NCRI Chairman at Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram
It was a shrine of a different kind. The Satyagraha Ashram at Pallipadu in Nellore District ofAndhra Pradesh was a big draw on April 7th, 2009. This is one of the important Gandhian Ashrams in the state, which was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. It was also known as Sabarmathi of the South that played a significant role in the freedom movement. Youth Camps,Education, Khadi and weavers’ programmes, Rural Awareness Programmes and Swadeshi activities were taken up by this Ashram. Recently, the old building of the Satyagraha Ashram was renovated. On this occasion Dr. S.V. Prabhath, Chairman NCRI visited Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram. The Ashram is managed by the Indian Red Cross Society, Nellore Branch. On his arrival, Dr. S.V. Prabhath was greeted by Dr. A. V. Subrahmanyam, Honorary Secretary of Indian Red Cross Society, Nellore and Ashram convener Shri A. Krishna Reddy. He was taken around the Ashram on the banks of the river Pinakini located at a distance of 15 km from Nellore.
The NCRI chairman was introduced to other members of the Ashram and its activities. The Chairman was appraised of the Khadi activity undertaken by the Ashram and the cooperation extended to it by KVIC, Guntur Zilla Khadi Gramodyoga Samstha. A few members from the community of members were present on the occasion. The Ashram working in close collaboration with the District Institute of Educational Training Pallipadu, has introduced Gandhian Thought to the teacher trainees. The NCRI Chairman who addressed the village leaders, teacher trainees, weavers, representatives of other NGOs and members of the Ashram, emphasised the need for Nai Talim –Basic Education concept evolved by Mahatma Gandhi to lay the foundation for building a healthy society.
“We have to inculcate the right values and attitudes in our children from the inception of educational activity. This should be associated with knowledge and appropriate skills. Education should provide a positive direction to our society since the role of knowledge institutions is paramount,” suggested Dr. S.V. Prabhath. Nai Talim or Basic Education is what we inherit – the education of generations. It is a learning process that teaches, the dignity of manual labour. The present day students who are not in the habit of doing physical work, are away from nature. Education must teach Self-Sufficiency, Self-Reliance and Self Respect. Students should be taught how to grow and make food, clothing etc. taking an instance of a village in the desert area of Gujarat, the chairman said students turned their village green by water harvesting, plantation, conservation and management. The students treat the trees as their home even sit on the branches and study there. The students developed an inviolable relationship with the tree. Most of our problems in the society arise due to lack of appropriate education. Our students have no knowledge of crops, plants, the people and the society. Students should develop healthy relationship with the society and nature. They should become humane and that was precisely what Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings emphasised. Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram can play this vital role of providing the right direction to education and society. This should begin with the community and the villages around the Ashram, the chairman averred. Expressing his happiness on the initiatives and activities taken up by the Ashram, Chairman NCRI assured NCRI’s cooperation and support to the Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram in their endeavour. Shri GVVSDS Prasad, Consultant, NCRI also addressed the participants at the meeting.
NCRI Participation in TANA Conference
Telugu Association of North America (TANA) held its 17thbiennial conference in Chicago from 2nd-4thJuly, 2009. This was a grand event where more than 8000 people had participated. The National Council of Rural Institutes, Hyderabad earned the stage to propagate the great Indian values with its maiden but impacting participation in the conference. Dr. S.V. Prabhath, Chairman of NCRI, Shri GVVSDS Prasad, Coordinator, ‘The Wheel’ participated in various programmes conducted on the occasion . Besides, the following members were present in the team led by Dr. Prabhath - Shri R. Subramaniam, Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram, Nellore, Smt. Mani and Smt. Anuradha who work on promoting Whole / Health Foods, Dr Kranthi, Chairperson, Vasavya Society for Rural Development and Shri Hasigor. Sarvodaya put up a stall in the Exhibition held on the occasion that was inaugurated by the Chairman, NCRI. Brochures, folders, newsletter of the Council were distributed to the visitors on the occasion. Gandhian literature-books written by Gandhi and on Gandhi, Swadeshi products like soaps, tooth powder, Khadi products, garments, organic and whole food items were displayed at the stall garnering a good response. It set an opportunity to disseminate information about NCRI and its activities, Sarvodaya movement in Andhra Pradesh and other Gandhian organisations from India. In the schedule of TANA, a two-hour slot was allotted to the NCRI. In the session held on July 3rd, Dr. Sri Ram Sonty was among those who were present and Chairman NCRI was the chief guest; Dr Sonty promoted Gandhi Memories Trust Foundation in Chicago and was instrumental in setting up Gandhi Statue. He had been actively promoting Gandhian Philosophy through the School of Library System in the US. Shri Prasad during his address at the session gave an outline of Gandhian movement and different activities in Andhra Pradesh delineated the support being extended through the Wheel to three streams of institutions. The first stream covered several ashrams of significance which contributed significantly during freedom struggle like Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram in Pallipadu, Nellore district, Gautami Satyagraha Ashram in Sita Nagaram, East Godavari District, Vinay Ashram in Kavuru, Guntur District, Gandhi Hill in Vijayawada, Mahatma Gandhi Bhavanam, Pedanindra Kolanu, West Godavari District. Efforts are being made to list all these Ashrams by bringing them together and linking with other Ashrams in the country. These Ashrams played a significant role during the freedom struggle through their constructive programmes and provide moral foundation in the society. The strengthening them through networking was taken up by NCRI. The Second stream of institutions is Gandhi Study Centres functioning in various universities and colleges.
These centres do a great deal of training, research and publication work etc. and several Gandhian Scholars are associated with these centres to present their experiences. The Third stream is con-structive work institutions – working in khadi and village industries. These institutions promote Gandhian Philosophy and work through various components of Gandhian Constructive work and these institutions need to be strengthened to play a significant role in creating a better society. Addressing the gathering, Dr S.V. Prabhath Chairman, NCRI emphasised the need for Gandhian philosophy in a society heading towards increased violence to build a just and peaceful society. He felt, it was time to sow seeds in young minds through education process and explained how Mahatma Gandhi proposed the concept of basic education. He concluded endorsing an eternal message of the Mahatma that emphasis is much on making a good human being out of an individual and that a good citizen must embed community spirit, oneness with fellow humans.
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NCRI Chairman Dr. S.V. Prabhath addressing members of
Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram. Shri GVVSDS Prasad is also seen |
Dr. S.V. Prabhath, Chairman, NCRI delivering speech at the TANA conference |
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| Dr. Sriram Sonty presenting a moment to Dr. S.V. Prabhath, Chairman, NCRI |
Dr. S.V. Prabhath, Chairman NCRI with Dr. Surapaneni,
Vice President TANA Conference |
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