Other States - Orissa   

Peace rallies mark Gandhi jayanti

— Photo: By arrangement

SPREADING THE MESSAGE: Members of the Congress taking out a ‘Sadbhavana’ rally in Berhampur on Thursday.

BHUBANESWAR: Even as the communal violence in Kandhamal district shows no sign of subsiding, several organisations and children took out rallies for peace and harmony on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Thursday. The day provided a perfect opportunity to civil society groups to assemble under the banner of Utkal Shanti Sadvabana Abhiyan (USSA) and spread message on communal harmony in wake of increase in violence.

Gandhian leaders, rights activists, students and people from different walks of life assembled at Gandhi Park here and set out on a peace march after garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhian Lavnav from Hyderabad, who had worked with Vinoba Bhabe and Bhabani Patnaik, another Gandhian from Orissa participated in the march. The peace march culminated at Lower PMG where everybody participated in Sarva Dharma prayer. About 200 schoolchildren representing Bharat Scouts and Guides assembled for kite making and churned out messages of peace. “It is necessary that people from all community should live with harmony and respect each other’s faith. I have tried to depict peaceful coexistence of people from all religion through my paintings,” said Akankhya Mishra, a student from city-based BJEM School.

Earlier, the organisers planned to fly the kites with messages written by students who were mobilised by city-based Bakul Children’s Library. However, they chose to tie kites with trees along Mahatma Gandhi Marg here.

“Our objective is to involve students in our drive to spread messages of peace. Children are the best medium. Although students are not intimated about the subject of painting, they came out with very suggestive messages,” said Sujit Mohapatra, founder of Bakul Children’s Library.

Among others, Radhamohan, former information commissioner, Laxmikant Palit, singer, Ashrumochan, cine actor and several activists were present.

Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated at different places across the State. Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee celebrated the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri at Congress Bhawan where OPCC president Jayadev Jena and leader of Opposition J.B. Patnaik were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

ECoR to run special train today
Id celebrated with religious fervour
Project Gyanalok launched
Voluntary organisations make a unique effort
Peace rallies mark Gandhi jayanti
Ban on smoking: enforcing authorities not strict on first day
‘Koraput Gandhi’ leads march
Special police officers appointed
Peace march
Gandhi statue unveiled

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu