Programmes were held in various Governmental offices and other organisations to mark the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri across the State on Sunday.
At the Raj Bhawan, Governor Krishan Kant Paul honoured specially invited freedom fighters Ram Pratap Bahuguna, Dr Munishwar Singh, Sadhu Singh, Sacchidananda Painuli and Paripoornanand Painuli with a shawl and memento while expressing gratitude to them for their dedication and sacrifices in the service of nation and society.
He said, “Only by following the principles espoused by Gandhi can India be made a prosperous and strengthened nation. It is the responsibility of everyone to commit observance of principles exemplified by these two great national leaders in order to take the nation towards a state of development which includes, peace, security and an egalitarian atmosphere.”
To mark the occasion, musicians from the Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Dehradun, rendered Gandhi’s preferred devotional compositions “Vaishnava jana to…..” and Ram Dhun.
Attending a brief programme, Chief Minister Harish Rawat garlanded the pictures of Gandhi and Shastri. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that Gandhi and Shastri were great heroes for the nation who had given a message of love and tolerance. He said, “Their lives and ideals continue to inspire us even today. Gandhi used to see god in humans. Rising above the boundaries of caste and religion, he helped unite the people of India. Former PM lal Bahadur Shastri was himself simplicity personified. One can not forget how during difficult conditions being faced in the nation, lal Bahadur Shastri gave us the “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” slogan to raise the feeling of nationalism,” said Rawat.
The occasion was marked at the secretariat with chief secretary Shatrughna Singh administering a pledge of working towards global peace and cooperation to all the officers and staff of the secretariat present in the programme.
Singh said, “At a time when slavery, poverty and superstition had spread darkness in the nation, Mahatma Gandhi showed the path for the people of India to take. He himself had observed the principles of his life philosophy to present as an example for the people. Earlier, while struggling for the rights of Indians in South Africa, Gandhi had been influenced by the written works of Henry David Thoreau and leo Tolstoy. As a scripture, the Bhagwad Geeta and among personalities, he was deeply influenced by the character of lord Rama. Similarly, Shastri was also the member of a common family. Simplicity and determination in thought were among his traits.The life philosophy of both these great personalities have remained relevant to this day.”
At the district level, Dehradun district magistrate Ravinath Raman led public servants in garlanding the pictures of Gandhi and Shastri on the occasion which also saw him administering a pledge of sanitation and dedication to work. Addressing the gathering on the occasion at the collectorate, the DM said that a change needs to be brought about in the way in which the present generation views the struggle and sacrifices made by those who participated in the freedom movement. The current situation of the present generation not being able to give time to the elderly and remaining limited to themselves is a cause for concern, added Raman.