Webinar on ‘Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’ organised by ROB Jammu

State Times News
JAMMU: Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India, Jammu organized a webinar on ‘Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’ to give wide dissemination to the ideology, philosophy and doctrine of Mahatma Gandhi among masses especially youth and to provide a platform for the Scholars, researchers, followers and aspirants of Gandhi’s philosophy to discuss, elaborate and understand the life and philosophy of the father of the nation in the present day scenario.
The Webinar was conducted under the overall supervision of Devpreet Singh, Addl. Director General, PIB, North Zone. Neha Jalali, Deputy Director, Press Information Bureau & Regional Outreach Bureau, J&K, S.P Varma,(Padam Shree), President Gandhi Global Family, J&K and Prof. Anurag Gangal, Department of Political Science, Jammu University also addressed the Webinar.
Devpreet Singh, ADG, PIB & ROB (Northern region) in her address threw light on the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi and said that he was not only a freedom fighter but a great scholar, a thinker, a philosopher and spiritual guide. She said that Gandhi was a leader of international stature who inspired the civil rights movement all over the world. Be it India’s struggle for independence against colonial rule, Struggle against Racism, fight against poverty and untouchability, Gandhi has always stood by his ideals of truth and nonviolence.
She said that Satyagraha or “Satya keliyeaagrah” became the method as well as symbol of India’s freedom Struggle under Gandhi.
He inspired lakhs of Indians to become a part of the freedom Struggle at a scale that was unprecedented in India’s History. With his all-inclusive approach Gandhi brought even rural women, backward sections, Harijans within the fold of Satyagraha.
From Editorials in newspapers like Young India to techniques like fasting, picketing of foreign clothes and liquor shops or the simple yet magical mantras like ‘Do or die’ his methods and ideals reverberated across the length and breadth of the country.
Earlier, Neha Jalali, Deputy Director, Press Information Bureau & Regional Outreach Bureau in her address said that Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was organizing various webinars and online activities throughout the counter to deliberate upon and spread awareness about the Mahatma Gandhi through its regional Offices of PIB and ROBs involving wide range of stakeholders.
She said that the ideas of Gandhi reflected in various articles of the constitution especially in the DPSP and Fundamental duties and have inspired National Governments and Activists of peace and Sustainable development at the international arena.
S.P Varma (Padam Shree), President of Gandhi Global Family, while speaking on the topic said that there was a need to spread awareness about ideals of Gandhi among the youth. He said that more institutions need to be opened where young people may learn and read more and more about Gandhi. He said that sustainable development and World Peace can be achieved through the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi.
Prof. Anurag Gangal, Department of Political Science, Jammu University elaborated the well known eleven vows of Mahatma Gandhi viz. Ahimsa (Nonviolence), Satya (Truth), Asteya (Non Stealing), Brahmacharya (Self Discipline), Asangraha (Non-possession), Sharirshrama (Bread labour), Aswada (Control of the palate), Sarvatra Bhayavarjana (Fearlessness), Sarva Dharma Samantva (Equality of all religions), Swadeshi (Use locally made goods) and Sparshbhavana (Remove untouchability).
He said that Gandhi was never in favour of being called as Mahatma, he sacrificed individuality for society. He understood and studies the basic entity of Universal Society which is a family, village, province, state, country and world.
Various ideas of Gandhi like Ramrajya, Satyagrah, Sarvodya, trusteeship were discussed at the webinar.
Earlier Sanchit Raina, Student Jammu University also expressed his views on life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi during the Webinar.
The webinar was attended by Officers of PIB and ROB, I&B Ministry, Students and Faculty of Jammu University, Central University of Jammu and SPMR College of Commerce, Jammu and Parents also attended the webinar.
A Virtual tour of a two day Photo- Exhibition on Life of Mahatma Gandhi that has been put up by ROB, Jammu at DIPR Complex,(State Information Office) Bahu Plaza, Jammu was also presented at the webinar.
The Exhibition aims at promoting the ideology and teachings of Gandhi and educating people about the sacrifices made by him for India independence.
The main focus of the two day photo-exhibition was the display of Gandhian ideology through the display of a number of rare photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings.
The Exhibition gave an insight into his early life through a pictorial representation. It also gave an account of his early struggles like Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha.
This followed by Details about Non Cooperation movement, Dandi March and other developments like the Second Round Table Conference, Shimla Agreement, etc and provided an opportunity to explore Gandhi through the political movements and developments of his times.