AMU Dept of Education organises workshop to mark 150th Gandhi Jayanti
Aligarh: Specific education schemes conceptualized and implemented by Mahatma Gandhi were addressed during the two-day workshop on ‘Nai Talim’ (New Education) organised by the Department of Education, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to mark the 150th Gandhi Jayanti (Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary) celebrations.
Attending the valedictory function as the Chief Guest on Thursday, AMU Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof Akhtar Haseeb pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi practiced what he said.
“Gandhiji always believed that education was an instrument of social change,” said the Pro Vice Chancellor adding that to exemplify his concept of ‘real education’, Gandhiji set up schools through voluntary effort, where students were taught languages , mathematics, sciences, agriculture and general ethical principles such as truth and non-violence.
He wanted children from a very young age to learn the importance of living in harmony and working together for progress.
Welcoming the guests, Prof Nasrin, Chairperson, Department of Education said that Gandhiji’s Nai Talim was focussed on the philosophy of ‘See no evil, Hear no evil and Speak no evil’ besides leading people to healthy social life and proper social equilibrium.
Mahatma Gandhi stressed that education should empower people to peacefully struggle against colonialism, oppression and injustice.
Reading the workshop report, Dr Nakhat Nasreen delineated approaches to education and learning. She said that the resources persons in the workshop discussed learning through text books, abstract words, art and craft, lab methods and experimentation and ways to engage children through book reading among other ways.
“Gandhiji, gave a new dimension to Ahimsa (non-violence)-an eternal, natural and a high human value, in theory and practice. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas and practices became a guiding force for people in India and all over the world,” said Dr Poonam Chauhan.
Kulsum Fatima spoke on how Mahatma Gandhi worked for solutions to all problems through the means of non-violence.
Prof Abdulrahim P Vijapur (Department of Political Science) extended the vote of thanks, while Zeba Fatima conducted the programme.
Hera Rizwan (M.Ed) won the painting competition held during the programme. Zeenat (M.Ed) and Fatima Habeeb (M.Ed) shared the second prize, while Farhana Talat (M.Ed) and Monika Taumar (B.Ed) stood third. Himshika (Ph.d) received the consolation prize.
Kulsum Fatima (MA), Shaiqa Rehman (M.Ed) and Prakash Jain (B.Ed) won the first, second and third prizes respectively in the speech competition. Zeba Jain (M.Ed) was given the consolation prize.