- Intellectual discourse in Bhopal
By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: An intellectual discourse organised by the Congress Vichar Vibhag at the Rajiv Gandhi Sabhagar witnessed sharp political commentary as speakers reflected on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and their contemporary relevance.
Renowned journalist Pankaj Chaturvedi elaborated on what he described as “Gandhi’s Ram”, portraying it as a symbol of inclusivity and social justice. He stated that Gandhi’s conception of Ram embraced Dalits, the marginalised and tribal communities, uplifting those left behind in society. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was using Ram as a political instrument, thereby undermining the moral boundaries historically associated with the figure.
Chaturvedi further contrasted Gandhi’s simplicity with present-day governance, noting that Gandhi had established a modest service hut in Wardha with Rs 100 and contributed to India’s freedom struggle, whereas, he claimed, those spending Rs 20,000 crore on constructing grand memorials had rendered 81 crore citizens dependent on five kilograms of food grain. “Dependence can never be synonymous with freedom,” he remarked.
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jeetu Patwari continued the discussion, asserting that as long as Gandhi’s ideals endure, the ideology associated with Nathuram Godse cannot prevail. He alleged repeated attempts to symbolically “kill” Gandhi even after his assassination, claiming that despite such efforts, Gandhi’s ideas remain alive and will endure indefinitely.
Chairman of the State Congress Vichar Vibhag Bhupendra Gupta questioned what he termed attempts to portray Israel as a “fatherland” of India, arguing that a civilisation thousands of years old could not equate its heritage with that of a comparatively modern nation. He called upon the BJP to clarify the basis of such assertions.
Former Minister PC Sharma highlighted Gandhi’s contribution to the nation and alleged that the BJP was seeking new ideological anchors under the pretext of foreign policy narratives. Mahendra Joshi of the Congress Training Department also criticised the BJP, describing its ideological stance in satirical terms.
The programme, centred on the theme of “Gandhi’s Ram”, was attended by office-bearers and workers of the Vichar Vibhag, INTUC and Narmada Seva Sena. Former Labour Commissioner Ram Gopal Pandey expressed his views on the new labour laws. The proceedings were conducted by Bhupendra Gupta, while Vikram Choudhary delivered the vote of thanks.
