On Building a Non-Violent Society Today: Gandhian Paradigms

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Gandhi – 150: A Public Lecture on Building a Non-Violent Society Today: Gandhian Paradigms IDCR, Loyola College (Autonomous) Chennai celebrated “Gandhi-150” with a Public Lecture on “Building a Non-Violent Society Today: Gandhian Paradigms” on Tuesday 21 January 2020. The occasion provided the faculty members of all institutions on Loyola Campus and the public opportunity to seek to learn Gandhian values and strategies for a creative resolution of conflicts in the contemporary scenario. Some of the points that dominated the discussion were the climate for ethical governance, people-centred development, and inter-religious harmony, the ways and means of promoting inclusive community-building and celebration of the secularism with the spirit of Indian Constitution with non-violent attitudes and approaches. Mr. Rajmohan Gandhi, the eminent Historian, Journalist, Peace Builder and Research Professor at the College of Education, University of Illinois, USA who enthralled the participants with clarity of thoughts said that Gandhi wanted India to be one, Hindus and Muslims are one. According to the speaker, Gandhi wanted India to be liberated from all sorts of divisive forces. Further, he highlighted equality, freedom of speech, secularism as the core values to keep the nation as one. Listening to others, working as a team and encouraging heterogeneity are some of the means that Raj Mohan Gandhi suggested to cultivate secularism. In the context of protest today in India, he is overwhelmed with the spontaneity with which the youngsters raise the slogan for the preservation of constitution and annihilation of discrimination and show the world the vision of just and equal society. Rev. Dr. Jebamalai Irudayaraja, S.J., Provincial, Jesuit Chennai Province, Rev. Dr Francis P. Xavier, S.J. Rector, Rev. Dr D. Selvanayakam, S.J., Secretary, Rev. Dr A. Thomas, S.J., Principal and Dr. Maria Arul Raja, S.J., Director, IDCR were present during the occasion and felicitated the chief guest. .

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LESSON PLAN #1: NONVIOLENCE For Students in Grades 10-12 Based on the documentary, GANDHI’S AWAKENING (56 minutes). Featuring footage and photographs from sites of Gandhi’s life. With commentary by scholars, such as Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi, historian and grandson, and Narayan Desai, son of Gandhi’s personal secretary of 25 years who grew up with Gandhi in his Sevagram Ashram. Introduction Throughout history, violence has been used to overthrow oppressive rulers and governments and fight injustice. But violence is harmful to human beings, physically and psychologically, and can be harmful culturally, economically and environmentally. Nonviolence is an alternative to violence that can be an effective answer to oppression and injustice. Calling himself a “soldier of peace,” Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)* created a new nonviolent technique to answer violence and fight injustice, Satyagraha** (Sanskrit for “Truth”—Satya—and “holding firmly”—graha—so “holding firmly to Truth”). He allowed it to be translated into English as “Truth-Force” ( “Soul-Force” or “Love-Force”). He said this nonviolent resistance differed from “passive resistance” because it was not passive and required great courage. He said it gave every person anywhere the power to resist oppression and injustice. *The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. https://www.mkgandhi.org/cwmg.htm **Rajmohan Gandhi, Gandhi: The Man, His People, and The Empire (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2007, pp. 112-114, p. 121). **Bhikhu Parekh, Gandhi, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, pp. 54-58. ** How to pronounce Satyagraha, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfGrbH4y9PM . Film Summary GANDHI’S AWAKENING shows Mohandas K.
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VOLUME40 NUMBER3&4 CombinedIssue October-December'18&January-March'19 Quarterly Journal of the Gandhi Peace Foundation VOLUME 40 ❏ NUMBER 3&4 ❏ OCTOBER’18 – MARCH’19 Editorial Team Chairperson Kumar Prashant Editors M.P. Mathai ❏ John Moolakkattu [email protected] Book Review Editor: Ram Chandra Pradhan Editorial Advisory Board Johan Galtung ❏ Rajmohan Gandhi ❏ Anthony Parel K.L. Seshagiri Rao ❏ Ramashray Roy Sulak Sivaraksa ❏ Tridip Suhrud ❏ Neera Chandoke Thomas Weber ❏ Thomas Pantham Gandhi Marg: 1957-1976 available in microform from Oxford University Microfilms, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; 35 Mobile Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4A1H6; University Microfilms Limited, St. John’s Road, Tyler’s Green, Penn., Buckinghamshire, England. II ISSN 0016—4437 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CARD NO. 68-475534 New Subscription Rates (with effect from Volume 34, April-June 2012 onwards) Period Individual Institutional Individual Institutional (Inland) (foreign) Single Copy Rs. 70 Rs. 100 US $ 20 US $ 25 1 year Rs. 300 Rs. 400 US $ 60 US $ 80 2 years Rs. 550 Rs. 750 US $ 110 US $ 150 3 years Rs. 800 Rs. 1000 US $ 160 US $ 220 Life Rs. 5000 Rs. 6000 US $ 800 N.A. (including airmail charges) Remittances by bank drafts or postal or money orders only Copyright © 2018, Gandhi Marg, Gandhi Peace Foundation The views expressed and the facts stated in this journal, which is published once in every three months, are those of the writers and those views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Gandhi Peace Foundation. Comments on articles published in the journal are welcome. The decision of the Editors about the selection of manuscripts for publication shall be final.
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