Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy today inaugurated a photo exhibition on “Our Mahatma” on Platform no. 1 at Secunderabad Railway Station.
Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Reddy said Gandhiji’s teachings are relevant in these times when terrorism was spreading in many parts of the world. “No country or individual can hope to achieve anything, through violent means”, he said. He said many countries have acknowledged Gandhiji’s greatness in securing freedom with Non-violence and Satyagraha as his weapons.
The Minister said that the young people, particularly youth and children have to know the teachings of the Mahatma. They need to know the struggles Gandhiji spearheaded and fought with the British, to free our country.
Kishan Reddy, congratulated the Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for organizing the photo exhibition with rare photos of the Mahatma at the railway station accessible to all. He recalled that Gandhiji had travelled in India in trains as a common man during the freedom struggle. In South Africa, Gandhiji was forcibly made to alight a train at Pietermaritzburg, due to his colour. The seeds of questioning and standing up for what is right, may have been sown in his mind , at that time, Reddy said.
The photo exhibition displays photos of Gandhiji’s childhood, the Alfred High School in which he studied, the Champaran, Salt Satyagraha, Quit India and Non cooperation movements, he lad against the British. He also said the Union Government was gearing up to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma in a big way. All the people should participate in these celebrations, including government employees of all ranks, he added.
John Thomas, SCR General Manager, said as part of the Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, the railways propose to open Digital museums on Gandhiji at seven railway stations and also open plant nurseries at 18 railway stations. The railways will implement Swacch Bharat program from September 16 to 30 in big way, he added.
Later, Kishan Reddy distributed prizes to the winners in Essay competition, conducted by ROB at PM Kaushal Vikas Training Centers. The Song & Drama Division artistes staged a cultural Program with patriotism as message. Divisional Railway Manager Anand Bhatia, CPRO Rakesh, ROB Director M Devendra, Asst Director, Dr Manas Krishnakant, ROB, Hari Babu, Assistant Director, ROB, ROB FPOs Bharata Lakshmi and Koteswara Rao and M Srinivas (ROB) participated in the program. (NSS)
