1. “Gandhiji said that my patriotism originates from my religion. I will understand my religion and become a good patriot and inspire others to do the same.” This was said by Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat. Shri Bhagwat was speaking on the occasion of the release of the book 'Making of a Hindu Patriot' organized at Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat on January 1, 2021. Authored by Dr. Jitendra Kumar Bajaj and Prof. M D Srinivas, the book has been published by Centre for Policy Studies in association with Har Anand Publishers. Dr. Mohan Bhagwat released the book containing 1043 pages on the occasion. Speaking to an august gathering that included scholars, academicians, social thinkers, Dr. Bhagwat said that Gandhiji had expressed his views about religion and said that my religion is the religion of all religions, that is, the religion that carries all religions together is my religion.
2. Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti in association with Women’s Peace Builders Network, Cameroon organised a webinar on “Enhancing Conflict Competence through Nonviolent Communication” on January 11, 2021. The programme was chaired by Ms. Adah Mbah Muyang, Coordinator, Women’s Peace-builders Network. Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu, Programme Officer GSDS delivered the key note address.
In his address, Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu said that when we use Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for conflict resolution, the results are often transformative and long lasting. He also focussed on developing strong compassionate communication skills for resolving conflicts. “In NVC, we define needs as Universal Human Needs. When we use Compassionate Communication (NVC) skills for resolving conflicts, we go deeper than interests, to the universal human needs underlying them”.
3. The Samiti in association with School of Recitation (SABDAM) and State Bal Bhawan Assam, organised a virtual dialogue on “Understanding Self” on January 12, 2020, celebrating the 158th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Ms. Barnali Chakraborty from the Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, Assam Prant was the key note speaker on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering that included youth and students from Assam Bal Bhawan, Ms. Barnali Chakraborty referred to writer Jiddu Krishnamurti who once wrote, “If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation.” She further said that the root of all change starts with self-understanding. “If you don’t understand yourself, your efforts will be lost, and spent on things that are actually not under you control. Self-understanding is a journey. There will always be new things to discover about yourself—and new paths to success as a result of that understanding”.
4. Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti celebrated the 72nd Republic Day celebrations in Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat on January 26, 2021. Director GSDS, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan hoisted the Tricolour and addressed the GSDS staff who took part in the programme with full enthusiasm. He reiterated the concept of ahimsa and truth and called on the people to work towards the promotion of well-being of others and become pro active towards self reliance.
5. Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture Ms Nirupama Kotru visited Gandhi Darshan to oversee the preparation of January 30th programme in Gandhi Smriti on January 27, 2021. Director GSDS Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan briefed her about the preparation for the commemorative programme.
6. Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Culture and VC GSDS visited Gandhi Darshan on January 27, 2021 and interacted with the participating children of the 72nd Republic Day programme. Director GSDS, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan received the distinguished guest.
7. Shri Ram Niwas Goel, Hon’ble Speaker Delhi Legislative Assembly visited Gandhi Darshan in January 27, 2021 and saw the digital exhibition. Director GSDS Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan received the distinguished guest and also felicitated him.
8. Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu along with hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led the entire nation in paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi from Gandhi Smriti, the place of Gandhiji’s martyrdom on January 30, 2021 commemorating the 73rd Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi. Hon’ble Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Harshvardhan; hon’ble Minister of Culture and Vice-Chairperson GSDS Shri Prahlad Singh Patel; hon’ble former Vice President Dr. Mohd Hamid Ansari; former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah; Secretary Ministry of Culture, Shri Raghvendra Singh; Secretary Ministry of Rural Development Shri N N Sinha, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and former VC GSDS, Smt. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi Shri Shrikrishna Kulkarni, Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture, Smt. Nirupama Kotru, senior Gandhian and member KVIC north zone, Shri Basant Singh and east zone Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Padmashri Kamal Singh Chauhan; artists, former diplomats and others took part in the programme and offered their tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier during the day, Member of Parliament, Shri Rahul Gandhi offered his tributes to the Father of the Nation in Gandhi Smriti.
Conducted by Shri Narendra Pal Gill, musicians from All India Radio, Delhi offered a musical presentation whereby they performed compositions on Vande Mataram, Vaishnavajana Tau, Raag Jog and Ram Dhun. This presentation was jointly organized by the GSDS and AIR.
Inter-faith prayer by religious leaders from different religions such as Buddhist Prayer (Japanese and Tibetan); Bahai, Christian, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judiasm, Jainism, Sikh and Hindu offered prayers on the occasion, as spinners were seen spinning on the ‘charkha’ throughout the programme.
Renowned artist, Padma Shri Anup Jalota led the bhakti sangeet on the occasion with his mellifluous performances of devotional songs on Ram and Krishna including prayers from the Upanishad, Goddess Saraswati and Ram Dhun.
A two-minute silent tribute was also observed on the occasion.
9. GSDS in association with Dr B R Ambedkar University, Delhi University and Kasturba Gandhi Institute for Development, Manipur paid a befitting tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 124th birth anniversary on January 23, 2021. Prof. Salil Misra, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dr. B R Ambedkar University delivered the key note address on “The Dialogical Dimension of Gandhi-Subhash Relationship” and based his talk on how despite their ideological differences, each stood for the a common cause – their motherland. He divided his lecture into three phases – the twenties, thirties, the role of INA and disappearance and drew similar parallels between Mahatma Gandhi’s doctrine of non-violence and how Subhash was equally inspired by Gandhiji’s movements like the Quit India, the very year that saw the formation of the INA with the efforts of iconic figures like Rashbehari Bose and Captain Mohan Singh.
Discussions also focused on how reading this news of Quit India launched by Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji who was in Berlin told his close associate CN Nambiar that he needed to "be with Gandhiji". It was around the same time that Subhas Chandra Bose was in the process of formation of Azad Hind Fauj to launch attacks on the British. In his Azad Hind Radio message from Berlin, Subhas Chandra Bose had called the Quit India Movement of Mahatma Gandhi, the "non-violent guerilla warfare". It was no coincidence that Subhas Chandra Bose had named the Azad Hind Fauj brigades after Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad and himself.
10. Hon’ble Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Government of India visited Gandhi Darshan on January 27, 2021 and was received and facilitated by Director GSDS Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan. The hon’ble minister also interacted with the children who participated in the 72nd Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath. Earlier during the day, Hon’ble Minister of Culture and VC GSDS Shri Prahlad Singh Patel also visited Gandhi Darshan and interacted with the children. Director GSDS accompanied him.
