Webinar on Re-Imagining Mahatma Gandhi
Date - 30th August 2020 ; Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal

National Webinar on Re-Imagining Mahatma Gandhi held at RGU

National Webinar on Re-Imagining Mahatma Gandhi held at RGU

A one-day online national webinar on ‘Re-Imagining Mahatma Gandhi’ was organised here at Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh today. The webinar organized as part of the observation of the 150th year of Mahatma’s birth, has the objective to reimagining Gandhi based on reflexive understanding to ignite the young minds to seek the remedies of the issues and problems being faced by us at local, national and global level or even at interpersonal level.

Prof. Saket Kushwaha, Vice Chancellor of the University delivered the inaugural address as the chairperson of the webinar which was organized by the Department of Sociology, RGU with Dr. Shashank Yadav, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, RGU as the Convener and Mr. Bikash Bage, HoD, Sociology as Director.

In his inaugural address, the honourable vice chancellor called upon youth, students, scholars and academia to identify with their Gandhi within and being honest to their personal and professional obligations as Mahatma always had emphasized.

Dr. Shashank, Convenor of National Webinar while briefing on the concept note observed that the Gandhian imagery should be shifted from round specs and spinning wheel but should be re-shifted to his humane and empathetic principles.

Three renowned resource persons from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi spoke in the webinar on different topics.

Prof. Anand Kumar of the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU, New Delhi spoke on Learning from Life and Practices of Mahatma and Prof. Deepak Kumar of Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social sciences, JNU delivered his lecture on Reason and Rationality in Gandhian Thought Process while Prof. Avijit Pathak of the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU spoke on The Gandhian Talisman.

In his words, Prof Anand Kumar reiterated that Gandhi was one of the pioneers who lived nature’s way of living and people in contemporary times wish to live by the nature. Gandhi became Gandhi by reading, thinking and living the way he preached. Therefore, for today’s generation this should be the great learning from Gandhi. The process of change for Gandhi is very important but it must be ethical, nonviolent and democratic affirming rights to all destitute and minorities, he added. He re-emphasized that ‘foreign’ has become ‘fashionable’ in this country.

Coordinator of the National Webinar, Dr. Vinod Kumar Yadav from Commerce Department, RGU stated that Gandhian ideology and Philosophy is beyond time and space. Prof. Deepak Kumar suggested that while reasoning and rationality are important, technology should not be treated as a panacea rather capacity building of key stakeholders should be an emphasis as technology is only beneficial till the users of it have a transparent and bonafide intent.

Prof. Avijit Pathak reflected on ‘Noakhali incident’ and reminded the audience that when there was hatred all around, it was the love in the heart of Mahatma which could pacify the rioting situations. It was also reminded by the renowned JNU professor that the famous song by Tagore, i.e. “Jodi Tor dak Shune Keu Na Ase, Tobe Ekla Chalo Re” (i.e. when you know that you are right and there is no body with you, still you walk alone).

RGU Pro VC Prof. Amitava Mitra chairing the concluding session stated that Gandhi was a master strategist and refined economist who focused on every sector of economy. Dr. Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work while moderating the technical sessions as well as being the master of concluding ceremony called upon the young participants to internalize the ideas and ideals of Mahatma for sustainability lies in simplicity.

The webinar focused on the core values of Mahatma Gandhi like truth, non-violence, secularism, emancipation from discrimination, oppression based on caste system. The importance of ‘truth’ is now being realized in the age of falsehood and fake news circulated through various means of communication. Communalism/ secularism have become global concern with the rise of fundamentalism across the world. Mahatma Gandhi was not averse to changes taking place in society.

Dr. Nawaz Khan, Department of Mass Communication performed the role of media coordination and highlighted that Gandhi was the best journalist this country ever had the

More than 250 participants including students of colleges and universities, social sciences research scholars, young faculties, interested individuals in public life attend the national webinar on Reimagining Mahatma Gandhi.