|
Mumbai: Nearly 1,100
inmates of 13 jails in Maharashtra appeared for a Gandhi Peace
Examination here Sunday to mark the launch of the Gandhi Jayanti
Week celebrations as India celebrated the 142nd birth anniversary
of Mahatma Gandhi, an official said.
The inmates were of Arthur Road Central Jail, Mumbai, and jails in
Thane, Paithan, Ratnagiri, Nashik, Osmanabad, Nagpur, Dhule,
Jalgaon, Yavatmal, Akola, Wardha, Bhandara, said Bombay Sarvodaya
Mandal (BSM) Chief T.R.K. Somaiya.
BSM is a Gandhian charitable trust spreading the teachings of
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, revered as the Father of the Nation in
India.
"Besides, another 3,000 prisoners in jails across the state shall
continue to write the examinations in small batches through the
year. It provides them an opportunity to repent for their crimes
and live as responsible citizens after completing their jail
sentences," Somaiya told IANS.
BSM along with the Gandhi Research Foundation has been organizing
the Gandhi Peace Examination since the past few years as part of
reformation programmes for prisoners.
These include meditation, Yoga, AIDS awareness, adult education
and other measures.
Gandhi-based films like "Gandhi," "Do Aankhen Barah Haath", "Bapu
Ne Kaha Tha", "Lage Raho Munnabhai" and many more are screened for
15,000 convicts in jails around the year, Somaiya said.
Laxman Gole, formerly a hard core criminal is now a full-time
management consultant, after reading Gandhi's autobiography, "My
Experiments With Truth", Somaiya said.
"Yesterday, he (Gole) delivered an inspiring lecture on 'Gandhi
and Management' to the 360 students and faculty of the Chetana
Institute of Management Studies, Bandra," Somaiya said.
Over 550 National Service Scheme students from 75 colleges here
pledged on the occasion of the International Non-Violence Day
Sunday to walk on the path of Gandhiji, the Apostle of Peace and
Non-Violence worldwide.
Students from 80 other colleges participated in different
competitions like elocution, posters, essay writing and other
aspects related to Gandhiji and his teachings. The programme was
organized by BSM with the University of Mumbai.
The BSM's Gandhi Book Centre sold Gandhi-based books worth over
Rs.20,000.
|
Comments
|
Quick links