CELEBRATING GANDHI JAYANTI: Bapu taught India how to stand up against injustice and live with dignity: LG Manoj Sinha

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 02 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has stressed that Gandhiji’s legacy of truth and non-violence retains its relevance even in today’s fast-changing and technology-based world.
He attended the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations organized in collaboration with the School Education Department and the Culture Department here today. He extended heartfelt greetings to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir on the birth anniversary of the ‘Father of the Nation’ Pujya Mahatma Gandhi and congratulated the children who participated in cultural programmes as well as the students who secured prominent positions in the district-level symposium on Truth and Non-Violence.
The Lieutenant Governor also appreciated the rendition of Bapu’s Bhajan in Kashmiri by Gulzar Ahmed, the Hindi performance by the students of the Institute of Music and Fine Arts and the skit presented by Kothibaag Girls Higher Secondary School.
Highlighting the significance of October 2, the Lieutenant Governor said that it is an opportunity to reflect on the life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, who taught India a new way of thinking, how to stand up against injustice and live with dignity. He stressed that Gandhiji’s legacy of truth and non-violence continues to hold its relevance even in today’s fast-changing and technology-driven world.
“I believe that respected Bapu has left us with many invaluable legacies. He has given us a new way, new principles, a new approach to life and a new system that lives on in the hands of every generation,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor pointed out that while technology has connected people globally, it also raises questions of inclusion and truth. He warned against misinformation and urged the youth to follow Pujya Gandhiji’s principles of verifying facts and adopting the path of dialogue before reacting to anything. He reiterated that the principle of Sati Mayo Jeete (i.e. truth triumphs) should remain as the guiding principle for democracy.
He said, “Bapu understood the relationship between truth and power very deeply. He used to describe his life as an experiment in the search for truth. I believe that truth is a spiritual practice (sadhana). Truth is the name of looking within oneself. Truth is the habit of verifying any fact or information before believing it, and truth is the name of listening and understanding instead of reacting immediately to anything.”
The LG stressed that technology should remain under human control and should be used as a tool for development rather than a substitute for human conscience. He appealed to children and youth to use modern devices responsibly while remaining connected to human values. He said, “I want all children and youth to remember that technology is just a tool and the final decision should be ours. Because no matter how powerful the tool is, its direction is ultimately determined by the hand that is using it.”
Highlighting the power of diversity in India, the Lieutenant Governor said that unity should be strengthened through everyday actions based on justice, respect and compassion. He recalled Gandhiji’s concern for the weakest member of the society and urged the citizens to make the measure of development inclusiveness and welfare.
He said, “Since ancient times, India has been a land of diversity. Our languages ​​are different, our ways of worship are different, our dress and our traditions are different. However, our great tradition has taught us that India’s strength lies in walking together in diversity. I believe that this philosophy is needed today more than ever.”
The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that Gandhiji’s philosophy will guide India towards its goal of becoming a ‘developed nation’ by 2047. Sinha said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented us with a blueprint of a developed India; an India with a strong economy, where prosperity and opportunities abound among the people, dignity increases and which ensures access to justice for every citizen.”
He said that to build a developed India, we have to develop our farms, schools, villages, cities and industries, and above all, we have to pay special attention to character building of children. Bapu firmly believed that the character of a nation is its most durable infrastructure.
The Lieutenant Governor urged the youth to use the immense power of technology with discipline and responsibility. He asked them to build an India that is modern yet compassionate, prosperous yet just, powerful yet sensitive and above all, united.
“In the year 2047, when we celebrate the centenary of independent India, we should not judge India’s success by its infrastructure alone, but also by how many underprivileged people we have brought forward alongside others and how many we have been able to provide opportunities to,” he said.

(Straight Talk Communications)