SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Aug 12: The St Xavier’s College, Ranchi is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav from August 12 to August 15 to commemorate the 75 years of independence. In this series, the college organised the lecture of eminent Gandhians Dr Bhagwan Singh, former HoD, Tilka Manjhi University, Bhagalpur, and Dr Bhairav Lal Das from Patna on the theme ‘Mahatma and Gurudev: Greater Role in Post-Independence India’ on Friday.
Chief Speaker Bhairav Lal Das said that Tagore did not believe in Gandhi’s stand that charka will be able to win independence for India. He even warned Gandhi that he should not remain in such an illusion.
“Tagore however believed that the British were ruling over Indians because of their superior machine power. He also suggested that if India has to stay fit to survive, it has to learn machination and technology,” Das added.
He further said that Tagore had a lot of respect for Gandhi. He appreciated Gandhi on several of his beliefs, however he was all for the machination of the country. Dr Das said Gurudev believed that science is being used only for the comfort of the elite, and the poor are deprived of it and that Gandhi’s non-violence was not a non-violence of the meek and the weak. He once even asked a crowd why they did not respond to the police beating them up with a similar gesture.
Das further said that each one of us today have to study and inculcate the values of Gandhi. He said if students decorate the college campus with flowers, but don’t realise that they should decorate the city, it is useless.
Dr Bhagwan Singh, in his lecture, talked of the relationship between Mahatma and Gurudev. He said they neither were each other’s followers or students, but friends who appreciated each other’s way of thinking. Talking of ‘Mahatma’ being coined by Rabindranath Tagore he said that that may not have been the case and the people then may have coined both the terms for the leaders.
Dr Singh further talked of how Tagore had opposed the idea of ‘Asahyog movement’ and tried to point out the ways in which the movement could take a wrong turn. He further talked of the friendship between Gandhi and Tagore and then conflict. He further read several write ups by Gandhi and Tagore which had been published or were sent in the form of letters to others.
Noted socialist Madhukar, while addressing the conclave said that the youth these days are learning thoughts of Gandhi, Nehru, JP, Patel, Subhash, Birsa; but if they don’t practice these thoughts, it is useless. “Unfortunately, these great men have been put in the temples; and are worshipped. But their thoughts are forgotten in life,” he added.
Madhukar quoted the famous saying of Gandhi that ‘the earth has enough to meet the needs of all, but not greed of even one’.
He further added, “Our development model is moving towards greed. Not towards need.” He gave an example of a village in Godda where locks are not put on the doors. However, today’s development model is that of lock, he stated.
Several students performed songs and dances celebrating India and its independence in the programme. Vice Principal Dr Pradeep Kujur, Ajita Bhattacharya, member of Jharkhand State Public Service Commission, Kumar Sanjay Jha, regional director of Indira Gandhi centre for Art and Culture were present.
