Gandhi anniversary celebrated through charity
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
"He who serves the needy is great in the eyes of God. There is no greater joy in life than to bring happiness to others," once said India's founding father, Mahatma Gandhi.
Following such noble words of its namesake as well, the Gandhi Memorial International School (GMIS) in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, held on Friday a charity event to commemorate the 135th birth anniversary of "the little man from India" known throughout the world as "the great apostle of peace and non-violence".
GMIS principal Ashok Pal Singh handed over a donation of Rp 60 million (US$6,586) raised by students and parents for 500 needy students from the National Foster Parents Movement (GNOTA).
The school also handed over another Rp 20 million worth of books and clothing for 3,000 students at the Nurul Iman Islamic boarding school in Bogor, schools in Sukabumi, West Java, which need urgent renovation and for GMIS's own janitors and security guards.
Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Heman Krishan Singh, also called on the students to faithfully follow Gandhi's path of truth, peace and compassion towards others.
During the event, the students entertained the audience with various traditional and modern dances, as well as several classical scores by the school's flute and strings ensemble. They also performed a play portraying the life of Mahatma Gandhi (photo above).
Born Oct. 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi practiced non-violence as a way of life from early on, which.
After studying law in London, Gandhi ventured to South Africa, where he became politically active, defending Indian citizens living there under discriminative British colonial policies.
Upon his return to India in 1916, Gandhi joined the Congress Party and led non-violent, non-cooperative movements against the British until India gained its independence on Aug. 15, 1947. Many people in respect had by then called Gandhi with the titles Baphu (founding father) and Mahatma (great soul).
On Jan. 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic, less than a year after India's independence.