The Hindu : National : “All sections must benefit from growth”

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Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007
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National

“All sections must benefit from growth”

Staff Reporter

– PHOTO: R. V. MOORTHY

INDIA OLD AND NEW: President Pratibha Patil with school children after inaugurating an exhibition, “India’s march to freedom from 1857 to 1947 -- Kranti to Gandhi, Raj to Swaraj”, at Gandhi Smriti in Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Pointing out that the past decade has seen unprecedented economic growth as well as growing inequality both globally and in India, President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday stressed the need to address these disparities so that the benefits of growth reached all sections of society.

Inaugurating an exhibition titled “India’s March to Freedom from 1857 to 1947, Kranti to Gandhi, Raj to Swaraj” here to mark the 101st anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha, Ms. Patil said Gandhiji was remembered today not only for his outstanding contributions to the freedom struggle of the country but also for giving mankind the new philosophy of “ahimsa” that advocates the use of non-violence as an instrument for peaceful resolution of differences.

Stating that the world was witnessing conflicts and large-scale violence, Ms. Patil said: “Societies in many parts of the globe are facing disruption because of terrorists and their attacks. Innocent people are being forced to leave their homes. In such a scenario, the need for peace and ahimsa is deeply felt. The United Nations accepted the universal relevance of the principles of non-violence when it adopted the resolution to declare October 2, the birth anniversary of Gandhiji, as International Day of Non-Violence.”

The President said Gandhiji taught us the path of satyagraha that he described as “a relentless search for truth and determination to search truth.”

“The satyagraha technique was first put to test on September 11, 1906, before 3,000 people who had gathered at the Empire Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, to listen to a young Indian lawyer, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who had promised to show a path of redemption to the oppressed of the world. And this path of satyagraha was followed by India to attain freedom from the British,” she added.

On the anniversary of the satyagraha movement, the President urged everyone to follow the principles of ahimsa, satyagraha and ‘sarvodaya.’

Later Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) vice-chairperson Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee said she saw a lot of her grandfather — Mahatma Gandhi — as a 14-year-old girl when he was put up at the then Birla House.

“Through satyagraha, Gandhiji changed the world. Everyone wants a change but more than changing the world the bigger challenge is changing yourself,” she said

Those who spoke included Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and GSDS Director Savita Singh.

Organised by the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, the exhibition is displaying the Father of the Nation’s walking stick and other personal goods, besides some rare pictures, including his last photo with Sardar Patel.

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