Shimla holds a discussion on Gandhi's ideology

Shimla, Dec 16 (ANI): A two-week long symposium was organised at an institute in Shimla to make the youth understand the ideology and life of Mahatma Gandhi.

The heritage Indian Institute of Advance Studies has invited 22 students from all over India to discuss the 'Life and Thought of Gandhi' and its relevance in today's world.tarted almost a month ago, the course formally concluded on Tuesday.

"These would be the opinion makers for tomorrow, there are young academics, young activists, young journalists and if an informed and educated opinion could be created through them, I think, the institute and the school would have served its purpose and I think what one must emphasise is that this not a one-off programme, the institute and we hope to continue this for a period of three years," said Tridip Suhrud, convener of the school.

The school discussed with students how following Gandhi's ideology would work for the betterment of the violence-hit world.

"I come from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, so Gandhi is not fashionable in our university because it's a place where communists organisations are very popular so I was convinced even before coming to this institution that Gandhi is as relevant to India now as he was when he was alive. Now to me, if we look at the contemporary problems the dislocation of tribals in the name of building dams or the way the process of whole globalisation is taken up all over the world, not just in India, I think Gandhi gives us an alternative, Gandhi is someone who just tells you that well it's the people who matter," said Ritesh Kumar Shah, a participant.

The classes were conducted for 6-7 hours daily where the students and the convenors put forward their thoughts on the Father of the Nation. (ANI)