Learning from Gandhi

Gandhi Darshan, a programme that reaches out to students, hopes to make a difference in the lives of children.

Gandhi's teachings: Inspiring the young.

The upcoming generation is for sure familiar with Mahatma Gandhi and his relentless fight that brought the nation freedom.

But, is the Father of the Nation in danger of becoming just another figure in the pages of the history books?

Inspiring change

It is to avert such a possibility that the Kochi Centre of the Gandhi Peace Foundation has been reaching out to schools in the district under its programme — “Gandhi Darshan” — over the last quarter of a century. The programme is targeted at students from Stds V to IX.

“We were able to reach out to 35 schools during the last academic year. This year, we aim to cover all the schools in the district by roping in the service of the National Service Scheme volunteers in college campuses,” said V.M. Michael, secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Kochi Centre.

Till the last year, the programme was limited to classes on episodes from Gandhi's autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Members from the Kochi Centre conducted one class in a year in each school after which the faculty in charge of the programme followed it up for the rest of the year.

This year, the Foundation plans to go beyond such classes to ensure that students assimilate Gandhian principles and implement them in their lives rather than simply learn about it.

Sensitising efforts

Concerned about news reports on the growing influence of alcohol and narcotics among the young generation, the Foundation has decided to focus their activities in sensitising the students against these social evils.

“We plan to embark on a massive awareness campaign against such bad habits in schools this year. Education authorities in the district have also promised to cooperate,” Mr. Michael said.

While seven to eight members of the Foundation have been visiting schools over the years under the Gandhi Darshan programme, they wish they have had more time for meaningful interaction with students so as to leave a definite impact.

Majority of schools are yet to allocate a fixed time for the programme but have been accommodating it during free time. “Allotting a few periods like the one on moral science for the programme would have made a big difference,” Mr. Michael said.

That yearning is not without reason. There can be no better lesson than the principles for which Mahatma laid down his life, especially amid the constant lament of a generation going astray.