• Number of School Participation: 306
• Number of Students participation: 1,20,000+
• Number of Students Participation in competition: 30000+

• Orientation workshop for School Principals at Shilpgram, Guwahati, Assam.
  • Schools were invited to participate with support of Assam State Commission for protection of Child Rights & Department of Secondary education, Government of Assam
  • 306 participating school principals came for orientation workshop.
  • The workshop was aimed to encourage the principals to participate in the initiative, form cultural clubs in their schools and then engage students through these cultural clubs.

Dignitaries included Shri Ravindra Sathe, Director General RMP; Mr. Priyank Kanoongo, Member RTE & Education NCPCR; Dr. Sunita Changkakati, Chairperson, Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR).

Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti in association with Mamta Shiksha Samiti organized a two-day seminar on ‘Nonviolent Communication and Non-Violent Conflict Resolution In Teaching Practices Seminar’ held on July 7-8, 2018 at Morar Gwalior Madhya Pradesh. This seminar carried forward the vision of Mahatma Gandhi.

The seminar saw participation by many eminent personalities including social activist, senior lawyers and local personalities. The seminar was also attended by educationalist achievers from different sections of the society. Smt. Shanti Sharma, Secretary Mamta Shisha Samiti and Shri Umesh Chandra Gaur, Chairman CCBOS attended the programme.

Welcoming the participants and distinguished guests, Shri Umesh Chandra Gaur, Chairman CCBOS laid stress on many issues regarding non-violent teaching. Shri Gaur also exhorted the participants to take the oath to follow the non-violent teaching for the students.

Inaugurating the first day of the seminar Smt. Shanti Sharma spoke on the non-violent way of teaching and non-violent conflict resolution and said that these are important factors in today’s world.
Also speaking on various education-related issues were eminent personalities like Shri Devendra Bhargava, Chairman Mamta Shiksha Samiti, Smt. Seema Bhargava (BAC) M.P. Gov., Smt. Mamta Chaturvedi, Member Vigilance and Monitoring, M.P. Gov.

The second day of the seminar was presided over by Shri Umesh Chandra Gaur. He raised many vital issues... Read More

Peace cannot be built on the foundations of fear. On the same lines, a two-day interactive workshop on “Non-violent Communication and Conflict Resolution” was organized by Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) for Delhi Home Guards on July 19-20, 2018 at Directorate General of Home Guards, Raja Garden, New Delhi.

The workshop was conducted by Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu (Programme Officer, GSDS) along with three eminent resource persons such as Shri Kumar Amitabh (senior journalist and filmmaker), Ms. Shweta Rashmi (journalist), and Ms. Anupama Jha (expert on stress management). They contributed to achieve the overarching goal of enhancement of ‘police-public partnership’ and to integrate Gandhian techniques in carrying out duties by the Homeguards. The session was attended by 300 home guards spread across Delhi.

The programme started by outlining the aim and objectives of the orientation programme and ice-breaking exercises by Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu and Ms. Kanak Kaushik. The two-day long workshop had parallel sessions in two different rooms underlying the themes of peace and non-violence.

The themes addressed during the session included:

• Understanding of different perspectives on ‘Peace’, ‘Nonviolence’ and ‘Conflict’;
• Critical understanding of everyday conflicts and resolution techniques and Conflict Mapping;
• An introduction to Non-violent Conflict Resolution approaches, Negotiation, Mediation and Non-violent Communication... Read More

“I congratulate the auto drivers for their successful training programme. You are indeed doing a service to the society which often the society fails to recognize”, said Dr. K D Prasad, Regional Director (RC 2) of Indira Gandhi National Open University at the certificate distribution programme for the Champaran auto drivers as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program of the Pradhanmantri Skill Development Mission for 9th to 15th Batch. Certificates were distributed by Dr. B Mishra, Dr. K D Prasad, Shri S A Jamal, Smt. Geeta Shukla, Shri Prasun Latant, Shri Atul Prabhakar and Shri Harpal.

Speaking to about 100 auto drivers who had undertaken the training, Dr. Prasad stressed on the concept of “Driver Friend” and urged that drivers need to be sensitive towards passengers. Calling their service as ‘dignity of work’, he asked them to reform themselves and help build an atmosphere of trust.

On being informed by Shri Viswash Gautam, Life Skill Trainer about the pledge taken by the auto drivers that they have resolved to give 2% rebate of actual fare to passengers who are unwell and those who are differently abled, Dr. Prasad stressed that such information must be sent to other departments such as transport, licensing, Ministry of Culture and documentation of such activities must be done on priority.

Sharing his perspective, Shri S A Jamal hoped that the training will help them in getting loans, etc and also help in making a better future... Read More

A two-day orientation programme for officers of Delhi Government on “Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Resolution” was organized from April 24-25, 2018, in Gandhi Darshan.

The Programme was attended by Ms. Manisha Saxena (Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. Of NCT of Delhi) and other distinguished District Magistrate and Sub-divisional Magistrate from Revenue Department. Whereas, the resource persons were Shri Prashant Kumar Mishra (Former Chief Secretary, UP & Former Member, UPSC), Prof T K Thomas(Academician and Ex-broadcaster), Ms. Anupama Jha (Expert on Stress management).

Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu, Programme Officer, GSDS outlined the aim and objectives of the orientation programme. While speaking on the benefits of the programme, he added that the program could help participants to deal with the situation without using coercive methods and violence and through the process participants will be able to use tools of nonviolent communication while negotiating with the stakeholders.

The First session was conducted by Shri Prashant Kumar Mishra on: ‘What are conflicts faced by an Administrator and the ways for their Peaceful Resolution’. He started with the discussion of the concept of Life that people understand and reached a conclusion that life is an experience between birth and death; its a way of living; It has never been a straight line as it has own Ups and Downs. He then focussed his session towards the question –What is a conflict?

As we all know that Yoga is more than 10,000 years old practice which sages of Ancient India gave as the heritage to the world and thus embedded seeds of balance into our existence and lifestyle. On December 11, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti on this occasion as part of the 4th International Yoga Day organized various practical sessions of ‘Yoga’ in different places such as the “Department of Home Guards, Raja Garden, New Delhi; NOIDA Entrepreneurs Association and Jal Vayu Vihar Community Centre in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh and in Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat.

1. In Gandhi Darshan,

   the yoga session was jointly organised by GSDS and IGNOU Regional Centre-2. Here, about 250 people practiced yoga for an hour in the direction of resource persons namely Shri Varun Nautiyal, Shri Sagar Adhikari and Smt. Neha Chaurasiya. Also, a naturopathy session was conducted by Dr. Manju Aggarwal.

   Yoga has gone global with its origin rooted in Indian culture, Union Minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma said on the International Yoga Day in Shahid Minar in the Central part of Kolkata in the Yoga Day programme organized by Kreeda Bharati, West Bengal. The Hon'ble Minister also performed yoga on the occasion. Over 2,000 people, including children and young people, took part in over the 40-minute long yoga session.

   "Yoga has become a global practice having its roots in India... Read More

Artists from all over India took part in the festival of Akhila Bharatha Lok Kala Mohatsav at Gandhi Darshan on May 25-26, 2018 and showcased their creative talent through traditional art forms. Organised by the Karnataka Sahasa Kala Academy in association with Confederation of Community Based Organisations in India (CCBOs), the participants in Gandhi Darshan presented their folk culture and displayed the rich folk and cultural heritage of India. Almost 200 artists from Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand, Goa, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and other states took part in the programme. The artists have also performed at various other places during this period from May 25-31, 2018.

Speakers at the programme in Gandhi Darshan included Shri Umesh Chand Gaur, President CCBOs; Shri Nrimal Vaid, President and Shri Hassan Raghu from the All India Folk and Tribal Art Parishath (National Council for Folk and Tribal Art) who reiterated the need to preserve the dying folk art of India that is a storehouse of information and knowledge.

The programme was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India under the scheme National Presence Ministry of Culture, GOI.

A programme on Swachhata Abhiyaan was organised on April 22, 2018 at the Central Government Employee, Multi-Storey Flats T-III Dev Nagar (Karol Bagh), New Delhi by GSDS. Around 132 parents and children were present on the occasion. The participants started the initiative by cleaning the campus area that included the Gym; L-shaped Park and volley ball ground and its surrounding area. An oath was also administered by Shri Gulshan Gupta, North East Coordinator GSDS and he shared his ideas on the importance of swachh Bharat, swachh environment and how to behave with the safai karamcharis.

Ms. Madhimita Khan while talking to the participants on cleanliness and hygiene highlighted that parents need to train their children in basics of sanitation.

Group song by Samriddhi Shah, Pihu Sinha, Vedanshi, Sreyansh Jha and Vaisnav Saiju was another highlight of the programme.

The Samiti in association with Jaladhikar Foundation organised a day-long national seminar on “Water is Life” in Gandhi Darshan on April 14, 2018. About 500 participants took part in the programme. Principles from the eight colleges of Delhi University took part in the programme. Swami Chidaroopanand from Chinmaya Mission graced the occasion. Dr. Mahesh Chand Sharma, former Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha, Dr. Shekhar Aggarwal, Chancellor, Shobhit University and others were the distinguished guests on the occasion. Shri Kailash Goduka Secretary, Jaladhikar Foundation.

Among the others who took part in the programme were 30 people working on water issues; 50 office bearers from the Resident Welfare Organisation; 25 Market Association office bearers and 300 students from different institutions in Delhi.

The following discussions were organised:

1. Various dimensions of “Water as the integral source of life”
2. Who owns water?
3. The righteousness of water business
4. Whether the shortage is of water or its management?
5. Traditional as well as modern methods of water conservation

On April 16, 2018 Shri Radha Mohan Singh ji, inaugurated the Interpretation Centre at Rajkya Mandya Vidyalaya, Chandrahiya. Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan was present on the occasion. The Interpretation Centre has been developed with a vision to help the students and the local community to understand the life’s message of Mahatma Gandhi. An exhibition containing glimpses from the life and time of Mahatma Gandhi and a special panel on Gandhiji’s journey (on April 16, 1917) riding on the elephant has also been depicted in the Interpretation Centre.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh further inaugurated the Sanitary Napkin Vending Machine and Incinerator centre at the Vidyalaya. This was also initiated by the GSDS and Sulabh Social International Organisation as part of the ‘school sanitation programme’ and keeping in view the government’s Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya Mission that encourages the construction of incinerators in schools. The keys were handed over to Shri Rameshwar Yadav, Principal of the Vidyalaya.

Further, Shri Radha Mohan Singh ji also inaugurated the Interpretation Centre – set up by the GSDS at the Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya. Shri Pramod Kumar, Hon'ble Tourism Minister was present on the occasion. Others who were present included: Smt. Neeta Sharma, Head Mistress and Coordinator of Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya; Smt. Geeta Shukla, Shri Rajdeep Pathak, Shri Pankaj Chaubey and Shri Yatender Singh of the GSDS.

Later, at a discussion with the officials of GSDS... Read More

Hon’ble Shri Radha Mohan Singh unveiled the plaques (statue) of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and his wife Kasturbai at the Bapu Dham Railway Station, Motihari on April 15, 2018. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi (in the traditional Kathiwari dress which he wore at the time of his arrival to Champaran) has been placed by the GSDS at the Railway Station. The Hon'ble minister also unveiled a dummy train (tableau) with the statute of Mahatma Gandhi depicting his arrival at the Bapu Dham Railway Station Motihari on April 10, 1917.

Present on the occasion were: Shri Pramod Kumar, Tourism Minister, Bihar Government; Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Motihari, Shri Arun Jain, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, members of the Legislative Council, and a host of other dignitaries.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh also inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Interpretation Centre at the Bapu Dham Railway Station. The Interpretation centre has been so designed that it houses the history of the Champaran Satyagraha through an exhaustive photo-text exhibition containing forty-eight panes, each panel of 10/5 size.

Designed and developed by the GSDS – under the supervision of Smt. Geeta Shukla – and installed at the railway station, this exhibition is an eye-opener for any visitor who visits the station. Any visitor arriving, departing, or even waiting at this railway station is bound to get a glimpse of the history of 100 years, when Gandhiji had arrived in Champaran... Read More

On Aprill 9, 2018, Mr. Iftekhar Ahmado, District Education Officer, Motihari; Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, Director GSDS; Mr. Roopak Roy Choudhury, National Coordinator Sulabh School Sanitation Clubs; Mr. Shekhar Kumar Sinha, Mr. Rajkumar Sharma, DPO Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA); Headmistress of the Vidyalaya, Ms. Neeta Sharma; Smt. Sameeksha, Smt. Geeta Shukla, GSDS staff joined at a function to inaugurate the “Sanitary Napkin Production Unit” at Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya, Peeprakothi.

The low-cost sanitary napkin production unit is also an endeavor of the Samiti in association with Sulabh International to address issues of menstrual health and hygiene. Girl students studying at the Vidyalaya will be trained in the production of the sanitary napkins.

Smt. Geeta Shukla, Research Officer, GSDS said, “To give a boost to the crucial issue of menstrual hygiene, this programme has been launched and a production center has been established. This will also give a boost to the women in the area who could get access to low-cost sanitary napkins and will not depend on the traditional systems”.

Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, said that the production unit will in time cater to supplying sanitary napkins to the different places where easy napkin vending machines have been set up. This will also provide the skill to the girls and make them empowered. “Life-skills based hygiene education helps children to change behavior and so reduce risks and prevent water and sanitation... Read More

The Samiti had initiated several activities in Champaran as part of the centenary celebrations beginning with a series of programmes in April 2017 which was graced by Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh; the former vice-chairperson of GSDS and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Smt. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, senior Gandhians, academicians, social activists and grassroots workers from April 10-18, 2017 in Motihari.

That was the beginning of the commemoration of the centenary celebrations of the first satyagraha that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi undertook in the historic land of Champaran in the year 1917, his first victorious non-violent campaign.

In continuation of the commemoration celebration, the Samiti, while marking the finale of the commemorative celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha, organized a series of programmes in Motihari, Champaran from April 5 to April 17, 2018 onwards. Motihari was the place where Mahatma Gandhi had reached on April 10, 1917.

In view of this, Director GSDS, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan led the staff of GSDS in Motihari for initiation of several projects. The staff included: Smt. Geeta Shukla, Research Officer; Shri Rajdeep Pathak, Programme Executive; Shri Praveen Dutt Sharma, Editor, Publications; Shri Pankaj Chaubey, Assistant Editor, Publications; Shri Narendra Kumar, Asst Estate Manager, Shri Mahendra Singh Rawat, Shri Yatendra, Singh, Shri Rakesh Sharma, Shri Dharamraj Kumar, Shri Dharampal, Shri... Read More

The Samiti in association with Health Fitness Trust and Run for Life organized the “3rd Edition of the Summer Quarter Marathon 2018 – Run for a Cause” on May 6, 2018 at Gandhi Darshan. Almost 500 runners took part in the quarter marathon that was organized to raise awareness on various social issues. The event was led by Dr. Sunita Godara, Asian Marathon Champion 1992 and President Health Fitness Trust along with Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan, Director GSDS.

In the senior category, the runners took part in the 21 km and 10 km race that was flagged off by Dr. Sunita Godara. Further, in the junior category, almost 75 runners took part in the 5 km race.
120 children from several schools, orphanages and specially challenged children took part in the poster making competition on “Gandhiji’s Philosophy.

Later, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan along with Dr. Sunita Godara gave away prizes from the GSDS to the participants that contained jute bag along with a book on Gandhiji’s childhood.

BHARATPUR, RAJASTHAN

The Samiti in association with the Institute of Social Studies Trust (ISST), organized a two-day training programme on “Gender Training for Adolescent Girls under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” was organized from June 27-28, 2018 in Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat. The participants included adolescent girls of age group from 14-20 years of age from slum communities and resettlement colonies of Kalyanpuri and Trilokpuri areas.

The training programme was the part of an action based research project namely "Creating an enabling environment for realizing aspirations of adolescent girls in an urban slum". The objective of this project was to explore and understand the resources and opportunities that adolescent girls belonging to underprivileged families need to support their aspirations for life skills, education and careers. It focuses on enhancing the personal, family and community resources and capacities to support adolescent girls in meeting their aspirations. It includes free of cost support in education including Life skill training and counseling.

During the training, girls were made aware of gender-based discriminations in the society and trained to how to deal effectively with such issues. Also, the attempt was to make girls rethink their learned practices and socialization and make responsible decisions.

The girls were motivated to come forward together to form a better society and support each other. With the belief that such training enhances the self-... Read More

The Samiti organized a seminar on “Empowerment of Tribal Women by improved livelihood options through value-addition of Mahuwa Flower” jointly with the Hodopathy Ethno (Medicine Doctor’s Association of India, Ranchi, Jharkhand) and Torang Trust at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat on April 27, 2018. Almost 40 participants took part in the seminar.

The seminar was attended by Dr.Vedabhyas Kundu (Programme Officer, GSDS); Ms Geeta Shukla (Research Officer, GSDS), Dr. Vasavi Kiro (Ex-member, Jharkhand State Commission for Women), Dr. P. P.Hembrom (American Awardee, best ethnobotanists on indigenous system of medicine), Dr. Anil K. Goel (former Scientist) and the Adivasis, especially the collectors of Mahua flowers who are using Mahua for different purposes. Activists proactively working for awareness related to Mahua and even teachers from different schools of Jharkhand who are working on deepening the roots of cultural values of Mahua amongst students with the focus on teaching the student about the malpractices of Mahua took part.

The aim of the seminar was to discuss the ongoing malpractices related to Mahua and ways to evolve understanding about the advantages of using Mahua as medicine and other products such as sweets, pickles, jelly, etc, which in turn, will empower the tribal communities.

Smt. Geeta Shukla speaking at the inauguration of the seminar introduced GSDS to the participants. While speaking in the seminar, she said that we have been living... Read More

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) and Jamghat (a group of street Children) jointly organized a Dhanak Rang Tarang Summer Workshop for street children was organized from June 11-30, 2018 in Gandhi Darshan. 21 street children from different areas of the capital city participated in the Workshop. Ms. Neha Garg, Ms. Himanshi, Ms. Sunita Bhatt, Ms. Shipra Rai and Mr. Anita Mahato were the facilitators.

The aim of the workshop was to develop values of democracy, peace, compassion, non-violence, Inclusive development, team building and nature education amongst participants.

The workshop included group activities such as ice breaking sessions to grab each child's attention and to encounter children’s hidden talent ; using a prop to hone Imaginative skills; played games as to connect them with real-life problems and persuaded to give the suggestions; tasks to channelize their anger in a positive direction without destruction or harm to others.

Discussions on Gandhian Values such as Truth, Violence, Ahimsa, Cooperation, Unity and Self Rule linking took place during the workshop. Further, nature walk around the nearby areas was organized and their learners were asked to observe and identify the different artifacts displayed and by using their senses (touch, sight, hearing) they were asked to analyze the elements of nature.

Further, the participants visited Gandhi Samadhi Rajghat, Gandhi Darshan museum and Gandhi Smriti, to familiarize children... Read More