Delhi University, Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh chose the occasion of completion of 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa to convey the message of "liberalism" to the youth of the country. While underlining Gandhi's liberal vision, Singh said he wants the youth of India to follow the lessons of Gandhi's liberal nature. "Whenever Gandhiji's ally Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan would visit him, he was served non-vegetarian food because of which people questioned him for why he would let this happen while he was a strict vegetarian himself. Gandhiji would calmly say that it's Khan's choice to eat it and mine not to. This was liberalism. let noble thoughts come in all directions to take this country ahead. I want the youth of India to understand and follow him," Singh said at the Conference Centre of the university on Wednesday.
Responding to a question over growing incidents of communal intolerance in the country, Singh said Gandhi is the best example for our country to follow. "Gandhi never discriminated with anyone. In lucknow, a student named Ganesh Shankar died over the cause of communal harmony and Gandhi expressed his wish to die for such a cause...this explains a lot," he said.
Singh was speaking at a lecture "Gandhiji and Satya" which was organised by Gandhi Bhawan, the centre at the university dedicated to the study of the words and works of Gandhi. Quoting examples from the autobiography of Gandhi, Singh said: "He was in search of absolute truth. He considered it to be god. Gandhi followed his belief of truth in his life. There was nothing that could lure him from the path of Satya (truth)."
Replying to one a question by the mother of a student who she said was so impressed by his personality that she sought an appointment with him, Singh whose term is ending this month said: "Please don't send him to me for several reasons. He doesn't know that I'm a Vice Chancellor and the definition of the vice chancellor is that he is a wicked person. However, I would send him a book which he must read."