Mangaluru: “Dissent is the core principle of civil liberty. Dissent or questioning of others should not be seen as disobedience,” said former minister Prof B K Chandrashekhar on Wednesday, January 29.
After inaugurating a national seminar called ‘Debating Gandhi’, organised jointly by Nehru Chinthana Kendra, Mangalore University and St Aloysius College, to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary at the Sanidhya Hall in St Aloysius College Chandrashekhar said, “Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas and idealisms are very relevant to the present situation. According to Gandhi, one’s speech and expressions should be welcomed and people need to be allowed to hold dharna. However, this is not the situation now and questioning others is seen as disobedience. I have never seen this kind of situation ever before over the past few decades.”
“Gandhi said that we need to practice what we preach and what we believe. But those who enjoy a prime position don’t do what they say or practice what they believe. Such mismatch of words and practice will not help build a strong society. Gandhiji was against the caste system and strived hard to abolish untouchability. But caste system and discrimination based on religion are still in practice,“ Chandrashekhar lamented.
He also asked educational institutions to inculcate good qualities in their students. “Educational institutions should teach students not to provoke, but raise their voice against injustice in the legal framework. Students should be asked not to do anything for publicity and that they should be aware the dos and don’ts when it comes to the police,” he said.
St Aloysius College principal Rev Dr Praveen Martis SJ said, “Even though Gandhiji strived hard to achieve independence for the country, it is a frightening situation that his name is being used now. The seminar ‘Debating Gandhi’ has been organised to shed light on Gandhi’s ideas and ideologies and to implement them in the present situation.”
Rector of St Aloysius Institutions Rev Fr Dionysius Vas SJ, in his presidential address, said, “If a person is not allowed to express his opinion, he will become either orthodox or violent. Enforcement of law will not help build a strong nation and it is the need of the hour to adopt Gandhi’s principles.”
In-charge director of Nehru Chinthana Kendra Prof Rajaram Tholpadi delivered the introductory speech. Political Science HOD Dr Rose Veera D’Souza welcomed the gathering and Dr Dinesh Nayak proposed a vote of thanks. After the inaugural programme, different sessions were conducted wherein different resource persons shed light upon their respective subjects.
