Essay Competition Draws Enthusiastic Response On Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti Divas 

Pune: In August 2023, the Gandhi National Memorial Society and Symbiosis Law School, Pune announced an essay competition for high school students of 8th, 9th and 10th standards on the topic: “What Mahatma Gandhi’s Life and Message Mean to Me”. 

Two months later, on 2nd October 2023, the Kasturba Memorial Hall, at the Aga Khan Palace was filled with enthusiastic students, their teachers and parents, Trustees of the Gandhi National Memorial Society, faculty of Symbiosis Law School, judges of the competition and well-wishers as the prize winners of the competition were announced and facilitated.

The essay competition was organized with an aim to foster an interest in and raise awareness of Mahatma Gandhi legacy, including his immense contribution to India’s freedom movement from the British, and his valuable teachings and beliefs which are as relevant today as they were in his lifetime.

In a heart-warming response, 86 schools participated in the essay competition with a total of about a thousand essays being submitted in English, Hindi and Marathi. There were 27 winners of the cash prizes across the three standards, with nine prizes in each language. Twenty other students received consolation prizes. The enthusiastic response of the students in penning their thoughts on the philosophy of Gandhiji was inspiring to all present in the hall.

The Trustees of the Gandhi National Memorial Committee comprising Armene Modi, Pradeep Munot, Shribala Chordia, Trustee Secretary, and Tarak Parekh, as well as Dr. Atmaram Shelke from Symbiosis Law College were present at the distinguished occasion. Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan recipient was the Chief Guest. 

He delivered a very interesting and inspiring talk, drawing examples from his own life, to convey the importance of a life lived by Gandhian values of simplicity, unity in diversity, keeping an open mind and of creating easy-to-use high technology for the economically and socially weaker sections of society.

The program was meticulously organised by Gandhi National Memorial Society (GNMS) and generously sponsored by the Shri Firodia Trust. 

Most hearteningly, the thoughts shared by the students and Trustees reaffirmed the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and that his philosophy appeals to today’s young generation, thus validating the intention of the organizers that the essay competition would help emphasise the values that Gandhiji propounded, demonstrate the continuing relevance of Gandhian philosophy in our modern world, and inspire youth to follow and explore the significance of his teachings for the 21st century.