The Hindu : New Delhi News : A taste of non-violence for children

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Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007
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New Delhi

A taste of non-violence for children

Madhur Tankha

The Gandhian way is the only way to achieve lasting peace, says Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee

REMEMBERING GANDHI: Children from Bastar attending a workshop conducted by Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee at Tees January Marg in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Anu Pushkarna

NEW DELHI: Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti vice-chairperson Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee on Tuesday conducted a workshop on non-violence for children from Chhattisgarh at Tees January Marg here.

Emphasising the need to adopt the Gandhian way of life, Ms. Bhattacharjee said complex problems could be solved through non-violent means. "The Gandhian way is the only way to achieve lasting peace. Don't take advantage of people who are either mentally or physically weaker than you. Rather you need to assist them so that they can also come up in life."

Ms. Bhattacharjee said participation of children in social activities was of paramount importance. "They need to interact with their counterparts from other parts of the country and learn from each other," she said.

Sharing her childhood memories about her grandfather Mahatma Gandhi, Ms. Bhattacharjee said: "It was always interesting to interact with Dadaji. During the last days of his life, he stayed at this place now known as Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. He insisted on cleanliness and was against wastage of food."

`Jungle Book' screened

United Nations Children's Fund Communication Officer Augustine Veliath, who brought the children all the way to Delhi from Chhattisgarh, said he had organised a ten-day programme there in which he screened all the 21 episodes of "Jungle Book" animation series. "These children could relate themselves to Rudyard Kipling's book as they also have seen the forests in their State. We also showed them a film that encouraged them to discuss gender issues. Now they have formed their own theatre group," added Mr. Veliath, adding that they had also participated in workshops of Bond Street Theatre in Delhi.

"This is our first trip to Delhi. In Chhattisgarh we are studying Maths, Hindi, Sanskrit, Science. Besides studying, we also watch Hindi films. `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' is my favourite Bollywood film," said a Class VII boy. Some street children from Delhi also attended the workshop and interacted with their counterparts.

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