SPEECH OF HONOURABLE GOVERNOR AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF GANDHI JAYANTI AT CHANDIGARH ON 02.10.2021

It gives me immense pleasure to be here today on the occasion of the 152nd Gandhi Jayanti. As we celebrate his contributions, we recall, with gratefulness, his leadership in winning freedom for our nation.

The Mahatma is our past, he is our present and he is also our future. So many of the themes and ideas he spoke and wrote of ? some of them far ahead of their time ? are even more relevant today.

We achieved Freedom more than 7 decades ago, after a huge struggle and enormous sacrifice. Many people sacrificed their education by boycotting the educational institutions under the British. Lakhs of people lost their lives in the freedom struggle. The British Govt. was merciless even against non-violent agitators and firing and merciless lathi-charging on the assembled public were common. Indians were treated as inferior and there was no system of having a say in the policy making process. It was a barrister gentleman endowed with exceptional charisma as astute brain and a spiritual approach who changed all this. His name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Gandhiji?s contributions in the freedom struggle will always be remembered with pride. After spearheading the Champaran Satyagraha and the agitation against the Rowlatt Act, Gandhiji launched the Non Co-operation Movement in 1920 and the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. The Dandi Yatra which he led from Ahmedabad instilled fresh vigour and spirit into the freedom movement.

When we work for an India free of caste and religious prejudice, we refer to Gandhiji. When we strive towards Swachh Bharat, and a cleaner and more hygienic India, we cite Gandhiji. When we speak of the rights of women and children and of civil liberties of small and disadvantaged groups, we mention Gandhiji. When we talk of the health and well-being of the Indian farmer and the Indian village, we refer to Gandhiji. When we strive for energy access for the last village and the last home, we invoke Gandhiji. When we build capacities in solar and renewable energy, we mention Gandhiji. When we battle climate change and promote green, eco-friendly living, we again refer to Gandhiji.

There were several important developments in the decades of the 1930 and 1940s. Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh had been convicted in an un-just manner and they died as Martyrs in the freedom struggle. The youth of the country were restless and people were looking for guidance from the Leaders, so that India may become free. Britain was caught up in the Second World War and Germany had already captured large parts of Europe.

Gandhiji never visited Punjab before the 1919 Amritsar massacre in which thousands of innocent people gathered for a peaceful protest to condemn the arrest and deportation of two national leaders Dr. Satya Pal and Saifudin Kichlu were killed in an indiscriminate firing which was ordered by General Dyer. This incident had left an indelible mark on the mind of Gandhiji that he changed his soft stand for the British ruling over India and reinforced his resolve to get India free from the British Raj.

Gandhiji?s contribution to India is immeasurable. Bapu was an icon of peace and the pride of the entire world. He had influenced World leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and many others who followed Gandhi ji's principles and became the icons of equality and peace in their own countries. He was the inspiration for our largely non-violent, inclusive and democratic freedom struggle. His legacy is so rich and so wide that we cannot do justice to it if we were to meet for a few days, let alone a few hours. Gandhiji?s message of ahimsa is a powerful signal to mankind that stockpiling of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles will only lead to destruction. For Gandhiji, truth was God and his prayer meetings were meant to bring out the inner strength in an individual.

Gandhiji brought about social cohesion among the people of India by vigorously working against untouchability. He gave an economic philosophy that focused on self-sufficiency at the village level. He propagated the concept of trusteeship and wanted people to abhor the accumulation of wealth for themselves and their families. All these were the outpourings of the wisdom of Gandhiji which went beyond the political spectrum.

Gandhiji?s life and message will be remembered and will serve as a guide for millions of people for several thousands of years in the future. It is only the pursuit of Gandhian ideals that will guide our society towards peace progress and prosperity.

Albert Einstein the greatest scientist of the 20th Century had this to say about Gandhiji ?Generations to come will scarce believe that such 11 a person in flesh and blood ever walked upon the earth?.

The real tribute to Mahatma Gandhi will be to renew our pledge and work for creating the India of his dreams ? a strong and vibrant nation with social equality, peace, harmony and free from the evils of untouchability and intoxicants.

I extend my best wishes and greetings to the people of Punjab and Chandigarh on the occasion of the 152nd Jayanti of Mahatma Gandhi and conclude with a request to always keep in mind this famous quotation of Mahatma Gandhi,

?Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.?

Let us all march together on the Gandhian path towards a glorious destiny.



Thank you


Jai Hind.