Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha

  Mending  of Road side passage  by University students   Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha organized the Winter Camp/Short Term Course on  Gandhian Thought from 26 -30 December 2023 at the premises of the Ashram.  As a part of  shramdhaan  activities a group of  students  undertook the responsibility of mending of road side passage in front of Yatri Niwas and Library/ Research  Centre . After the repairing work of water supply, the cement blocks were not properly fixed and it was creating inconvenience to walkers.  The students undertook this  responsibility  and finished the work  during  shramdhaan time  assigned to them.

Winter Camp/Short Term Course on Gandhian  Thought for College/University Students Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha organized the Winter Camp/Short Term Course on Gandhian Thought from 26 -30 December 2023 at the premises of the Ashram.  In this  residential short-term course on Gandhian Thought and action, 50 college/ university students  including  two  faculty members from 13 States of India participated. The objective of this  short-term course/camp was to acquaint the students with the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi  and its relevance in humanity’s current predicament. The inaugural function was held on the 26 th  morning at the Seminar Hall of   Library and Research Centre.  Smt. Asha Bothra President Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan Sevagram   inaugurated the camp by spinning   the traditional   Gandhi Charkha in the presence   of Prof.   Sunil Ganatra and representatives of participants from different States of India.   Dr. Siby K. Joseph of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthangave a b

The  calendar of Wardha District Sarvodaya Mandal was formally released  on December 30th, 2023 at the Seminar Hall of  Library and Research Centre of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan , Wardha. The  theme of the calendar  focused on  certain issues for which Gandhi ji has been misinterpreted. Smt. Ashaben  Bothra, President of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan , Wardha presided over the function in the august presence of  Shri Ramesh Zade ,President, Wardha District Sarvodaya Mandal,Shri Neeraj Gujar,Former President of  Municipal Corporation) Shri Anantrao Thackrey , Shri Pravin Pethe (Ex military )The programme  was conducted by Prof Rajesh Balsaraf.   Shri Kanhaiya Chhangani, Secretary, Wardha District Sarvodaya Mandal  gave a  introduction  about  the key themes discussed in the calendar  as an introduction viz. Mahatma Gandhi was not responsible for partition of India and Pakistan.- Why Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as the first President of India. Shri Prafful Kukde proposed a  vote of than

  Sarva Dharma Prarthana On December 23, 2023 Sarva Dharma Prarthana was organized at Jama Majjit Chowk, Nag Mandir near Mahadevpura area of Wardha .  Smt. Ashaben  Bothra President Sevagram Ashram participated in the prayer and reflected on the importance of interreligious prayer. Shri. Prashant Gujar conducted the prayer. Representatives of various religious traditions participated in the prayer.  About 35 persons participated in the prayer meeting.

  International Dialogue on Gaza Now and Nonviolence Thinking As a part of International Online Fellowship Program on Nonviolence & Peace -II (IFPNP-II )Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan Wardha, MS, India in association with Gandhi International,  France ,Academic University College for Non-violence and Human Rights- AUNOHR, Lebanon MGM University, Chh. Sambhajinagar,Aurangabad, MS, India organized an  International Dialogue on  Gaza Now  and Nonviolence   Thinking  on December 22, 2023 Dr. Ogarit   Younan, Founder, Academic University College for Non-violence and Human Rights- AUNOHR, Lebanon was the keynote speaker. Dr, Ogarit Younan  wrote many   reflective texts from  the very first week of the war on Gaza.  Due to her ill heath it was presented by Mr.   Mazen Abou Hamdan ,a Chevening Scholar  and an expert in good governance, peace-building, and civic engagement.  This presentation was highly appreciated by the fellows and others present in the session. Dr. Siby K. Joseph  chaired

  International Dialogue on Climate Disarmament  As a part of International Online Fellowship Program on Nonviolence & Peace -II (IFPNP-II )Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan Wardha, MS, India in association with Gandhi International,  France ,Academic University College for Non-violence and Human Rights- AUNOHR, Lebanon, MGM University, Chh. Sambhajinagar,Aurangabad, MS, India organized an  International Dialogue on the theme  Climate Disarmament    on December 21, 2023 . Dr. Siby K. Joseph ,Director, IFPNP, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan welcomed the fellows and participants  and Prof. Prem Anand Mishra , Dean, Faculty of Gandhian Studies, Gujarat Vidyapith moderated the session. Mr. Daniele Taurino, poet ,philosopher  and activist  of Nonviolent  Movement in Italy  delivered Keynote Address on the theme. He explained how nonviolence can resist the miltarisation of climate crisis. It was followed by a lovely discussion on the theme.

In Search of Roots :  Dr. Vandana Hunma's   visit to Sevagram  Dr. Vandana Hunma, an   educationist from Mauritius   visited     Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre  for Gandhian Studies (JBMLRCGS) of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan on December 19, 2023 . She held   discussions with  Dr. Siby K. Joseph , Director of the Centre in the afternoon.   Dr. Vandana Hunma's   specialisation is   in science education  and she is having 30 years' experience in educational research and assessment at school level . She came to Wardha/    Sevagram to    reconnect with roots of his maternal uncle  ( Nanaji)      Sitacharan   Mahavir Prasad Dikshit   who was  the Secretary of Mahila Ashram   in 1937   and     he was also  closely associated with the work of Hindustani   Talimi Sangh.  She has researched  on the life of her Nanaji  https://theinspiringlives.wordpress.com/pandit-sitacharan-dikshit-sevagram-wardha-1937-1942/   This site has some old photos which she got from

International Dialogue on Gandhi ,Development and International Political Economy    Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan Wardha, MS, India  in association with  Gandhi International,  France, Academic University College  for Non-violence and Human Rights- AUNOHR, Lebanon MGM University, Chh. Sambhajinagar,Aurangabad, MS, India organized an international dialogue on the theme  Gandhi Development and International Political Economy on  December 9, 2023.  It was part of the International Online Fellowship Programme-II  (IFPNP –II) . Dr.Michael Warren  Sonnleitner,   Formerly  Professor in the Political Science  Department Portland Community College ,Oregon, USA  delivered the Keynote Address. Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director, IFPNP, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan welcomed the keynote speaker, IFPNP fellows and others.  Prof D. John Chelladurai ,  Dean, Interdisciplinary Studies and HOD, Gandhian Studies, MGM University   thanked the speaker for his continued support and mentorship of the programme.  Pro

Study Visit of Officer Trainees of  77th Batch of Indian Revenue Service of  NADT, Nagpur to Sevagram Ashram  National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur  requested Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan to facilitate a Study visit of  90  Trainees of  77 th  Batch of Indian Revenue Service  who were  undergoing IRS Induction Course  at the  Academy. The  officer trainees  visited  Sevagram Ashram, Wardha on 9th December 2023 and Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre  for Gandhian Studies (JBMLRCGS) of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan   was instrumental in coordinating  the study visit. Shri Vijay Tambe, Secretary of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan  welcomed the group  to  the Ashram . He said the Ashram  is run on the basis of support of the people and when you purchase Khadi from the ashram shop you are contributing towards uplifting women folk who are working here.  It was followed by a  guided visit to the ashram .  A brief history of the ashram  including   the role played by   the as

 A group of academics from China   and  members of   Chinese Consulate  General in Mumbai visited  Sevagram Ashram on  December 7, 2023.  Dr. Siby K. Joseph , Director,  Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre  for Gandhian Studies (JBMLRCGS) of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan welcomed them to the Ashram.  The delegation was accompanied by  Dr. Ariban  Ghosh, Assistant Professor in Chinese,  and Dr. Amit Kumar Biswas,  Associate  Editor, Mahatma  Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi  Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha. They presented mementos  to the delegation during the visit. The visiting team  thanked the Ashram  and expressed  the hope that we could improve the friendship between the two countries.  They said  that as we all respect Gandhi and  wish to you have  a detailed visit to the Ashram in future.

Participation in  National Seminar, Discussions  and  Dialogues Dr. Siby K. Joseph , Director,  Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre  for Gandhian Studies (JBMLRCGS) of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha  went on a  brief tour to Kerala in the first week of December 2023 . During the visit, he held discussions with faculty/ research scholars   with a number of   themes  like contemporary challenges to peace,   J. C. Kumarappa vision of   economy ,  and Gandhi and Feminism etc. His tour was mainly in connection with a  National Seminar.  He was invited by t he Department of Philosophy, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam as a Resource Person for a special talk on ‘ Gandhi as a Philosopher: Convergence of East and West ’ in  the  Two Day National Seminar on  Convergence in Philosophy’   held on 5 th  and 6 th  December 2023  .    Dr. Jijo Panjikkaran, Head,  Department of Philosophy, Maharaja’s College,  Ernakulam welcomed him and Prof. Vinodkumar Kallolickal, Professor of

  Gandhi as a Philosopher: Convergence of East and West                                                                                  Siby K. Joseph   ( Text of the lecture ‘ Gandhi as a Philosopher: Convergence of East and West ’ in  the  Two Day National Seminar on  Convergence in Philosophy’  organised by  Department of Philosophy, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam   on 5 th  and 6 th  December 2023  .)    Prof. Vinodkumar Kallocikal   in his presidential address     opined that Gandhi was the light of humanity   and referring     to  Dr. K. P. Shankaran and others he described Gandhi as   a philosopher par excellence.   I had the privilege and opportunity to read and edit some of the articles for a book project of Prof. K. P. Shankaran, Gandhi and Centrality of Ethics .  Philosophy was one of the key areas dealt in the book. In the introductory article Shankaran wrote “The love of wisdom is not just of ‘knowing that’ but more importantly it is a love of practical knowledge. What