Page 4 - Vivek Magzine 2019-20

MOHAN TO MAHATMA : TALKATHON - 2019

National integration and unity in diversity does not get any better than this. In the same
pioneering spirit which helped create Vivek Education Society, in 1961, and later, affiliated schools
and colleges, the Vivek Vidyalaya and College have done something never attempted before.
On the 2nd of October, 2019, it has been 150 years since the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. To mark
this century and a half, Vivek Education Society organised ‘Talkathon-2019,’ a one of a kind initiative
in which 150 students spoke about Gandhiji and
his ideology, and how they are pertinent and
relevant in this day and age, too. The youngest of
these orators is in the senior kindergarten, and the
oldest, in the final year of graduate school. They
expressed themselves in more than 15 different
languages, most of them Indian. Every Indian
state had its representative here, and there were
several students who spoke confidently in
Sanskrit. There were a couple of kids who spoke
in German, too.
Shri D Sivanandan, former CP Mumbai, and DGP
Maharashtra, and Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai Dy Director (M.A.-LS) University of Mumbai graced the
occasion and addressed students on the subject of the relevance of Gandhian principles in the 21st
century.
Describing the event as a rare occasion, the
chief guest, Shri. D Sivanandhan expressed his
desire to listen to the students speak on Gandhiji’s
philosophy and its relevance. He also spoke on
the essence of 'giving back to the society' and thus
reciprocate the gratitude that we owe to the
society. Concerned about the growing corruption
Shri D Sivanandhan discussed in detail about
Gandhian views on trusteeship of wealth. He
requested the school authorities to make space to
set up a notice board whereby students would be
encouraged to write on a daily basis, Gandhi's thoughts so that students would reflect and imbibe
those thoughts not only in words but also in deeds.
Other dignitary, motivational speaker, Dr. Radhakrishnan pillai, emphasized the importance of
learning our mother tongue and other regional languages. He highlighted the three lessons that one
should learn from Gandhiji's life - firstly life is all about hope - One need to have a goal in life and
that one goal can transform one’s life.