Week-long celebration of Jayanti of Mahatma Gandhi  

Chandigarh, October 2, 2024: The Department of Gandhian & Peace Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh organised a week-long celebration of the Jayanti of Mahatma Gandhi from 23th September to 2nd October. 

Dr. Seema Pasricha introduced all the dignitaries to the audience and also informed everybody about the working and achievements of the Department. She elaborated that an International Conference on Gandhi and Ambedkar’s Philosophy: Inclusive, Equality and Dignity” was organised in a Hybrid form.
 
A poem Recitation, Patriotic Songs and on the spot painting Competition was organised on 25th September and 26th September respectively which attracted a huge number of students from different schools of Chandigarh. On the Spot Essay Writing Competition and Quiz Competition was organised on 30th September and 1st October, which brought in numerous students from the Colleges of Chandigarh and Panjab University Departments.   

A Cleanliness Drive Rally was organised followed by activity of cleaning of the surroundings of the Department and its parking area on 1st September, 2024 in which more than 100 students, University faculty members and non-teaching staff participated.

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Anand Sharma, Ex-Director, Member, Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) delivered a Special Lecture on “Understanding and Inculcation of Gandhian Principles Among Youth”. In his talk, he highlighted Gandhi’s mantra of non-violence and emphasised on the importance of a Sanskrit phrase (shlok) “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” which translates to “Non-violence is the ultimate dharma” by Mann (Mind), Vachan (Words) and Karma (Action).

Professor Sanjay Kaushik, Honorary Director, ICSSR, Chandigarh delivered a lecture in which emphasised that we should always try to be ready for any adverse situation and follow Gandhian ideals in the real essence. 
 
Professor Simrit Khalon, Dean Students Welfare (Women), Panjab University presided over the function. The DEAN, in her address, highlighted on the importance of this day by explaining the history of Mahatma Gandhi and highlighting the requirements of the Contemporary World with the importance of Science and Technology. He also congratulated all the faculty members and others alike and proceeded to emphasise on the fact that we have to work hard further to achieve more.
 
The Chairperson, Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies & Honorary Director, Gandhi Bhawan, Dr. Ashu Pasricha, extended her warm thanks to all the invited guests and the attendees. Mrs. Manisha Bansal Badal, Director, Postal Services, Punjab Circle, Chandigarh focused her address on the importance of use of in-land and requested everyone to start writing letters.
 
On this occasion, the Best Mali Award for the year 2024 was awarded to Jagjiwan Kumar, Construction Office, Panjab University, Chandigarh which included a cash award of Rs. 2100/- with an appreciation letter from the Registrar.

The results of the Best Presenter, Best Posters, Poem Recitation, Patriotic Songs, on the spot painting Competition, on the Spot Essay Writing Competition and Quiz Competition were also announced and the students who got Ist, IInd and IIIrd positions and Consolation prizes were awarded the cash prize of Rs 1100, 700, 500 and 250 respectively. The names of the winners for Best Presenter and Best Posters are Gurpratap Singh Randhawa, P.U. (1st Prize), Mansi Sharma, P.U. (2nd Prize), Gazala Khan, Post Graduate Govt. College for Girls, Sector 11, Chandigarh.   
 
For the Quiz competition, the names of the winners are, Nitika, Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22-D, Chandigarh (1st Prize), Charushikha, New India Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, Panchkula (2nd Prize), Jasneet Kaur, Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, Mohali (3rd Prize).