Gandhiji emphasized on developing languages – Prof. Mohan Kant Webinar on Gandhi in Contemporary time held at MANUU

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, after whom Urdu University is named, has a great connection with Mahatma Gandhi. Both of them together laid out new things to develop India. Gandhiji emphasized on developing Indian languages and said "We can't move forward in life without understanding our language". What Urdu University is doing for developing Urdu language is the idea that Mahatma Gandhi liked for all languages.

These views were expressed by Prof. Mohan Kant Gautam, International Scientific Commission, UNESCO, Netherland in a National Webinar “Mahatma Gandhi in Contemporary time” organized by the School of Education & Training and NSS Cell of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) on October 1. The webinar is a part of the week long programmes celebrated in connection with 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji.

Prof. S M Rahmatullah, Vice-Chancellor I/c presided over the webinar.

Recalling the incident where Gandhiji was pushed out of a train by the Britishers, Prof. Mohan Kant pointed out that before this incident Gandhiji was influenced by the English culture in London, became a barrister and then went to South Africa but this particular incident changed him. He came back to India & took up the fight against British with Non Violence, added Prof Kant.

Discussing NEP 2020, Prof. Kant said that Mahatma Gandhi’s dream about education for all will come true through this new policy. He wanted India to become a world education centre.

Prof. S M Rahmatullah, in his presidential address said that Gandhiji was the torch bearer of freedom and non-violence. He started freedom movement and achieved Independence from British government through non-violence. Gandhiji believes in brotherhood and equality. He always opposed discrimination and was an ardent supporter of equality. As a result, many superstitions and wrong traditions were eradicated from India. Humanity was his religion. The world will always remember him as a beacon of peace and equality, he remarked.

Prof. Siddiqui Mohd. Mahmood, Registrar I/c and Dean, School of Education & Training while highlighting the educational ideas of Mahatma Gandhi said that Philosophy of education cannot be understood without understanding the philosophy of life. With his philosophies of life Gandhiji emerges as an educationist. The ideas he put forward almost 100 or 150 years ago are part of new education policy 2020.

Earlier, webinar Coordinator Prof. Mohd. Moshahid, Head, Dept. of Education and Training delivered welcome address and introduced the purpose of the programme.

 Associate Professors - Dr. Ashwani, webinar Coordinator introduced the guest speaker and Dr. Viquar Unnisa proposed vote of thanks. Mr. Ashraf Nawaz, Assistant Professor anchored the programme.

Prof. Mohammad Fariyad, Coordinator, NSS Cell, MANUU was the Convener of the seminar. IMC, MANUU youtube channel lived stream the webinar.

A panel discussion on relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in Modern Times was also held on October 1, 2020. The discussion is available on YouTube link  https://youtu.be/FhvLIdvWMg0.