Port Blair, Oct 18: As part of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi, the Department of Art & Culture, A&N Administration organized ‘Gandhi Katha’ at DBRAIT Auditorium, Dollygunj, here today. The Lt Governor, A&N Islands & Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) was the chief guest on this occasion. The Lt. Governor along with other dignitaries listened to the ‘Katha’, presented by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna, which narrates the ethical, moral life, thought and actions of Mahatma Gandhi.The Lt. Governor also welcomed the Chief Functionary of the ‘Gandhian Forum for Ethical Corporate Governance and the narrator of Gandhi Katha, Dr. Shobhana by presenting a shawl and memento. Dr. Shobhana Radhakrisna also presented a book, titled ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision: Radhakrishna’s Action’, to the Lt. Governor written by her. Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna, who started the Gandhi Katha with music and narration in the packed to capacity auditorium said that the life of Gandhiji is like an epic and millions of people across the world are listening to his life story and drawing inspiration from it. Gandhiji was born in India, but he belonged to the entire world and humanity. The entire world remembers Gandhiji as a great soul, who has shown the path of ‘ahimsa’ and ‘satyagraha’. Gandhiji’s ultimate goal was truth and he chose non-violence as the way to reach this goal, she explained. The lessons/teachings from Mahatma Gandhi’s life, offer us invaluable advice on leading an enlightened life-a more meaningful, self-aware, socially responsible and saner life, she added.She further spoke on the Mahatma’s message of truth and non-violence. Gandhiji, in his entire life, had a great devotion for truth and his exertion was non-violence. Gandhiji’s greatest strength was love and faith for the almighty which he followed till his last breath. He was a great listener and had the ability to see a human being as a human being without any titles.Today’s ‘Gandhi Katha’ session was a unique way to popularize Gandhian values among the young and it was organized for the first time in these Islands.The function was also attended by the Chief Secretary I/c, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, the Adhyaksh ZPSA, Shri Subir Chander, the Chairperson PBMC, Shri NK Udhaya Kumar, DGP, Shri Dependra Pathak, senior officers of the A&N Administration besides a large number of students.The local artistes led by Ananya Karak presented songs & bhajans of Mahatama Gandhi in between the narration of ‘Gandhi Katha’.
In his welcome address, the Secretary Art & Culture, Shri Deepak Virmani said that the UT Administration is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation since 2018 by organizing different programmes and it will continue till 2020. As part of it, movies on the life of Gandhiji have been screened for school children, logos/banners were erected, thoughts of Gandhiji were communicated at different fora including child care institutions. Such programmes will continue till 2020.
The programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director, Art & Culture, Ms Shimray Asaiwo Bellrose.
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