Gandhi, Shastri Birth Anniversaries Marked Across North Karnataka With Tributes, Prayers

North Karnataka: Gandhiji, Shastri’s ideals of simplicity, non-violence and equality recalled

Cleanliness drives, interfaith prayers and tribute programmes marked the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Uttara Kannada on Friday (October 2).

Government agencies, educational institutions and various organisations paid tributes to the two leaders, while students and members of the public took part in programmes held across the region.

Cleanliness and peaceful coexistence

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi participated in a cleanliness drive at Sainagar in Hubballi, where he swept the street and collected garbage.

Cleanliness drives were also organised at other places as part of the commemorations.

The programmes included interfaith prayers, cultural performances and the distribution of prizes to students who had won various competitions.

Speakers called upon people to uphold truth, non-violence, simplicity, equality and communal harmony.

In Dharwad, Deputy Commissioner Snehal R. urged people to practise Gandhiji’s principles in their daily lives and give priority to cleanliness and peaceful coexistence.

She inaugurated the programme at Gandhi Bhavan by watering a sapling.

Snehal R. said non-violence meant living harmoniously with others without hatred or hostility.

She also called upon residents to keep the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad clean and peaceful.

Religious leaders representing Hinduism, Islam and Christianity spoke about the relevance of Gandhiji’s message.

Gandhian thinker and gynaecologist Sanjeev Kulkarni said Gandhian values were needed to address environmental degradation, pollution and violence in society.

The Dharwad programme was presided over by Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase.

Students who won Gandhi essay competitions in the school, pre-university and degree categories were felicitated.

Equality, service and Gram Swaraj

In Gadag, Deputy Commissioner C.N. Sridhar said Gandhiji and Shastri belonged to different generations but shared a commitment to equality, compassion and service.

He urged people to replace individualistic attitudes with collective responsibility.

Sridhar also emphasised the importance of simplicity and humility in public life.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Mukul Jain recalled Gandhiji’s principle of considering the welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable while taking decisions.

He highlighted the concept of Gram Swaraj and said self-reliant villages were fundamental to national development.

Students recited passages from the Bhagavad Gita, Quran and Bible during the programme held at the district administration auditorium.

Essay competition winners were felicitated at the event.

The emphasis on the poorest and most vulnerable, along with the focus on self-reliant villages, brought attention to the social and local-governance aspects of Gandhiji’s ideas.

Shastri’s simplicity and relevance of Gandhian values

In Haveri, Deputy Commissioner Vijayamahantesh Danammanavar inaugurated the celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan by spinning yarn on a charkha and paying floral tributes to Gandhiji and Shastri.

He recalled Gandhiji’s emphasis on truth, non-violence, cleanliness and self-reliance.

Danammanavar said these ideals remained relevant amid continuing conflicts and threats to global peace.

Shastri’s simplicity and his slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, were also highlighted during the programme.

Oxford College lecturer Viresh Hittalaman urged people to incorporate the values of both leaders into their lives.

The Haveri programme included interfaith prayers and readings from the Bhagavad Gita, Quran and Bible.

Prizes were distributed to winners of the district-level Bapuji essay competition.

Senior district officials, students and members of the public participated in the celebrations across the three districts.

Participation in schools and neighbourhoods

Several students attended school programmes dressed like Gandhiji and delivered speeches.

Residents’ associations also held Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in their own ways.

Some associations organised all-religion prayers, while others took up cleaning activities.

At a few places, pourakarmikas were felicitated as part of the observances.

Together, the programmes placed the focus on cleanliness, harmony, equality, service, simplicity and non-violence while recalling the public ideals associated with Gandhiji and Shastri.

Source: The Hindu