'Gandhi Peace Bus' concludes journey in Mangalore

'Gandhi Peace Bus' concludes journey in Mangalore

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Deccan Herald

Inter-state Gandhi Peace Bus, a unique campaign to spread Mahatma Gandhi’s universal message of peace arrived in Mangalore after a 22-day journey from Kanyakmari.

The participants of the journey paid a visit to Garodi temple, which is dedicated to the Father of Nation.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony at Canara Girls’ High School, Dongerkery, Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Chairman N Radhakrishnan regretted that the content on Gandhi in the school syllabus is decreasing.

Gandhi is referred as the father of the nation, who has a list of do’s and dont’s. However, books have not highlighted his fight against all kinds of fascism.This could be one reason that students not understands the real contribution of Gandhi, he said.

He also pointed out that the new and basic education system which Gandhi dreamed every Indian to learn was not implemented properly by the Government.

If this system was implemented then the education system in the country would have been of different pattern, he said and added that Gandhi’s education system emphasised the tradition of the country but also had modernism and scientific temperment.“Science and technology is important. However, such advancements without moral values can not be accepted,” he said.

Referring to the growing violence and corruption in the country, he lamented that more people are taking to violence now.

“Gandhi is not God. However, he represents truth, honesty and empowerment of women,” he said.

Presiding over the programme, Deputy Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly N Yogish Bhat said that Gandhi was influenced by two Mangaloreans. Gandhi was inspired by Kudmul Ranga Rao who worked selflessely for Dalits and Karnard Sadhashiva Rao’s contribution to the freedom movement. One can say that Mangalore too had an important role to play in the freedom movement, he said.

Speaking about the education scenario today, he said it is important to emphasise on value based education.

“Today the problems are created by the eduacted than the uneducated. To change the world, every person should change,” said MLA U T Khader.

Gandhi in Mangalore

Canara High School Association President S S Kamath said that Mahatma Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the Krishna Mandir in Canara High School premises in 1934.

“Gandhi was reluctant to lay the foundation stone as he did not believe in laying foundation stones for temples. However, when the management told that the temple is meant for the betterment of students he agreed,” revealed Kamath.
He also pointed out that Gandhi used to stick to time, a quality all have to inculcate.

Peace bus
The Gandhi peace bus came in a convoy comprising a passenger coach, an exhibition van, a tableau with Charaka (spinning wheel) and accompanying vehicles. About 40 volunteers and 20 Gandhian activists accompanied the caravan which has travelled across 1,200 km visiting 68 historical places immortalised by Gandhiji’s visit.

This epic journey involved 32 seminars, discussions and interactions, honouring of freedom fighters and Gandhian activists, distribution of Gandhian literature, anti-violence oath taking, spinning wheel live demonstration, Gandhi pictorial exhibition, screening gandhi films and Gandhi book exhibition.

The expedition is organised by Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi in association with the National Foundation for Communal Harmony, Government of India, and the Indian Council of Gandhian Studies, New Delhi.

Next expedition
“The 17-day journey which started on June 17 at the tip of Kanyakumari has been truly satisfactory. There are plans to organise a similar peace journey in the North-Eastern states and Chattisgarh where Naxalism has affected people. The journey may start in January 2013,” revealed Radhakrishnan.

Gandhian Namdev Shenoy raised spirits by singing a patriotic song at the valedictory programme.