About 125 participants that included Sardovaya workers, Gandhian constructive workers, academicians from different states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Odisha, Haryana, Kerala took part in a national conference on “Report to Gandhi” in Gandhi Darshan from February 21-23, 2020 to discuss issues and challenges of the contemporary world, the work done so far by those organisations as part of Gandhi 150 and the road ahead. The national conference was organised by GSDS in association with Radhakrishna Collective. Shri Kumar Kalanand Muni, Shri Basant, Padmashri Shri Kamal Singh Chauhan, Shri Aditya Patnaik, Prof. Manoj Kumar, Shri Chandan Pal, Shri Sita Ram Gupta along with Director GSDS Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan took part in the deliberations. Smt. Kamala Radhakrishna, wife of Dr. Radhakrishna was also present at the inauguration of the programme.
The main idea of different sessions during the three-day conference was to present a report by all the theorists of Mahatma Gandhi of their ongoing projects and their responses towards the celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Besides, the global responses of special programmes by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna were also discussed towards promoting Gandhi Katha all over the world including India. It was thus one of the major components of the seminar to discuss how international thinkers acknowledge the ideas of peace, non-violence, and self-reliance.
The participants not only showcased their work and Gandhian ideologies, they also discussed various issues which are affecting the integrity and dignity of India. They expressed their concern over the eluding faith, ethics, morality and vision from the path of righteousness and truth.
The programme also highlighted success stories of individuals, groups or organisations working on the 18-point Constructive Programme of Mahatma Gandhi and how they have been able to improve the livelihood of minorities, especially adivasi women and children, which have also positively impacted the living quality among the people in extreme rurals.
The participants reiterated that Mahatma Gandhi dreamt about a society where there would be no discrimination, no inequalities and no violence and they hoped that the youth adopt the Gandhian technique and methodology of non-violence and restrict from making hate speech and that communication with those affected by either violence, disaster, etc be made for their rehabilitation.
On the concluding day on February 23, a book “Influences That Shaped The Gandhian Ideology – Gokhale, Rajchandra, Tolstoy, Ruskin” authored by Shri Anup Taneja, published by Research India Press, as part of the commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary was released.