By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that constant efforts are being made to ensure maximum welfare of common people in order to give a concrete shape to the concept of establishment of “Ram Rajya” as visualised by Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi himself used to consider “Ram Rajya” as ideal and always advocated for establishment of it in the country.
Several new programmes have been introduced by the government besides focusing on better implementation of the existing schemes being implemented in the larger interests of weaker sections of society.
Chouhan was speaking at a function on the occasion of International Day of Non-violence and oath of non-violence organised by the Culture Department to mark the Gandhi Jayanti at Ravindra Bhawan here today. The participants of the programme also took the oath of non-violence on the occasion. The Culture and Public Relations Minister,Laxmikant Sharma also participated in the programme as a special guest.
The Chief Minister who made announcements on the occasion are as follows:
— Special Research Fellowship on lord Rama’s forest travel route to be instituted in Madhya Pradesh;
— Committee comprising historians and archaeologists to be constituted to underline the Ram Path;
— International Ramayan Mela to be organised;
— Steps would be initiated for development of all holy places including Ram Charan Area of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh from where lord Ram passed through during forest travel;
— Kamadgiri including Ram Van of Satna district to be developed where Lord Ram spent 11 years of Vanwas along with Sitaji and Laxmanji;
— Chitrakoot to be developed on the lines of special cultural zone;
— Lila Gurukul to be opened at Chitrakut. This gurukul will be country’s first training centre of drama styles of Lila tradition and;
— Gandhi Memorial to come up at Benazir Ground in Bhopal.
Speaking further, Chouhan said that today the nation is observing the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi amidst the worldwide prevalence of violence. Mahatma Gandhi showed us the path of non-violence. He informed that the UNO has decided to observe the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as the International Day of Non-violence from this year. He said that Gandhiji had addressed a public meeting at Benazir Ground of Bhopal. The State Government would take care of this ground, he declared.
Referring to the steps being initiated by the state government to give a concrete shape to the ideals of Gandhi, he said that several programmes and schemes have been introduced for the welfare of poor sections of the society. Holding of Panchayats for various sections of society has helped the government in taking welfare decisions in a big way.
Chouhan said that in accordance with the aspirations of Mahatma Gandhi, there is a need to expand and intensify the efforts with the cooperation of people to eliminate the practice of discrimination and to achieve the objectives of the prohibition and de-addiction. He also remembered the former Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose birth anniversary too was today.
Senior journalist Madam Mohan Joshi said that Mahatma Gandhi compelled the Britishers to go back to England adopting the path of truth and non-violence. Impact of ideology of Gandhi is very much visible in many countries of the world. Lamenting over the fact, Joshi said that several followers of Gandhi deferred on his ideologies. Mahatma Gandhi always remembered both Ram and the Raheem in his daily prayer. He also opposed the conversion of religion. Mahatma Gandhi had a firm belief in the principle of “Sarvajan Hitay Aur Sarvajan Sukhay”.
The Secretary, Culture and Public Relations, Manoj Shrivastava said on the occasion that today there is a need to implement the preachings of Mahatmaj Gandhi into our lives besides remembering him. Before the demise of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest scientist of the 20th century Albert Einstein had said that ‘generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood’.
The Culture Secretary further said that holding of this programme today is important in the sense that we are talking of observing the principles of Gandhi along with paying our tributes to the father of the nation.
Vinay Upadhyay conducted the programme and Director, Culture, Pawan Shrivastava proposed vote of thanks.
Earlier, Chief Minister Chouhan and other guests garlanded the portraits of Mahatmaj Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Those who were present on the occasion included the Chairman, M.P. Backward Classes Commission,Babulal Bhanpur; Ramesh Sharma ‘Guttu Bhaiyya’, public representatives and large number of citizens.([email protected])