Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The Centre for Humanities and Compassion Studies, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, organised a national conference on “Remembering Mahatma Gandhi: Compassion and Relevance for Our Times’’ at Xavier campus Tuesday. The conference was inaugurated by Major General Chris J Eze (retired), High Commissioner, Republic of Nigeria, Orissa State Higher Education Council vicechairman Ashok Das and vicechancellor of Xavier University Fr. Paul Fernandes, S.J. Addressing the Xavier fraternity, Ashok Das said Gandhian views have been accepted worldwide today. He explained how the present education system, including the best of institutions have failed to produce job creators, instead of job seekers. Nigerian High Commissioner Chris J Eze focused on the impact of the Mahatma’s teachings and values across the globe, especially in South Africa.
After the first session, the students took part in a debate on, “The Relevance of Gandhian Perspective”, especially the“Seven Deadly Social Sins”, which was
chaired by Snigdha Pattnaik, Dean, Xavier School of Human Resources and S Peppin, Dean, Xavier School of Sustainability Management. The conference was organised with the sole objective of commemorating Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary in 2019. The programme also comprised an Indigo Dyeing Workshop by Brij Ballav Udaiwal, and an enthralling Urdu recitation, known as “Dastangoi” on Gandhiji’s Sabarmati experience by Ankit Chadhha and Vedanth Bharadwaj.
In the afternoon session, Governor SC Jamir, delivered a keynote address. He spoke at length on the relevance of Mahatma in today’s world, stating how his teachings are indestructible as the laws of gravity.
Quoting the Mahatma himself, he said, “Hate the sin; love the sinner”. He emphasised how nonviolence is the basic and eternal value; the genesis of humanity, and its progression. He rightfully stressed on the relevance of Gandhiji’s teachings; with globalization on the rise, he quoted the Mahatma again by stating that one cannot divide life into water-tight components. The technical session on “Satyagraha, Non-Violence and Humane Development” began in the evening. The panelists for the occasion were Shiv Viswanathan, D Jeevan Kumar and Prof. Rajsekhar Basu. The evening session concluded with a cultural performance on the campus. Pradip Dey regaled the audience with his vocal rendition of Rabindra Sangeet. Odissi dancer Aruna Mohanty depicted the story of Mahatma Gandhi through a recital titled “Ahimsa”.
