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ROAR 27 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 8 OCTOBER 2016

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

Why Gandhiji is called Mahatma ?

The 147th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

was celebrated at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
Hall from 10 am on Sunday 2nd Oct 2016.
Representing the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi,
various Indian Associations viz. Singapore
Gujarati Society, Hindi Society, SIA, GOPIO and
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Trust came together
to participate in the commemorative function.
On behalf of the Organising Committee,
Ambassador Sri K Kesavapany, President of SIA
welcomed the distinguished gathering.
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 27

PAGE TWO

Swami
Vimokshananda,
President of the
Singapore
Ramakrishna
Mission spoke
thereafter on
how a shy, timid
M K Gandhi was transformed into a
fighter and later into a Mahatma
large-hearted, a title aptly given by
Rabindranath Tagore and a title he
lived up to till the end.

SATURDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2016

Commissioner of India to Singapore

to address the audience. In
narrating the hard struggle that
Gandhiji waged against foriegn
rulers for the independence of
India, she added that Gandhiji was
ever mindful of the harmony of
faiths by reading from the
scriptures of different religions.
The next Speaker was Sri Murali
Pillai, a Member of Parliament.

The term Mahatma was long

before defined by Swami
Vivekananda as one whose "heart
bleeds for the poor". Swami
Vimokshananda then picturised the
struggle that Gandhi faced in an
alien land under the suppressing
Apartheid in South Africa and how
he stood up to the principles that
he considered right.
The MC requsted Her Excellency
Smt Paramita Tripathi, the Dy High

The Hon'ble Member urged all to

observe the good values practised
by Gandhiji. He emphasised the
two moving principles viz., Truth
and Non-violence as the cure for
the modern malady of insecurity
and discord.
Members of the Womens Wing of
the Hindi Society sang melodiously
two songs that were favorites of
Mahatma.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 27

PAGE THREE

SATURDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2016

The Kumar Sisters earlier sang the "Vaishnava

Janato" in Carnatic style of music to the
delight of the audience. The Singapore
Gujarati Society then staged a skit depicting
that Peace as shown by Gandhiji is possible
in countering terrorism. The participants
were as Gandhiji: Amol Karnik, as Mr. Sam:
Devanshu Zaveri, as Mr. Steve Jobs: Tejas
Chitaliya and as Obama: Hemanshu Parekh.

Background score was provided by Pathik Gandhi. The Writer, Directer,

Producer was Hemanshu Parekh. The audience applauded several times.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Sri Srinivas Rai, Chairman of MG
Memorial Trust. Earlier when the guests reached the Hall, lighting of the
lamp was done by Smt. Paramita Tripathi, the Deputy Commissioner of
the High Commission of India and other distinguished dignitaries of
Singapore, some of whom also garlanded Mahatmas statue.
Mahatma Gandhiji after a
visit to Belur Math, the HQ
of Ramakrishna Mission on
30 January 1921:
I have gone through his
works very thoroughly,
and after having gone
through them, the love
that I had for my country
became a thousand-fold. I
ask you, young men, not
to go away empty-handed
without imbibing
something of the spirit of
the place where Swami
Vivekananda lived and
died.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org