India:

A Gandhian Seminar Towards Global Unity

From 2-4 October 1997 about 75 Gandhians, mostly from India, gathered to discuss"Towards Global Unity". The site was the Acharyakul Institute set up by Gandhi follower Vinoba Bhave, just off the Gandhi Centre of Sewagram near Wardha town. Most of the participants were elderly and seasoned Gandhians or/and committed disciples of Vinoba Bhave. To quite a few Gandhians of India today Vinoba is the true spiritual successor of Gandhi, The "Acharya" or teacher (Vinoba) is accepted as the messenger of the "Mahatma" or great soul (Gandhi). Vinobha's symbol of peaceful wasking actualized Gandhi's desire to spread the 'Gospel' of non-violence among the common people living in the villages. Vinoba in his walks called for gifts of land from the better-off for the use and ownership of the landless, and these amounted to thousands of acres all over India. Even in Bangladesh during his two-week trek there in 1962, Vinoba received land as "Bhoodan". Giving away one's excess wealth and living ! simply was the formula that recurred often in the different prayers and talks during the conference. Special sub-themes were the growing tensions of today; Gandhism at the turn of this century; and the role of women in the process of combatting materialistic globalization. There were also two special speakers, apart from the main theme: Masanobu Fukuoka of Japan, who demonstrated his process of farming without using any fertilizer; and the hermit Swami Chidananda of Rishikesh in the Himalayas, who spoke of the inter-connectedness of science and religion.

The atmosphere of the seminar was friendly. Taking part in the evening prayer ceremony at Sewagram Ashram of Gandhi, and visiting Paunar Ashram of Vinoba about 20 km away were unforgettable experiences. On the last day it was proclaimed by consensus that the next such gathering would take place three years from now, in the year 2000, and at this same venue. There were only about fifteen women participants. Of the dozen or so papers presented only two were by women, Dr. Medha Nanivadekar of Shivaji University of Kohlapur, and Dr. Leena Deshpande from Pune. Quite a few pointed out that there should be a more visible participation by women in future Gandhian gatherings of this type.

By Br. Jarlath D'Souza, BPFB