MEMORIALS
Gandhi Darshan Samiti, New Delhi Gandhi Darshan Samiti Exhibition was set up during 1969 with a view to propagating the life and ideas of the Father of the Nation through visual displays and exhibitions, seminars, cultural and educational programmes, besides maintaining and running the pavilions.
Visitors The nunmber of visitors to Gandhi Darshan during the period from April 1, to October 10, 1982 on an average comes to about 530 persons the day of conferences etc. the number goes up in thousands.
Pavilions As in the past more emphasis was given to keep the exhibits and the surroundings neat and tidy and offer good guide services to the public. The sound system in each pavilion was, wherever necessary, got repaired.
In the 'India of My Dream' pavilion, old and faded photographs were replaced by new ones and also some new exhibits/appropriate photographs were added. New display boards were installed on the walls. Some of the pavilions were also provided with the new electricity light fittings and ceiling fans.
Taking Gandhi to School Unit With a view to enabling the school students, not only to read/study Gandhi's autobiography, but to get fairly good knowledge and glimpse of the places closely associated with Bapu's life the "Gandhi doot" students are taken on an "Orientation-cum-excursion" camp every year, to one of such places. This Year, the group consisting of fifty-five students (both taken to the Aghakhan Palace, Pune, where Bapu was kept under detention from 1942 to 1944, for an eight day camp from June 4 to June 13, 1982. The Group on reaching Pune on June 5 were indeed thrilled to see the Palace. This camp was organised with the help of Smt. Shobhana Ranade, Secretary, Gandhi national Memorial Society, which runs and maintains the Palace, the Samadhis of Kasturba and Mahadevbhi Desai and carrying on other constructive activities.
The camp programme was chalked out in consultation with Smt. Shobhana Ranade and eminent educationists, social worker, freedom fighters were invited to address the campers. Among them prominent were Shri V. N. Gadgil, M.P. who inaugurated the camp on June 6, Shri Yadunath Thatte, Shri Popatlal Shah, Shri Shriram Baldevadi, Inspector Smt. pankere Chandra, Smt. Kusumtai Mahendale, Shri Ratnakar, Vice-President, Pune Red Cross Society and Kumari Sarika Fernandes, Principal, Kasturba Women's Training College, Pune.
The campers were also taken to the Yervada Central Prison on a pilgrimage to see the sacred room where Gandhiji was put behind the bars on various occasions. The prison authorities were very kind to allow the students to see the register of prisoners which consisted Bapu's signature and remarks as a State Prisoner. The students had also the opportunity to see the adjoining cells where Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru and 'subhash Bose were detained.
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Students Rally on Gandhi Jayanthi Day A new programme of organising a students rally was launched on Gandhi Jayanthi-2nd October, 1982. The purpose of the Rally was to encourage students not only to imbibe good values themselves but inspire others also to tread the same path. About a thousand students, all girls fully 3-colour printed placards bearing select quotations from Gandhiji's writings, marched through Chandni Chowk, Fountain, Red Fort, Netaji Subhash Park, Netaji Subhash Road, Daryaganj and to Gandhi Darshan campus. It was silent march with no slogans to be shouted on the way.
Earlier, the Rally was flagged off by Shri B.N. Pande, MP working Chairman of the Samiti at the Gandhi Statue behind Town Hall. The Rally covered a distance of about 4 kms.in about 2 hours.
The concluding function of the Rally was held at Gandhi Darshan Campus. Hon'ble Shri H. K. L. Bhagat, Minister of State in the Ministry of Works and Housing blessed the Rally participants. Shri B.N. Pande MP was present on this occasion.
New Project of "Community Singing" It was decided to initiate a new project of "Community Singing" for school students with the active help of the Gandharava Mahavidyalaya.
In order to give shape to this project, school, nearabout the Gandhi Darshan Campus were contacted and their views and help sought in this Project. To begin with, two schools-one Middle School of the Municipal Corporation in Ferozeshah Kotla and the Government Higher Secondary School at Bela Road Sent their students to attend the Music classes which commenced from August 17 1982. The Classes are held every Tuesday and Friday. The number of students-both boys and girls, who are attending classes is 36.
Youth Training Centre Unit (i) Tow ten-day camps, one for girls and one for boys students from local colleges were held in Gandhi Darshan campus in collaboration with the NSS of the University of Delhi from June 5-24, 1982. In all 107 students and 11 teachers participated in the above two camps.
(ii) Three one-day camps were held in which 39 students of Kirorimal College took part, while in the camp held on October 10,1982, 40 students of Sriram College of Commerce participated.
(iii) On Gandhi Jayanthi Day-2nd October a new yet interesting programme was chalked out for the college students. That was the "Prashnottari Manch" (Quiz). Under this scheme the students were asked to study biography of Gandhi by Shri B. R. Nanda, Prof. Krishna Kripalani and Shri D.G. Tendulkar. Each college was requested to send a team of 3 students to participate in this Quiz programme.
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