Shillong(Meghalaya), Sept 28 : In connection with the Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhiji leading to Gandhi Jayanti on Oct 2 , the Department of Arts & Culture is anchoring various programmes. In the context of Covid 19 pandemic, all proposed activities will be on online mode and on virtual platform. The Department has also designed a special logo for the Meghalaya celebrations incorporating the pan India “150 years of celebrating the Mahatma” logo.A dedicated Facebook page, “Department of Arts & Culture – 150 years of Mahatma” has also been created, to serve as an umbrella platform for hosting all the events on online and virtual mode.
The various events chalked out include, special Webinar on the Theme: “Celebrating the Mahatma” in collaboration with Synod College Management Authorities to be held on 2nd Oct 2 at the Synod College. The Keynote address will be delivered by Dr. David Reid Syiemlieh, Former Chairman UPSC, eminent historian & former Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh. Another National webinar on “Gandhiji at 150-National Webinar” on “Relevance of Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century” organized by INTACH ,Meghalaya Chapter was held on Sept 25 , with National Panelists representing various INTACH Chapters. Besides an Online/Virtual display of photographs of Mahatma Gandhi will be unveiled on Oct 2, based on archival photographs in the custody of Department of Arts & Culture, donated by Allahabad Museum. The above programme will be anchored by North East India AV Archive, Department of Mass Media, St. Anthony’s College. There will be also a proposed Display of contemporary paintings and visual art through online mode reflecting the philosophy of Gandhi, in the context of contemporary times, on Oct 2nd in collaboration with RITI Academy.
A Dance recital on the concept of Gandhian Spinning Wheel will be performed by Gitanjali Dance Academy, through virtual mode, on Oct 2, . Several Youth Driven online competitions and general awareness programmes on Mahatma Gandhi through several competitions viz Drawing, Quiz, Debate & Letter writing competitions have also been organized online. These activities were coordinated by the Meghalaya MUN.
The Various Thematic competitions include: Drawing Competition Topic – “Mahatma Gandhi: Father of the Nation” already held on 17th- 27th September, 2020 for Age Groups 6 to 12 Years. Letter writing competition – “A letter to Mahatma Gandhi on how his ideas inspire the youth of today” in the same period between Sept 17th to Sept 27th, for Age Groups 13 to 18 Years. A Debate Competition – on the motion, “The House Believes that Gandhian Principle have lost their applicability in Today’s world” was held on 26th September, 2020 for Age Groups 16 to 21 Years. A Quiz Competition – on the Life, work and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi will be held on Oct 2 for Age Groups 16 to 25 Years.
A formal prize ceremony will also be held on Gandhi Jayanti, limited to not more than 20 number of participants& prize winners at State Central Library Auditorium in the presence of Commissioner & Secretary, Arts & Culture, Joint Secretary Arts & Culture & Director, Arts & Culture, besides some online activities, as part of Meghalaya’s Commemoration of 150 years of the Mahatma, as per the extant and prevailing health protocols, in view of Covid 19.
