The Hindu : Kerala News : `Non-violent struggles are more relevant'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 10, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

`Non-violent struggles are more relevant'

Staff Reporter

MALAPPURAM: The non-violent agitations led by Mahatma Gandhi were historically more relevant than any bloody revolutions, including the American, French and Russian, said historian M.G.S. Narayanan.

He was delivering the keynote address at a national seminar on `Gandhian legacy with special reference to contribution for nation building' on the Calicut University campus on Wednesday.

Calicut University's Chair for Gandhian Studies and Research organised the seminar, sponsored by the Indian Council of Historical Research.

All civilizations of the world have realised the importance of truth and non-violence, he said. Mr. Narayanan said that Gandhiji had imbibed the message of all religions.

In fact, he said, it was Tolstoy who inspired Gandhiji on the teachings of Christianity more than anyone else. It was from an Englishman that Gandhiji learned more about Bhagavad Gita, he said. Gandhiji focussed on unity of religious freedom, he said.

According to Mr. Narayanan, Gandhiji insisted on the aspect of deserving freedom rather than mere desire for it.

Bhagavad Gita may have given the message of war to many people. But to Gandhiji, it gave the symbolic message of struggle between the evil and the good, he said.

Inaugurating the seminar, Calicut University Vice-Chancellor Syed Iqbal Hasnain called upon people to apply Gandhian ideals to today's woes. Gandhiji insisted on the emancipation of the poorest of the poor, emancipation from the evils of caste.

Prof. Hasnain said that though decentralisation of power had become a reality in Kerala, it was yet to reach many parts of North India.

Calling upon the authorities not to let the functioning of educational bodies be affected by the change of Government, Prof. Hasnain urged the Government to release the Rs.5 lakhs to the Chair for Gandhian Studies and Research, which had been promised by the previous UDF regime.

Calicut University Pro Vice-Chancellor C. Gopinathan Pillai presided over the function. S.M. Mohammed Koya, seminar director and former head of the Department of History, Calicut University, welcomed the gathering. M.C.K. Veeran, former librarian of Calicut University, proposed a vote of thanks.

Experts on Gandhian studies from different parts of the country presented papers in technical sessions. The seminar will continue on Thursday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala