Workshop for Students on YOUTH FOR PEACE

Workshop on “YOUTH FOR PEACE”

Date : 13.09.2024, Friday

Venue : Gandhi Peace Foundation campus, Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam– Mini Hall, Chennai-18.

Brief report on this session:

This session was conducted as the first follow-up for the volunteer students of Hindustan Arts and Science College, Padur, Kelambakkam, Chennai, who registered after attending the ‘Conscience Over Convenience’ workshop on August 31, 2024 (Organized at Khadi Emporium, ASSEFA, 279, Avvai Shanmugam Salai, Royapettah, Chennai-14)

The session was led by Secretary of GPF Dr. S. Kulandaisamy.

Session Briefings:

10.30 a.m.:

• Feedback was shared by the student participants of the ‘Conscience Over Convenience’ workshop held on 31st August. A total of 29 students attended, including 12 new participants.

10:45 a.m.:

• Students were shown the Vinayagar statue at the entrance of Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam, Chennai.

• They also learned about the significance of the Tulasi altar at the entrance of the hall. It was intriguing to discover that only a few places in India hold the Holy ashes of Mahatma Gandhiji, and beneath the Tulasi altar lies a portion of the ashes of the Father of the Nation.

• The students were shown a photograph of Ms. Ambujammal displayed at the entrance of the main hall. Ms. Ambujammal generously donated her house to charity and Gandhi Peace Foundation has operated from this building for about 29 years since 1995

• Note: (Ms. Ambujammal (1899-1983) was an Indian independence activist and women’s rights advocate. A committed Gandhian, she participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and served as vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. In 1964, she was honored with the Padma Shri Award.)

10.50 a.m.: Say ‘Good morning My dear Friends’

The students were asked to form a circle in the open area in front of the main gate, and two games were conducted by the trainer, Dr. S. Kulandaisamy.

Game 1: Students greeted each other, bowed, and passed on the greeting with the song ‘

Good morning my dear friend. How are you this morning? Will dance in circle, and bow and pass on.’

Game 2 : In the big circle, the students had to run and follow this:

Trainer : எத்தனை எத்தனை?

Participants : நீங்க சொன்ன அத்தனை அத்தனை..

Trainer : number 5

Participants had to quickly form groups of five, and those left out would step aside. The game continued until only two participants remained in the circle.

These activities were demonstrated to the student volunteers as examples of ice-breaker games that could be played with school students to energize and engage them.

11.10 a.m.:

The students were then asked to enter the mini hall, where a discussion about the games took place.

Are you a volunteer?

• A volunteer offers or agrees to do something without being forced or paid to do it.

• The first step in that is coming forward to answer without any hesitation or second thought.

• The importance of always carrying a notebook and pen was emphasized for a volunteer to observe and note it down.

• For a volunteer, every moment can be a learning opportunity, and every second offers a chance to explore peace.

11:15 a.m.–

Theme setting: A game for understanding a problem and a twist as a solution.

Student Activity

1. Home Activity: Reflect on and rewrite the poem “Hello, My Dear Friend” with a focus on the concept of peace.

2. The students were asked to write about the following:

   1. “What happened during Game 2, and what did you learn from it?” They were given two minutes to complete the task.

   2. “How did the game make you feel? Did it make you happy or sad, and why? Is there an alternative approach?” They were given one minute to respond.

3. A discussion followed about how the game could promote peace. It was noted that forcing others out of the game could disturb their sense of peace. One of the students proposed a solution to this issue.

11:25 a.m.–

The following questions were asked to students by Dr.S.Kulandaisamy to just not make them explore but be a co-explorer along with them. It was mentioned it is not a workshop but instead a space created for everyone to explore the concept of peace.

Question 1: What is peace?

Students Reponses: being silent with no sound, keeping the mind silent , not disturbing others.

Trainer: Peace is about becoming more sensitive and responding appropriately. For example, even asking someone to stop talking can be considered a form of violence. Instead, we wait until they finish speaking. This practice was followed throughout the entire workshop, including the students when they had the opportunity to speak.

Question 2: Why no peace in life ?

Students responses: Always searching for something else, not being contended with what we have, greed to have more, fear of life, competition, wanted to be like others, feeling less safe.

The world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not for everyone’s greed – Mahatma Gandhi 

Question 3: What disturbs peace?

Student Activity: Students were given 3 minutes to list out 5 situations that disturb the peace.

Students responses: The students’ responses were varied, and included the following: *Unable to differentiate between wants and needs*No ethics*Searching for the meaning of life*Not living in the present*Vengeance*Fear*Overthinking *Unable to find what I needed*Not mindful*not thinking about Collective peace*Need to be grateful*Unable to handle emotions*Unable to realize who I am*Emotional dependency*Unable to sort the situation and act accordingly Unable to achieve goals*Unable to maintain good relationships*Unable to accept a situation*Over expectation*Greed*Not sorting out the problem and thinking of a solution

Dr.S.Kulandaisamy mentioned that above were personal problems disturbing peace and below were the other areas disturbing peace which need to be explored and need for search for relevant sustainable solutions. Students were asked to think about,

Indivisible whole:

Dr. Kulandhaisamy explained that the universe is an indivisible whole. He urged the students to consider the impact of their actions, asking, ‘When you create a problem, will it affect others or not?

“All humanity is one undivided and indivisible family. “

― Mahatma Gandhi

12:10 p.m. Importance of Human labor

Mr.Richard B. Gregg and Mahatma Gandhi

Dr.Kulandaisamy narrated a meeting between Mr.Richard B Gregg and Mahatma Gandhiji.

• During their discussion, Gregg asked about the significance of human labor and the spinning wheel.

• Gandhi explained that Indians had been under British rule for over 350 years, and when the British leave, there would be a risk that Indians would harbor feelings of vengeance and hatred towards them.

• Gandhi believed that the British should leave India as friends, not as enemies. If they left as enemies, this sense of vengeance might be redirected among Indians themselves, which could be harmful to the country.

• To prevent this, Gandhi emphasized the need for Indians to focus their energy on physical labor, such as spinning, to divert attention from the anger in their hearts. That is why he prescribed 18 Constructive programs for us to work on by which the country will become fit to protect the freedom that they would obviously get, and use it reverentially.

Later, Richard Gregg reflected on this by stating,

• ‘More than two-thirds of the nerve fibers that leave the cerebrum—the front part of the brain where we do our thinking—go to the cerebellum, which controls action. These nerve fibers are responsible for maintaining and changing the muscular tone of the body in preparation for effective action.

• This illustrates the close connection between the mind and physical activity.'”

Reference: https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/a-discipline-for-nonviolence.pdf

12:15 p.m. Student Activity – Focus on Problem

• Students were asked to form groups of six.

• Each group was to choose one of the previously mentioned areas and develop a solution/skit to a problem related to it.

• They were given 20 minutes for discussion.

12:35 p.m – Student Activity

Students presented their discussion on topics –

1. Freedom

2. Money loan (கடன்)

3. holding on and let it go

4. Natural resources

5. Obsession of religion

6. Alcohol

12:45 p.m – Dr. Kulandaisamy’s Discussion:

Question 1: What is my role in these problems, and who will solve them?

Question 2: Who will come forward to work for peace?

Question 3: What is the center of the Earth?

Student responses:

1. “Each one of us” – The trainer pointed out that “each one” is just a theory.

2. “Everyone” – The trainer explained that pushing a rope is difficult but pulling a rope to bring it along with you is easier.

3. “Volunteers”

4. “Those most affected by the problem” will come forward.

1:00 p.m. – Mahatma Gandhi & the Book ‘Unto This Last ‘

• Unto This Last, an essay by John Ruskin critical of economics, had a profound influence on Gandhi’s philosophy.

• The phrase “Unto this Last” comes from the Bible, meaning to fight for justice until the very last person receives justice.

• Gandhi discovered this book in March 1904 through Henry Polak, whom he met in a vegetarian restaurant in South Africa.

• Three key teachings from the book that influenced Gandhi the most were:

1. The welfare of an individual is found in the welfare of all.

2. Everyone should receive the same salary because everyone works for the same duration.

3. The noblest profession – agriculture and handicraft

• Gandhi immediately decided to change his life according to Ruskin’s teachings, leading to the creation of the Phoenix Settlement.

• Out of his total salary of $4000, he spent only $40 on his family, dedicating the rest to the community. He lived by example.

• Gandhi translated Unto This Last into Gujarati in 1908, giving it the title Sarvodaya (The Welfare of All).”

1:10 p.m – Dr. Kulandaisamy’s exploration and his sharing

• How and who will solve the problems that disturb peace?

• I (நான்) should take the initiative.

• Small steps accumulate into greater peace (micro actions lead to macro outcomes).

• One step is enough. Take it immediately.

• Practice self-awareness and self-restraint.

• Alternatives to current situations as per Dr. Kulandaisamy’s exploration

• The concept of homeschooling as an alternative to formal education.

• Exploring by reading books that promote alternative lifestyles. An example was given of Lanza Del Vasto ,French Gandhi a person in France deeply inspired by Gandhi, who established a place called “The Ark Commune.”

• Explore the negative effects of competition, where recognizing the winner is acceptable, but publicly broadcasting the losers, thus affecting their peace for life, should be reconsidered, particularly regarding TV channels that promote such competitions.

Inner process will be purified when you become a real volunteer working for peace.

1:15 p.m. – Discussion on How to Convey These Ideas to School Students:

• Dr. Kulandaisamy asked the college students how they would communicate these ideas to school students.

• The students’ responses included delivering lectures, sharing through examples, and organizing competitions.

• The trainer emphasized that school students can easily absorb peace-related concepts through stories and introduced ‘Gandhian way to peace’ story books , a collection of 150 stories written by him.

1:20 p.m. Student Activity – Story Reading

Each group formed earlier was given a small book containing seven stories. The groups were asked to choose one story for discussion, and one member had to either act out or narrate the story.

1:25 p.m. – 2:05 p.m – Lunch Break

A delicious lunch was served to the students, which included vegetable biryani, potato poriyal, cucumber thayir pachadi, curd rice, kesari, and appalam. The meal was arranged by GPF, and the students enjoyed their meal to the fullest.

2:05 p.m. – The session began with Dr. S. Kulandaisamy explaining to the students how stories can be effectively presented to school students. Two stories were then told and demonstrated by Mrs. Sridevi Suganya and Mrs. Indumathi.

2:10 p.m. – Mrs. Sridevi Suganya narrated the story “Muthumaikul Illamai” from The Gandhian Way to Peace by Dr. S. Kulandaisamy.

2:20 p.m. – Mrs. Indumathi introduced six principles that form the foundation of these stories, as developed by Dr. S. Kulandaisamy, and narrated the story “Who is the Hero?”

3:10 p.m. – Student Activity: Storytelling by Students

One member from each group presented a story, and the students participated with great enthusiasm. The narrations, accompanied by songs, were enjoyable and inspired the audience.

3:35 p.m. –

• Dr. Kulandaisamy introduced Ms. Padma Venkataraman, an Indian Woman social activist, President of the Women’s Indian Association and one of the Patron Members of GPF.

• She has been actively involved in women’s welfare and the rehabilitation of leprosy-affected individuals, with centers in Chengalpattu and Paranur.

• Dr. Kulandaisamy also spoke about her efforts to promote artwork by leprosy-affected persons at Taj Coromandel, where she facilitated the sale of their paintings to foreigners, generating income for them in dollars.

• Ms. Padma Venkataraman is a strong supporter of the Gandhi Peace Foundation and is the eldest daughter of former Indian President R. Venkataraman.

• She was introduced as a person of action rather than words.

3:40 p.m. – Ms. Padma Venkataraman’s Talk

• Ms. Venkataraman stressed the importance of treating Narikuravars (an indigenous, semi-nomadic community from Tamil Nadu)and lepers with humanity.

• She mentioned that globally, an estimated two to three million people are permanently disabled due to leprosy, with India having the highest number of cases, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

• She encouraged the students to broaden their horizons, look beyond their personal lives, and emphasized time management as key to expanding one’s life’s scope.

• She praised Dr. S. Kulandaisamy for his mission to inspire future leaders based on Gandhian values, particularly through his work with youth in schools and colleges, helping them become independent thinkers and tomorrow’s leaders through his talks and stories.

• She noted that every character in these stories will resonate with the students’ lives, highlighting their powerful impact on children.

3.45 p.m – Dr.S.Kulandaisamy ‘s final note on this workshop

• He discussed how to sustain peace for future generations amidst various challenges, including Artificial Intelligence and advancing technology.

Truth is God

• He emphasized the idea that “Truth is God” and posed the question of how we can explore the truth within ourselves.

• He encouraged the students to read the stories, expand on the projects, and contribute to developing a sustainable education module for peace.

• In conclusion, he remarked that a peaceful world can only be created when we find peace within ourselves and share it with others.

3:55 p.m. – Student Activity

Students submitted their notes for evaluation as part of the volunteer selection process.

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