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If we believe in Bapu, we have to make his cause our cause: Tushar Gandhi
Two day International Conference on Mahatma
Gabdhi’s Vision and Contemporary Political Leadership in North East India
concludes successfully at USTM
NINTH MILE,
RI BHOI, 6 October, 2018: Thoughtful discussion on Gandhian philosophy and
its application in present day context ignited the minds of a host of thinkers,
academicians and students coming from across the country and abroad at the
University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM) as the two day International
conference on “Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision and Contemporary Political Leadership in
North East India” ends here today. Organised by the International Centre for
Gandhian Studies (ICGS), a research centre of USTM, the two day conference was
addressed by Tushar Arun Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and
Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Prof Sudarshan Iyengar, renowned Gandhian
and former Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapith, Dr. Liaquat Ali, Vice Chancellor,
Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Prof RM Pant, Director, NIRD&PR
and Prof. B. Khadria, Chairman, Zakir Hussain Centre, JNU, apart from others.
Addressing the valedictory session of the conference today, Tushar Arun Gandhi
said, “If we understand Bapu and believe in him, we have to make his cause our
cause. The North East of India is a melting pot of diverse ethnic communities
and cultures and the region has been experiencing militancy problem since
decades. Gandhian philosophy and ideals are most relevant in the context of the
North East and the mainland India must be sensitive towards the people and
problem in the region.” Since many years, political leadership in India has been
party based, instead of broad nationalistic view. Bapu’s ideals must be adopted
in our nature and not simply in references. If we cannot do this, it is
disrespect to him, he added.
Dr Liaquqt Ali from Bangladesh said that Gandhiji’s ideals and teachings are
very much applicable in today’s world and it is time to inculcate and spread
this thought among people across borders. “The task of any university is not
simply to disseminate knowledge but to generate knowledge. This is a rare step
that a private university like USTM has come forward to sponsor a Centre on
Gandhian studies, without any Government support”, he added.
Noted Gandhian Prof Sudarshan Iyengar emphasized on the concept of “servant
leadership” of Mahatma Gandhi and said that when the problem is related to
racial discrimination, it transcends individual level. He also said that
reconciliation of unlimited wants with peace is not possible.
Dr Alaka Sarma, who is also the Director of ICGS and Pro VC, USTM, stated, “This
conference will help us to explore the shortcoming of our strategies to reach
out to the poorest of the poor of the north-eastern region and way forward to
achieve the development based on the vision of Mahatma Gandhi. We feel that
Mahatma Gandhi is most relevant today than ever before and more so in the
north-eastern region than anywhere else in India.”
In his address, M Hoque, Chancellor, USTM said that there is an urgent need to
rekindle Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, peace, brotherhood and
unity among the diverse people with varied culture, community and areas of this
country. Papers were presented by participants on themes like Peace and
Conflict, Rural Economy, Cooperative Federalism, Social Cohesion, Cattle
Protection, Industrialization, Infrastructure Development, Political Ideology,
Religion and Society, Gender Issues in Society, Law and Justice, Cultural
Nationalism, Media and Social Change, Ethics and Morality, Decolonization, Hind
Swaraj, from Swaraj to Suraj. Dr Sanjib Goswami, Adjunct Prof. USTM and co-convenor
of the conference delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the inaugural
session.
The Conference was inaugurated by the Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy
yesterday. In his inaugural speech the Governor said that Gandhiji not only gave
India its freedom but also gave the world and us a new thought on nonviolence
and sustainable living. His teachings and experiments are more valid today than
ever before, especially when we are trying to find solutions to worldwide greed,
corruption, and violence. The Governor appreciated USTM’s effort towards
research on Gandhiji.
Photo Caption:
Tushar Arun Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi addressing the
concluding session of the International Conference on Gandhi at USTM on 6th
October, 2018.
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