133rd anniversary of Pietermaritzburg

 




The Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in Wardha paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on June 7, 2026, marking the 133rd anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg Railway incident. Since its inception, the Ashram's Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies has been instrumental in organising both offline and online programmes, including international webinars dedicated to this historic event. For this occasion, the Centre shared its rich collection of resources—including a short film and archival materials—with various organisations and institutions interested in hosting commemorative events.
In an online session, Dr. Siby K. Joseph explored the transformative impact of the Pietermaritzburg railway station incident on the life and work of a young Mohandas, describing it as the foundational moment of Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance. Dr. Joseph emphasised that the enduring lesson from Pietermaritzburg is clear: discrimination of any kind, on any basis, and at any level is inherently wrong and must be vehemently opposed. He also reflected on how these lessons apply to the contemporary Indian scenario.


Additionally, Dr.Siby Joseph participated in a panel discussion on Gandhian Economic Thought in the face of globalisation, where he shared his insights on Gandhi's concept of Swadeshi. This programme, held on the eve of the anniversary, also paid tribute to Gandhi. Moderated by Shri Amit Tyagi, the event featured reflections from Prof. Michael Sonnleitner on both the Pietermaritzburg incident and Gandhian economics. The webinar was organised by the Peace Foundation, Germany.



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