Mysuru:  As many as 300 students are participating in the 12-day Cement Sculpture  Camp on Gandhiji that began at Gandhi Bhavan premises in Manasagangothri campus here yesterday.

The camp has been organised jointly by the Department of Kannada and Culture, Karnataka Shilpakala Academy, Bengaluru, Rangayana, Mysuru and Centre for Gandhian Studies, University of Mysore (UoM), on account of 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi.

About 15 artisans of National and International repute from various parts of the State will train the students at the camp.

They will teach the students to carve sculptures of various models based on the life and teachings of Gandhiji. They will prepare the models after seeing the rare pictures of Gandhiji

Speaking after inaugurating the camp, District Minister G.T. Devegowda regretted that the Gram Swaraj, violence-free society conceptualised by Mahatma Gandhi is yet to be realised.

He underlined the need for re-launching a Movement to popularise Gandhian values among the youth in particular for establishment of communal harmony and unity among people.

Gandhiji always advocated the principles of non-violence, truth and simplicity besides stressing for the betterment of the oppressed classes.

Unfortunately, the present day youth are moving away from Gandhian values, he said.

Referring on the Union Government’s decision of celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi after allocating sufficient funds, he ridiculed that both, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, have now realised the importance and teachings of Gandhiji.

He accused BJP of standing  against the principles of Gandhiji and said, “at least they now understood Gandhian values are all the more relevant in the present day context.”

He lauded the Centre for Gandhian Studies for its efforts to spread Gandhian values.

Lamenting on declining Gandhian thoughts in school curriculum framed by various State syllabus, he said that he had given directions to all the Vice-Chancellors to introspect the teachings and contributions of Gandhiji besides taking steps  to spread his message among students, at the recently held meeting.

University of Mysore Acting Vice-Chancellor Aisha M. Shariff, Karnataka Shilpakala Academy Chairman R. Kalachar, Centre for Gandhian Studies Director M.P. Shekar, Varsity Registrar Prof. R. Rajanna and others were present during the inauguration of the camp.