?
Critical Engagement: Encouraging participants to think critically about how constitutional principles like secularism, fraternity, and equality apply to their work in the social sector.

Methodology

Participants will actively engage with constitutional principles through:

Case Law Discussions: Participants will be presented with facts of real cases to discuss in groups, followed by a deeper dive into constitutional values, rights, the law, and the court rulings.
Theatre of the Oppressed
Creative Engagement: Using songs from different movements to make rights more accessible and relatable.
Practical tools/skills and avenues of citizen Engagement: Learn different tools, skills, and forms of knowledge such as RTI, FIR procedures, basic police and legal processes, and rights; understand local governance structures (urban and rural); and be introduced to campaigns—what exists, how they function, and how one can engage or associate with them.
Language: Sessions will primarily be conducted in Hindi. So, a basic knowledge of Hindi will be essential.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is designed for:

Youth who have exposure to a basic understanding of Indian governance but a desire to deepen their engagement with constitutional law, institutions, and the democratic process.
Individuals or college-going youth who are passionate about social justice and wish to understand how the Indian Constitution can be leveraged to advocate for change.
Young professionals working in the social sector, especially those engaged in rights-based activism, social justice movements, or community development.

Resource Person

Poorna Ravishankar, a lawyer and researcher at the Alternative Law Forum, focuses on the
study of the Indian Constitution. She also works on advocacy and litigation.

Asmi Sharma is a researcher associated with various rights-based social movements and campaigns, including Jan Sarokar, the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, Financial Accountability Network, and Pension Parishad.

Akram Akhtar is a human rights lawyer associated with Afkar Foundation in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh
Pradesh, a collective that works with victims of hate crimes and forced displacement. (TBC)

Mohammad Chappalwala is a TOTO practitioner who works for social change through civil
society engagement. He is an activist who has been working for social justice for over a decade
and is a part of the Sambhaavnaa Institute team.

Fatema is an educator and environmentalist with experience in political education on various socio-cultural and socio-ecological issues. She designs and facilitates workshops on gender, environment, and development using creative and participatory methods such as Theatre of the Oppressed and experiential learning. As a writer and curriculum designer, she is deeply committed to using education as a tool for social and environmental transformation.
Ishwar Singh works on connecting youth from marginalised identities to opportunities in socio-
political understanding, higher education, and fellowships. Previously, he used to work at Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan on workers’ rights and strongly believes in the power of art stories, theater, and songs in powering social change.

Mohammad Nawazuddin has worked on labour rights, transparency, and youth political
education with MKSS and the School for Democracy, focusing on constitutional values and social
justice.

Contribution to the Program

We request participants to contribute an amount of Rs. 5,000 towards workshop expenses, inclusive of all onsite workshop costs: boarding, lodging, and all the materials used in the workshop. Travel will be borne by the participants. Need-based fee waivers are available. Do remember that there may be others who need it more than you. The fee waivers will be offered to people from marginalized groups and non-funded social, political, or student movements.

Dates: 1–5 July, 2025

Last date to apply: We do not have a last date.

Venue: Sambhaavnaa Institute, Kandbari, Tehsil, Palampur, District Kangra, PIN 176061,
Himachal Pradesh

To register, please fill out the Google form below.