By Martin Rai
Sonada, Oct. 1, 2019: A group of students in Darjeeling held an inter-college seminar to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, 30 September 2019.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar Gujarat was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British Rule.
The students of Mass Communication Department of Salesian College Sonada and Siliguri campus collaborated and celebrated Pre-Gandhi Jayanti in Salesian College Sonada.
Twenty two students came from Siliguri campus some 60 plus kms away to Sonada in the hills to cheer their 3 presenters with 2 faculty members Assistant Professors Ravi Bhushan and Nawaneeta Subba.
Some 50 plus students and faculty members gathered in the A.V. Hall and program started with offering white Khadas (ceremonial scarf) and lighting candles before a large portrait of Gandhi by the student representatives of both the colleges.
Principal Prof. (Fr.) George Thadathil gave a brief introduction about how the works of Gandhi is remembered as freedom fighter but his dedications as a journalist are overlooked.
Eight students made presentations on the following topics: Gandhi’s Contribution to Journalism by Riwaj Diyali (1st year) Sonada; Gandhi and Indian Opinion by Anish Chhetri (1s year) Sonada; Mahatma Gandhi as a Journalist by Vivek Singh, (1st year), Siliguri; Promotion of Ahimsa Through Journalism by Rakchana Karki Doli (1st year) Sonada; Gandhi and Harijan by Pratikcha Chettri (1st year) Sonada; Gandhi as a communicator : a study of his autobiography “My Experiments with Truth” by Raksha Rai, (1st year) Siliguri; Gandhi and Folk Media by Ashwin Pradhan (2nd year) Sonada and and Mahatma Gandhi as a communicator: with special reference to the Quit India Movement by Manavi Goyal, (1st year) Siliguri.
“The presenters gave their best, they really worked hard in preparing,” whispered some of the students gathered for the event.
Some other students said, “Though being the first presentation for 1st semester students they looked confident enough and performed well.”
In the concluding part of the student seminar, the Principal who sat through the two hour event, put two questions to the presenters “Why Vernacular Press must continue and What are your views for Yellow Journalism and Fake News?”
The students took turns and applied their mind in contextualising Gandhi.
Organiser of the event, Department Head Fr. C.M. Paul, SDB thanked students and faculty for their efforts in highlighting Gandhi as Communicator, journalist and editor.