Kerala on Monday joined the country in celebrating Gandhi Jayanti with colour and solemnity marking the programmes.
The programme at Gandhi Park, here, saw Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran garlanding the statue of Gandhi.
In his address, the Minister said Gandhi Jayanti was an occasion to forge bonds of secularism and brotherhood and for each person to safeguard the country’s prestige. Gandhi showed the country the way of love and brotherhood. It was not easy to copy him.
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All the same, an attempt to do so would revive each individual.
Speaking on the occasion, veteran playback singer K.J. Yesudas said Gandhi was not a person to be remembered just on one occasion or on a particular day. Gandhi should be remembered everyday and children should be taught about his life, he said.
Recently while on a tour of Atlanta, he visited the memorial of Martin Luther King. Nearby, there was a statue of the Mahatma.
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People from all around the world could be seen paying obeisance to the Mahatma. It was then that he understood how the world respected Gandhi, Mr. Yesudas said.
Earlier inaugurating the Gandhi Jayanti Week celebrations at Tagore Theatre, here, Mr. Surendran said each person should spread the message of truth and brotherhood that Gandhi upheld.
Today people were worried about the actions of big forces out to destroy world peace and brotherhood.
On this day, when those who stood up and spoke the truth were being killed, people should be ready to uphold freedom of speech, personal freedom, and unity and integrity of society. The Mahatma was able to have a far-sighted view of such troubling times.
His stand on nature conservation and water conservation had an increased relevance today.
A musical programme and a dance programme were held on the occasion.
e-grant system
Inaugurating the social integrity fortnight celebrations, Law Minister A.K. Balan said the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (STs) should unite to uphold Gandhian Principles.
The programme to give land to all landless STs in the State would be completed in five years.
An e-grant system for providing grants online to the STs who studied beyond Class X had been put in place. The government would bear the expenses for ST students if they wished to go abroad and study, he added.
Inaugurating an agitation by the AIYF, with the slogan ‘protecting India against corporate and fascist forces,’ the CPI leader C. Divakaran said the youth should come forward to save India from communal and fascist forces.
The very forces that killed Gandhi were today continuing with a killing spree.
Fascist forces were trying to uproot those who were working to preserve democratic and secular principles in the country.
Against violence
‘Satyagrahas’ were held at 1,000 locations under the aegis of the KPCC.
The programme was held to highlight the politics of violence that was “being practised by the CPI(M) and the BJP.”