Consulate highlights Gandhi's teachings through exhibition

Dubai - The exhibition saw about 50 students as young as 10 display and explain their posters that were based on the chapters of the Hindu scripture Bhagwad Gita.

As part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, a two-day poster exhibition on the relevance of Gita combined with the thoughts of MK Gandhi, India's father of the nation, started on Friday from 4pm to 8pm.
The event, organised under the aegis of the Consulate General of India, Dubai and VijnAnVikAs Pattern Institute, is held at the Indian Consulate in Bur Dubai.
Consul-General of India Vipul inaugurated the exhibition showcasing Khadi - handspun, hand-woven natural fiber cloth - products from Khadi Gram Udyog, rare collections of stamps and coins along with posters on the concepts of Gita through the eyes of Mahatma Gandhi.
Greeting the audience with New Year wishes, Vipul said the poster exhibition 'Gandhiji, Khadi and Gita Intelligence for the 21st Century' was in line with a number of programmes the consulate has planned as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi.
The exhibition saw about 50 students as young as 10 display and explain their posters that were based on the chapters of the Hindu scripture Bhagwad Gita, a source of inspiration to Gandhi.
Vipul spoke on how Gandhi considered Bhagavad Gita as a spiritual guide and how he further propagated its ideas of selfless service.
"The value of tolerance that is reflected even by the UAE leadership was something very dear to Gandhi and his teachings. The UAE is a shining example of promotion of the values also preached by Gandhi such as giving, tolerance and selflessness. This year is promoted as Year of Tolerance by the UAE and it goes well with the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi and his values, producing great synergy. We hope that this year we are able to bring out these convergences, similarities in viewpoints between the UAE and India."
 
Summarising the idea behind the exhibition, Satish Kumar Menon, founder of VijnAnVikAs Pattern Institute, talked about a brief history of how Bhagavad Gita played a pivotal role in guiding humanity in various eras.
He said: "Managers manage, leaders inspire. Bhagavad Gita teaches us to be leaders who can inspire mankind and enrich your own self to do something for the society. Being inspired is all about tapping the power of inner self to maximise the capabilities of the intellect, mind and the body. The same principle is applicable to the process of learning for these students and here we teach them through Gita to connect to knowledge."
A number of students were given a wisdom of self-excellence certificates (Wise) for completing three years at the VijnAnVikAs Pattern Institute where they are taught to "develop the power of self through the various chapters of the Bhagavad Gita". Students from the age of five to 18 years were part of the competition.
One of the students at the exhibition, Bhanu Lakshmi, 13, said: "At VijnAnavikAs, we aim to understand the infinite potential of the self. We are taught the teachings of Gita, in a practical and realistic manner. In addition to this, we are connecting Gandhiji's life principles to the lessons that he adhered to, in the Gita."
Another participant, Arathi Biju, 20, an architecture student, said: "Bhagavad Gita has helped me understand that all humans have equal potential as the same energy, i.e. the self resides within each of us. Our actions define and differentiate us from one another. Hence, with right attitude, perseverance, dedication and practice one can achieve new skills and enhance the already existing ones."
saman@khaleejtimes.com

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