Bhubaneswar : Without social justice and dignity of the least person of the society, development is meaningless said the veteran freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Pattnayak while inaugurating the two day national convention of Gandhian approach for social justice and development. Vinoba Seva Pratisthan(VSP) Odisha in association with Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti (GSDS) New Delhi organised 123rd birth anniversary of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, 100 years of Champaran Satyagrah and 75th anniversary of Quit India movement at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar in the presence of veteran Gandhian and Sarvoday leaders, freedom fighters and ministers and leaders across political parties, civil society and human rights organisations. The minister of women and child develoment Sri Prafulla Samal explained the significance of Quit India Movement and how it united and energised the whole country that ultimately compelled the British to quit. Speaking on the occasion he said how Gandhi had wisely chosen Vinoba as his number one Satyagrahi and how he groomed Vinoba as an ambassador of peace and non-violence.
The finance minister of Odisha Mr Shasi Bhusan Behera said Champaran experiment proved the importance of Gandhi’s strategies, decision and actions always supported by deep study.
Describing the objectives of the convention, Sri Manoj Jena, eminent human rights activist and secretary, VSP said how he was deeply influenced by Gandhi’s powerful message of ” Be the change you want to see in the world”. He said the year 2019 happens to be the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. VSP has committed to adopt 150 villages of Odisha as Maa Kasturaba Adarsha Gram with vision of Hinsha mukta, Nasha mukta, Mala mukta (violence free, addiction free and open defecation free) villages.
The Champaran catapulted Gandhi as an undisputed mass leader of India.Gandhi had always advocated for the downtrodden peoples of the society said MLA Mahidhar Rana. Presiding over the meeting, Prof Dr Bhagbanprakash, Senior Adviser, Election Commission of India and Chairman, VSP said that, without Gandhi and Vinoba, the idea of India would have collapsed by now.
On this occasion three eminent Bhoodan worker Pareswar Pradhan, Upendra Mohapatra, Mukteswar Pradhan and renowned social activist Praulla Samantara were felicitated as Gandhi Vinoba Peace Award. A special honour was given to Kalinga Institute of Social Science[KISS] for getting the status of first tribal university of the world. A souvenir released by the distinguished guests.
Ms Namrata Chaddha, Vice Chairperson, VSP welcoming the guests and Mr Basudev Bhatt, coordinator of VSP offered vote of thanks to all the distinguished guests, awardees and participants.
After the inaugural, the first session was presided by renowned journalist Rabi Das where the topic was justice and dignity for all, lesson learnt from champaran satyagrah, the speaker were veteran Bhoodan worker Smt. Biraja Devi, Gandhian Scholar Dr Pabak Kanungo. The end of the day session was Youth for Nation. The key speaker were Nirod Khuntia, Madhusudan Das, Nirakar Beura and Gyanranjan.
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