The Gandhi Memorial Center of Bethesda, Maryland, celebrates Gandhi Jayanti.
By Surekha Vijh
Mahatma Gandhi, whose non-violence values are even more relevant today, was remembered on the occasion of his 146th birth anniversary, in Washington, DC on October 2. Gandhi Jayanti (birthday) was celebrated here in the nation’s capital as it was celebrated globally.
Many local organizations, including the Indian Embassy and the Gandhi Center in Washington DC paid tribute to the Mahatma, who is referred by Indians as the father of the nation.
Sudhir Narain and Avirodh Sharma Ramasmooj from Agra paid the offering of classical music by singing Gandhi’s favorite “Ram Dhun” and Saint Kabir’s bhajans (devotional songs) on the eve at the Indian Embassy.
Arun K. Singh, the Indian Ambassador to the United States, paid floral tribute at the Gandhi statue on Massachusetts Avenue, opposite to the Indian Embassy. The statue was gifted on September 16, 2000 by the former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in the presence of then US President Bill Clinton. Many passers by stopped to pay their respect to Gandhi on the occasion.
Celebration at Gandhi Memorial Center of Bethesda
The Gandhi Memorial Center of Bethesda, Maryland in cooperation with the Embassy of India commemorated the anniversary at Golden Lotus Temple (across the street from the Gandhi Memorial Center).
The center had organized a cultural program that started with a Bharatanatyam dance by Charu Narsimhan as an invocation with devotional music reflecting the life and soul of Mahatma Gandhi. Mithila Somak introduced the artists.
Carrie Trybulec, director of the Gandhi Memorial Center, in her welcome address, said that Gandhi believed in good thoughts. He believed that pure thoughts had the power to easily overcome impure thoughts. We all needed to balance our physical work with our mental activity, she added.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Arun K. Singh said that Gandhi believed in Karma and said that his life was his message. India was trying to apply his message in everyday activities.
“There is nothing in this world so purifying as knowledge. He who is perfected by yoga finds it in himself in the fullness of time…” he quoted Gandhi as saying. “There is a connection between the mind and soul. We become the change we seek.”
He said that India was trying to inculcate Gandhian visions such as clean India, right to education and protecting girl child.
Kamala, the founding director and the president of the Gandhi Memorial Center, said that 40 years ago Gandhi Memorial Center was established and since then they have continued to preserve Gandhi’s philosophy and ideals.
Jibomn Jokhon –a song by Rabindranath Tagore was presented by Spriya Dutt on vocals while Ron Dicus on violin and Jeffrey Hallam Bouer joined her along with the outstanding Golden Lotus Temple Bell choir.
Gandhi’s favorite, “Ram Dhun’ was poignantly presented by Vishnu Digambar Piluskar, accompanied by Jeff Bauer, Steve Bauer, Fred Dixon, Jacki Rockwell, Zaara Ahmed, with Vasati Athavale on harmonium and Pratap Das on tabla.
Another devotional offering- “The Shivoham” composition by Adi Shankarachariya was presented by Supriya Dutt accompanied by Jeff Bauer and his group with Debpriya Aayan on tabla.
Students of Sitar Niketan, school of Hindustani Classical music by Alif Laila, offered a sitar ensemble composition based on ‘Ram Dhun’ accompaniment by Debu Nayak on tabla.
“The evening musical offerings on Gandhi Jayanti were spiritually uplifting,” said Majula Kumar, program manager at Smithsonian Institution, DC. She is also the director of the play ‘Indira – An Intimate Portrait,’ (Global Performing Arts).
“The play explores the struggles, conflicts and dilemmas Indira faced in her lesser known personal life,” she added.