Gandhi anniversary celebrated through charity
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.