“We walked and walked,” recollects social worker Krishnammal Jagannathan. In her deep voice shaky with age, the 93-year-old recounts the day she joined non-violence and human rights activist Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba initiated the movement through which wealthy landlords were encouraged to donate a portion of their lands to the landless. Krishnammal speaks of how Vinoba walked the length and breadth of the country to meet landowners himself in Maamanidhar Mahatma , a 51-minute-long interview she gave to DD Podhigai. The interview is set to be screened as part of the Akarmaa Dialogues series tomorrow.
The series is an initiative of city-based Akarmaa Foundation and introduces an inspiring personality to youngsters every week. “We usually have someone who has worked with the personality talking about his/her experiences,” says Kaushik Kumar, one of the founders of Akarmaa, adding, “This time, we thought it would be apt to play Krishnammal Jagannathan’s interview since she is a close associate of Vinoba.”
This year marks 124 years of Vinoba, and his death anniversary falls on November 15. Kaushik has met Krishnammal in her home in Chengalpattu and has heard stories from her first-hand during her recent visit to Gandhigram Rural Institute in Dindigul. “During the event, we will play a portion of her interview. This will be followed by a brief discussion,” he says. Usually, reading material on the person being introduced is shared among participants, and this time, copies of the Tamil translation on Vinoba’s Thoughts On Education , by Thannaram publications, will be distributed.
An exciting part of the session is a quiz themed on Vinoba’s journey. “We will be mapping the route he took during his padayatra . Participants will be pointing out the significance of each place, and the events that unfolded there,” explains Kaushik. “We will however provide them material for the same before the quiz begins.”
Akarmaa Dialogues is on tomorrow, 6 pm, at No 1, Gautam Apartments, Shastri Nagar, 1st Avenuue, Adyar. For details, call 7358546729. Entry is free.
