Inter-state Gandhi Peace Bus get a resounding welcome in Mangalore

Inter-state Gandhi Peace Bus get a resounding welcome in Mangalore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 2, 2012: Inter-state Gandhi Peace Bus was given a resounding welcome when it entered Mangalore this morning. The bus, which commenced its journey from Kanyakumari on June 17 concluded its 22-day saga today in Mangalore after covering over 1,200 kms.

Inter-state Gandhi Peace Bus is a unique campaign organized by Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi (KGSN) in association with National Foundation for Communal Harmony and the Indian Council of Gandhian Studies, to spread Mahatma Gandhi’s universal message of peace, tolerance and non-violence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The epic journey from Kanyakumari to Mangalore includes visiting places that Mahatma Gandhi had visited during his lifetime. Of the 394 places that Gandhi has visited between Kanyakumari and Mangalore, this expedition managed to cover 68 historical places prior to its arrival in the city. They had held discussions and seminars at 32 locations to propagate the Gandhian values.

The Gandhi Peace Bus caravan consisted of a vehicle containing pictorial exhibition on Gandhi’s life, a book exhibition, vehicle to demonstrate charka spinning and Gandhi Jyoti, an escort vehicle. The caravan comprised of 55 members including youth leaders and Gandhian activists. 

Upon entering the city, the team members visited the Gandhi Mandir at Garodi Temple in the city where Gandhi is worshiped as a deity. This was followed by a formal function at Kanara Girls High School, Dongerkery, where Mahatma Gandhi had laid the foundation stone for the Krishna Mandir building in 1934. Before the start of the function, the team members paid homage to the Mahatma at the Krishna Mandir with the school band playing a welcome note.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assembly Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat, Mangalore MLA UT Khader and SS Kamath, the president of Canara High School Association were the dignitaries at the valedictory programme.

In his introductory address to the audience, Dr. N Radhakrishnan, working chairman of KGSN, described the journey as a “pilgrimage with a difference.”

He said that three fourth of Indians are affected directly or indirectly by the specter of violence. “Youth in the nation are being attracted to the fight against government. There is silver lining in Gandhian messages which can solve issues of violence and bring peace in the nation,” he added.

He said that the education system in India should be revamped by adding contents on Gandhian values in curriculum from primary to higher education. “Indian syllabi, starting from primary schools to higher education, have neglected Mahatma Gandhi. We call Gandhiji, the father of nation, but the visionary who influenced the nation has not been given much significance in the syllabi. More contents on Gandhi should be included in the curriculum to make younger generation aware of the Gandhian values,” he urged.

Gandhian principles have solutions not only to political issues, but also it propagates the means to solve all issues related to environment, water management, social equality, he said.

Mangalore MLA UT Khader stated that this was a timely initiative and said the main problem with everyone is that we only praise great people without emulating them. If we start practicing the good qualities that we appreciate in others, that alone would be enough to transform the world, he said.

Assembly Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat congratulated the organizers on undertaking the successful journey and said Gandhian values are timeless
Veteran Gandhian, Namdev Shenoy, a nonagenarian, enthusiastically sung a patriotic song penned by Vinobha Bhave.

VU George welcomed the gathering, Murlidhar Shenoy rendered the invocation and Prabhakar Sriyan, Joint Secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Mangalore proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Gopalakrishnan Nair expressed gratitude on behalf of the visiting delegation. The programme concluded with the Gandhian pledge which was administered by Harshad Vorkady.