Gandhiji led a spiritual and moral life, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that coinciding with the Gandhi Jayanti, the world is celebrating International Non-Violence Day today to strengthen peace, harmony, unity and brotherhood in the world inspired by Gandhiji's policies and ideals.

The Chief Minister paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma on his birth anniversary in a programme held at Gandhi Mandap atop Sarania hills in Guwahati today. On the occasion, he placed a wreath at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and attended an all-faith prayer at Gandhi Mandap. The Gandhi Jayanti celebration was organized by the Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority.

The Chief Minister also paid tributes to the country's second Prime Minister, freedom fighter and people's leader Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary today.

The Chief Minister said Mahatma Gandhi lived a very humble life and he was guided by the ideals of spiritual and moral values of the age-old civilization of the country. In his speech, the Chief Minister also mentioned how Gandhiji lived a very healthy and disciplined life.

The Chief Minister said Gandhiji visited Assam four times. In 1946, Gandhiji arrived at Sharania Hills on his fourth visit to Assam. Explaining the historical importance of the visit, the Chief Minister mentioned noted Gandhian Natwar Thakkar who had written that during that visit Gandhiji had inaugurated the Assam chapter of Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust and Gram Sevika Vidyalaya. This was the only branch in the entire country which was inaugurated by Gandhiji, he said, adding that Gandhiji had entrusted the responsibility of running the branch to Gandhian leader late Amal Prabha Das. The Chief Minister said the Sharania hills were donated by Amal Prabha Das' father Dr Harekrishna Das for Gram Sevika Vidyalaya and other activities. The Chief Minister said that Gandhiji wanted to live among the poor people and therefore a small hut was built especially for him. He said that all the senior Congress leaders led by Dr Harekrishna Das, Gopinath Bardoloi and Dr Bhubaneswar Barua worked together to build the hut.

The Chief Minister said that the museum of the mandap has been reconstructed and made more informative under the initiatives of Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) and the Public Works Department. He said the GSCL has implemented these projects in the first phase and several other projects are underway in the second phase, he said adding that many arrangements will be made for visitors including viewpoints, parking etc. in the coming days. He also informed me that the development of the Gita Mandir has started under the GSCL and will be completed within a year. The Chief Minister said that arrangements have been made for the procurement of 100 CNG buses and 200 electric buses for the city under the GSCL. Moreover, tenders are invited for the development of Brahmaputra riverfront, he said, a press release said.

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