Remembering Gandhi

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) had recently organised `South Asian Regional Youth Convention on Non-Violence and Development'' at the premises of Gandhi Smriti in the Capital. Inaugurating the convention, former president of India, R Venkatraman said: "Youth power must stir the governments of their own country to work for the economic growth.We have to work for the advancements of all sections of people and governments of all countries have to realise it." He, moreover, advocated the formation of a union of South Asian countries on the lines of the European Union.
Emphasising that real Gandhi is within us, former prime minister of the country, I K Gujral said although the present generation may not have seen Gandhi but his principles hold even more relevance today, especially with several countries being at war. The great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi was of view that if a stronger person does not have compassion, he turns into an oppressor. He said: "We should learn from the past and empower ourselves for the future. Instead of choosing non-violent peace, we should choose non-violent conflict."
The three-day convention had sessions on Youth and Peace; Youth, Non-Violence and Gandhi; Violence Against Women: Wither Youth; and Youth and Poverty. Addressing one of such sessions, advisor, UNDP, Shantum Seth said: "Peace does not merely means anti-war but peace within the inner self as well as outer environment. If we can practice the legacy of peace given by Bapu, this earth will become a a new planet."
Apart from eminent scholars, politicians and custodians of Gandhian principles, the convention witnessed an active participation by the youth of not merely India but from neighbouring countries like Nepal, Mynammar and Bangladesh as well. Airing his views on the occasion, a student representative from Bangladesh remarked, "Politics in its present form is an impediment in our way to peace."