By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Gandhi Bhawan, University of Delhi, organised a national programme to commemorate the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri and the International Day of Non-Violence, highlighting the enduring relevance of truth, non-violence, integrity, simplicity and public service.
The programme was attended by Prof. Anil Rai, Dean, International Relations, University of Delhi, as Chief Guest, while Prof. Roopam Kapoor, Chairperson, Garden Committee and Dean, Foreign Students Registry, was the Guest of Honour. Prof. K. P. Singh, Director, Gandhi Bhawan, presided over the programme.
Principals, faculty members, students and representatives from various Delhi University colleges participated in the event, reflecting the University’s efforts to promote Gandhian values among young people.
In his presidential address, Prof. K. P. Singh said the relevance of Gandhi and Shastri extended beyond their historical legacy. He stressed the need to translate truth, non-violence, honesty, simplicity, integrity and ethical responsibility into everyday life, particularly among the youth. He said the real tribute to the two leaders was to make their ideals a living part of contemporary society.
Chief Guest Prof. Anil Rai, a noted Hindi litterateur and critic, drew a comparison between Mahatma Gandhi and poet Tulsidas, observing that both had given transformative direction to society, strengthened social harmony and enriched collective consciousness with compassion and human values.
A major highlight was the Awards and Felicitation Ceremony. The National Emerging Gandhian Scholar Award–2026 was conferred on Dr. Milind Pandey for his contribution to Gandhian scholarship and research.
Indraprastha College for Women and Mata Sundari College for Women, University of Delhi, received the Best Gandhi Study Circle Award–2026 for their efforts to promote Gandhian ideals among students.
Marking the International Day of Non-Violence through a social welfare initiative, Gandhi Bhawan, in collaboration with RBL Bank, also organised a free health check-up camp. The camp provided blood investigations and eye examinations to nearly 300 students, University employees and members of the local community.
The celebrations also featured an exhibition of handloom and handicraft products by Shri Timli Handloom. The products were handcrafted by women artisans from villages in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, showcasing traditional craftsmanship and India’s cultural heritage while promoting the Gandhian ideals of self-reliant villages, dignity of labour, women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Vinay Gupta, Deputy Director, Gandhi Bhawan, followed by the National Anthem.
