Rajkot residents stage rally to propagate Mahatma Gandhi's teachings
Rajkot: Hundreds of residents participated in a 'Gandhi Vichar Yatra' here today on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 140th birth anniversary. Students
from over ten schools of the Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust, and colleges, participated
in the rally. They urged people to follow the teachings of Gandhi, especially
of peace and non-violence. The 'Gandhi Vichar Yatra' was organised to persuade
people to follow his teachings. "Mahatma Gandhi was a great man, but we have
forgotten his principles and ideals. We need to adopt them again. We want that
the youth adopts the principles and ideals of Gandhi and uses them in their own
lives," said Arvind, a coordinator. The enthusiasm of the participants especially
young students was noteworthy. They said that there should not be just one day
to remember Mahatma Gandhi but one should follow his teachings everyday. "Our
aim is to remember Mahatma Gandhi not just on this day, but everyday. We should
remember him the whole year through," said Vaishnavi, a participant. Mahatma Gandhi
was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar in Gujarat. The United Nations had declared
in 2007 that October 2 would be observed as "International Day of Non-Violence".
In Vadodara, Around 7,500 students made a 4.2 kilometres long painting to enter the Guinness Book of World Records on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti
on Friday. The painting highlights and draws public attention on traffic rules
and road mannerism as its theme. Municipal school students along with other school
students, fine arts students and around 500 specially-abled students participated
in the event organised to mark the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
"Today more than 7500 students from various schools, from fine arts, and from
universities are making longest painting that would be recorded in the Guinness
book of world records. This 4.2 kilometres long painting and it is made by acrylic
colours on canvas. The message of painting is to spread awareness on traffic rules
and road manners. The enthusiasm of students is great and it seems some kind of
celebration is happening here," said Sheetal, a Fine Arts student. Traffic situation
in Vadodara in 2020, future transportation system, traffic jams, ideal traffic
junction and impact of poor traffic system were some of the scenes created in
the painting as part of the theme. The organisers claim that the painting would
break eleven other records including one of the longest paintings, which has been
previously held by a non-governmental organisation of Philippines. Organisers
claimed that it would be recorded as longest painting in Guinness Book of World
Records. It took about three hours to complete the painting. Officials of Guinness
Book of World Records were present on this occasion.
