Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti in association with the Department of Social Work and IQAC, Rajagiri College of Social Science an autonomous body organized an “E-workshop on “In the Footsteps of Mahatma, reaching out to communities through constructive dialogues” on October 28, 2020. Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, Director GSDS inaugurated the E-workshop. The key-note address was given by Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu, Programme Officer, GSDS. Principal of the College Dr. Binoy Joseph, also spoke on the occasion. Dr. M K Joseph (CMI), Assistant Professor, HOD Social Work Department of Rajagiri College delivered the welcome address. Dr. Mary Venus Joseph, Dean (Research) and Coordinator of IQAC, Rajagiri also spoke on the occasion. 72 participants took part in this webinar. Dr. Anand K moderated the session.
Welcoming the participants on behalf of the Rajagiri College, Dr. M K Joseph highlighted the needs that the COVID-19 pandemic produced and necessitated the need for focussing back to rural reconstruction and ‘gram swaraj’ which Mahatma Gandhi had espoused for, his concept of village self sufficiency and constructive programme taking everybody back to the roots that villages are safe and that local environment poses far less danger than the urban livelihood.
In his address, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan congratulated the Rajagiri College for winning the Swachhata Award and said that they are one among the torchbearers to apply the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi practically. He focussed on how humankind has been lacking in compassion and has become aggressive, because, “We feel that we are superior to others. We push our views and are not ready to hear others” and added, “Until and unless there is peace within, one cannot achieve sustainable peace, which can happen only when healthy communication takes place”.