Mahatma Gandhi was 'quite a complicated being': Minister at book release event
New Delhi (PTI): The role and contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in India's freedom struggle is well documented and he was "quite a complicated being", Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.
"He had actually asked for mobilisation of India's help for the war effort during the First World War," Mr Puri said.
The minister was addressing an event organised in Delhi to release a book, titled 'The Reverse Swing - Colonialism to Cooperation', authored by veteran journalist and Prasar Bharati board member Ashok Tandon.
"One chapter (in the book) is on Mahatma Gandhi - an apostle of peace for Britons. We are all disciples of the Father of the Nation. His role in building India, creating a link between an elitist national movement and the masses, fusing that, (all that) is very well documented," Mr Puri said.
"But let me tell you Mahatma himself was quite a complicated being," he said, adding, "While still in the UK, he (Gandhi) actually asked for mobilisation of India's help for the war effort in the First World War. That's well documented." Puri said that Gandhi's "initial life" in the UK, and his education prepared him for an "English-style barrister".
"When he goes to South Africa, it is then the Gandhi that we know and the Gandhi who contributed to our national movement begins to mature," he added.
Referring to the content of the book, Mr Puri said there is a chapter in it about how India overtook the UK to become the world's fifth-largest economy.
"I think most of us relish that," he said, adding, "When we become the third largest economy and we overtake Japan and Germany, I don't think we will enjoy that much."
The Union minister said the Indo-British cooperation in the "aviation sector, telecommunications, all these" are relevant in understanding the dynamics of the current bilateral relationship between India and the UK.
The Indian-origin community in the UK has given "shape and content" to India's relationship with the UK far more than what a diaspora can do elsewhere, he said.
"I hope the India-UK free trade agreement actually sees the light of the day," he said.
Participating in a panel discussion on the book, Tondon, the author, talked about a chapter on the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and said many, from the Queen to the British Prime Minister, have expressed regret over the incident but they have never officially apologised for it.
"Is it something to do with the British system that when you apologised for some crime and there is a provision for (giving) compensation?" he asked.
With several friends from my college days & former colleagues as part of the distinguished audience, launch of the book ‘The Reverse Swing: Colonialism to Cooperation’ by another good friend for the past many decades, Sh @AshokTandon Ji turned out to be a reunion of sorts! pic.twitter.com/wtxXMNVEoA
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 18, 2023
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
