Gandhi’s call for Swachhata Abhiyan, other ideals remembered on his martyrdom day in Rajasthan

A pushpanjali programme was organised by Bharat Seva Sansthan and other Gandhian institutions on the death anniversary of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate the crusade for cleanliness (Swachhata) he embarked on a century ago with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma leading the state in observing the Martyrs’ Day on Friday.

In a befitting tribute to Bapu, Gandhian thinkers, followers, students, and cadets of the NCC and scouts carried out a march from the Central Park to the Gandhi Vatika here this morning. At the vatika, floral tributes were offered to the father of the nation amid bhajans and devotional songs.

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In his address on the occasion, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) former Chairman Prof B M Sharma said, “The Mahatma had given a clarion call for the proactive role of higher castes in organised ways to bring Swachhata all around – in homes and public places.

GandhiJi had given higher priority to the task of Swachhata even over the political independence; he used to say that the goal of Swachhata abhiyan is more difficult and much more important than freedom of the India, said Prof Sharma, a former Director of the state government-run Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance & Social Sciences.

It was more than a century ago when the Bapu underlined ‘this cause’ in the form of a campaign that is still making echoes now in present times.

This, in a way, was part of the Mahatma’s crusade against the evil of untouchability for which he had floated Harijan Sevak Sangh. He had given mandate to the Sangh to raise voice for the welfare and rights of the Dalit stratum which used to clean homes, public places, toilets and all.

He also called upon higher strata of society to join hands with Harijans in making the Swachhata Abhiyan a success. “The task would not be achieved unless all of us work proactively for it”, Sharma added.

Bharat Seva Sansthan Secretary and the former Advocate General of Rajasthan Girdhari Singh Bafna gave a call for resolving to adopt Swadeshi Khadi products saying “this would be the true tributes to the Mahatma on this day of his martyrdom.

Other speakers, Gandhian Thinker Sawai Singh, and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) former Chairman Rajiv Arora also lauded the GandhiJi’ ideals in his social reforms agenda including women empowerment. They said Gandhi’s ideals and agenda in social reforms are relevant even after a century.

Besides this programme, many programmes were held all over the state to pay tributes to Gandhi.

Chief Minister Sharma attended at least two programmes to mark the day, one, the Pushpanjali programme at his official residence(CMR) and the other at the state secretariat where Chief Secretary V Srinivas and a large number of bureaucrats and the state employees also took part.

Prayers and Pushpanjali programme was also held at the Congress state head- quarters here.

A 2-minute silence was observed at all programmes at 11:00am.