Mysuru: A preliminary meeting was conducted at the Syndicate Meeting Room of Crawford Hall, University of Mysore (UoM), recently to discuss about the celebrations of ‘Gandhi Bharat’, the commemorative event marking the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi chaired Congress Session at Belagavi in 1924.

Following the State Government’s decision to host round the year celebrations to mark the momentous occasion, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Manasagangothri, UoM, has been drafting a proposal.

Vice-Chairman of Karnataka State Higher Education Council Prof. S.R. Niranjana, who participated in the meeting, explained about the significance of ‘Gandhi Bharat’. 

“A Detailed Project Report (DPR) including the establishment of Gandhi Study, Research and Extension Centre in the city, project cost and design should be included in the proposal. The final touches will be given to the proposal at the high-level meeting to be chaired by Tourism Minister H.K. Patil in Bengaluru,” said Prof. Niranjana.

 The Centre should be developed as a model for others, where lectures on Mahatma Gandhi for the students of PU and Degree Colleges be held, along with organising a seminar and workshop for the youths, said Prof. Niranjana, detailing about the motive behind the concept.

The year-long events including Gandhi Jayanti celebration, staging of street play on Gandhiji during Jumboo Savari procession as part of Vijayadashami and other innovative programmes shall be planned, as decided at the meeting.

UoM Registrar M.K. Savitha chaired the meeting that was attended by senior journalist G.B. Basavaraj, writer Dr. Jagadish Koppa, Advisor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Research Institute Basavaraj Devanur, Joint Director of Kannada and Culture Department V.N. Mallikarjunswamy, Assistant Director Dr. M.D. Sudarshan and Director of Centre for Gandhian Studies Prof. S. Narendra Kumar.