The Amity Institute of Social Sciences (AISS), Amity University Madhya Pradesh, organised a series of academic and experiential activities to commemorate the 157th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, focusing on the contemporary relevance and practical application of Gandhian values.
As part of the celebrations, an Educational Tour to Madhya Bharat Khadi Sangh, Gwalior, was organised on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The visit was undertaken by 32 students and 4 faculty members of AISS and coordinated by Dr. Siddharth Dawane, Dr. Sakshi Singh, Dr. Ashwathi Menon and Dr. Anirudh Khadelwal. The tour provided students with first-hand exposure to the history, philosophy and production processes associated with Khadi and the Swadeshi movement. Through interactions and practical demonstrations, students gained an understanding of self-reliance, dignity of labour, rural development, indigenous production and economic empowerment, including the process of manufacturing the Indian National Flag. The visit enabled students to connect classroom learning in history and social sciences with contemporary practices of traditional and sustainable livelihoods.
Complementing this experiential activity, AISS and the Department of History organised an Essay Writing Competition on the theme “The Gandhi We Need Today: Relevance of Gandhian Values in a Changing India.” The competition encouraged students to critically examine the relevance of Gandhian principles in the context of contemporary social, economic, political and cultural challenges. A total of 40 essays were received, of which 35 eligible submissions were evaluated. Students were encouraged to engage with values such as truth, non-violence, equality, social responsibility, ethical leadership and peaceful coexistence, while developing their research, analytical, creative and written communication skills.