CLUJ organises panel discussion on Gandhian gospels in COVID-19

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: Department of Dean Students Welfare organized an online panel discussion for the students of PGI Schools and Constituent Colleges of Cluster University of Jammu to commemorate Martyrs Day.
Prof Bhopinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs was the chief guest at the event while Dr Geetanjali A Rana, Dean Faculty of Humanities and Liberal Arts, chaired the sessions which were attended by about 100 students.
Padamshree Dr S P Varma, President Gandhi Global Family; Dr Monica Sharma, Director Gandhian Studies Centre, Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar and Ranjeet Kalra, Assistant Director Academic Staff College, also member BCCI, were the Resource Persons for the panel discussion on the topic “Relevance of Gandhian Gospels in COVID 19 Crisis”.
S P Varma deliberated at length about the teachings of Gandhiji and a dire need to implement them in these trying times of COVID 19. He stressed that the pandemic is a wake up call for the world and brings back to focus the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s call against a globalised lifestyle which has made us weaker than ever. He cited the examples of the significant relief camps organised during the pandemic to propagate Gandhian philosophy.
Dr Monica Sharma explained that the Gandhian principles should be our guidelines and we should endeavour to respond to Gandhian teachings on rural economy and environment. She added that Gandhiji’s simple teachings and philosophy inspire us to shape our thoughts and do better in a time of crisis such as COVID 19 pandemic.
Ranjit Kalra stressed that to mitigate the spread of virus, for which allopathic medicine offers no cure, we should model ourselves on Gandhian lifestyle of Naturopathy and focus on a qualitative life and a peaceful mind. He also stressed on the need to practice excellent personal hygiene and also promote and ensure community sanitization.
Dr Geetanjali A Rana stressed that these trying pandemic times give us an opportunity to focus on regenerating our rural economy and redeeming humanity and planet Earth.
Dr Twinkle Suri, Dean Students Welfare, stressed that the current pandemic spotlights the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call to follow the principles of Swadeshi, Swachhta and Sarvodaya in letter and spirit.
The panel discussion was anchored by Dr Revika Arora while Dr Mandeep Singh moderated the proceedings. Dr Banpreet Kour gave a formal vote of thanks.