Millions across the world celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on 2 October 2015 - declared by the United Nations as the International Day of Non-Violence. Regarded as the Father of the Nation in India, he championed the values of non-violence, tolerance and peaceful negotiation. These values live on in GIIS staff and students, who gathered at GIIS Queenstown Campus to celebrate his legacy.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was many things - a revolutionary leader, a teacher, an inspiration. On his 146th birth anniversary, the great leader was paid fond tributes at the GIIS Queenstown Campus on 2 October 2015, organised to commemorate the contributions of the Mahatma.
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Mr Ameerali Jumabhoy and Mr Lee Kwang Boon, interacted with students |
Before the start of the function that day, a statue of Gandhiji - prominently located at the campus’ entrance since 2005 - was garlanded. A silhouette of Gandhi, made up of a collage of the word “peace”, was projected on screens in the hall where distinguished guests, GIIS staff and students gathered.
Her Excellency Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, who was the function’s guest-of-honour, kicked off the event by lighting traditional lamps, a symbol of universal peace and hope. She was joined by Mr Ameerali Jumabhoy, Chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Committee at the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and Mr Lee Kwang Boon, Vice-President at the United Nations Association of Singapore.
The GIIS Choir then took the stage with a beautiful recital of the Sarva Dharma Prayer, followed by Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Jain prayers. They concluded their time on stage with a special rap with flute accompaniment that catalogued Gandhi’s life.
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Students recited a Sarva Dharma Prayer |
“Gandhiji showed the power of peacefully opposing oppression, injustice and hatred,” said Mr Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-founder of the Global Schools Foundation in his welcome address.
“There is no greater tool than education to enhance human dignity, promote a culture of non-violence, and build lasting peace. Through education, we can craft new ways of living with each other and the planet,” he added.
Further Mr. Temurnikar said that GIIS is the only Indian International School in South East Asia to have set up a dedicated centre to impart the teachings of Gandhi, through the Global Indian Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values.
He also lauded ‘Peace Curriculum’, delivered across campuses worldwide, in instilling values of harmony, teamwork and integration. Students later took the stage to elaborate on the workings of the curriculum that was implemented in 2011.
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Mr Ameerali Jumabhoy, Chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Committee at the GOPIO addressed the gathering |
“Mahatma Gandhi was a great man. It is said that human beings of such humility and humanity work themselves and teach us how to live our lives,” Ms Singh said, before citing a line from Vaishnava Jana To, a popular Hindu bhajan (devotional song).
It is translated as: “Devotees of the almighty and those who feel the pain of others help those in misery but never let ego or conceit enter their minds.”
“Can we put this in our minds as we work and live in our daily lives? His words and work, I’m sure, live in the students present here today in honour of that great man, Mahatma Gandhi, who stirred the soul of the nation in a difficult time, to strive for their freedom and succeed,” Ms Singh added.
The keynote speaker at this year’s function, Mr Jumabhoy dedicated his speech to his experiences as a young man and memories of those who knew India’s freedom fighters, and was greeted with a loud round of applause from the audience. He shared the challenges and triumphs faced during his lifetime, and remembered those who lost their lives for the freedom of India.
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Mr Lee Kwang Boon, Vice-President at the United Nations Association of Singapore shared his thoughts on non- violence with students |
The last invited speaker, Mr Lee, read United Nation’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Non-Violence 2015. The speech focused on the future challenges the organisation faced as a global body for international cooperation.
Mr Lee then turned to students in the audience. “You begin with a tremendous head start, a fine education, and that is a huge gift. Education is not just a key to better living. It is also a key to a more just and prosperous world,” he said.
“Never forget the values that you have learnt in this outstanding school. The skills you are acquiring through education don’t just enable you to do well, they enable you to do good. Education is vital for fostering global citizenship and building peaceful societies,” he added.
All three invited speakers were then invited on stage, where Mr Temurnikar presented them with maroon scarves. He then took a selfie with them, a gesture that was met with loud cheers from the audience.
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Mr Lee Kwang Boon, Mr Atul Temurnikar, HE Ms Vijay Thakur Singh, along with Mr Ameerali Jumabhoy |
GIIS Queenstown Campus Principal Ms Madhu Khanna said the school’s ‘Peace Curriculum’ was a fitting way of carrying out Gandhiji’s philosophy of bringing peace to the world. “The main feature of this curriculum is to bring out universal values and make students imbibe them, as we know values are caught and they cannot be taught,” she said.
“With this motto in mind, the school has ensured that students are able to imbibe general values of friendship, empathy, kindness - all these values are related to Singapore’s vision of bringing peace to the world,” she added.
“We should strive to practise non-violence, not just on the physical level of wars, but on an individual level,” Urvi Jain, an IGCSE Class 10 student explained. “For me, it’s keeping my thoughts pure and promoting peace and non-discrimination. This is very significant in today’s world, and will help us to have a better future where everyone is living peacefully,” she added.
Tejant Singh, a Class 10 student, said the late leader’s values help him in daily life. He added: “Gandhi’s message of non-violence is universal. We are the future generation and we will spread his message; it will probably lead to a globe free of crimes and every bad value in each and every human.”
Attendees will remember Gandhi’s teachings for a long time to come.
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