Noble soul Acharya Sunder Singh remembered
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 16
In continuation of Acharya Sunder Singh Memorial Lecture Series, Prof Harish Puri (former head of the department of political science and Dr Ambedkar Studies, GNDU) was invited as guest speaker at Shri Ram Ashram Public School.
The programme formally commenced with the lighting of the lamp by Prof Harish Puri, V Puri, former principal of DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, school president, Balbir Bajaj, educational adviser SN Joshi and Principal Vinodita Sankhyan.
He was also given a floral welcome by the school management. He was also officially welcomed by SN Joshi.
Students of Class IX and X created a spiritual ambience by performing Ganesh Vandana to the extent of perfection. A humble tribute to Acharya Sunder Singh, the founder principal of the school, was paid by singing bhajans from ‘Ashram Geetanjali’ by the teachers and students, which were compiled by him. It left the audience filled with awe and reverence.
A documentary film was shown depicting life spectrum of Acharya Sunder Singh. He was a legendary nationalist who resigned his lucrative government job of district inspector of schools under the British rule, to impart education to Indians with only seven students and founded Shri Ram Educational Society in 1923 in response to the Non-Cooperation Movement of Gandhi and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to meet the challenges of British Colonial system and to promote the spirit of nationalism among students.
Harish Puri paid homage to such a noble soul by being the guest speaker in the 3rd Acharya Sunder Singh Memorial Lecture Series.
He spoke on the topic, ‘The Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in Present Times’. He shared that, ‘Mahatma’ ‘Gandhi’ — these two words conjure up images of one man’s greatness and sacrifice to achieve the happiness of millions. Born as idealist, Gandhi worked tirelessly, and at a great cost to himself, for the freedom of India. He is one such icon who is loved and respected by people across the globe. Not only did he work tirelessly for the freedom of the nation from the rule of the British but also his teachings have inspired generations of people, including children.
Dr Puri stressed that youth now-a-days lack sense of purpose, knowledge and sincerity. It is largely due to certain vested interests who are deliberately trying to destroy Gandhian philosophy and denigrating Mahatma Gandhi. Modernisation has changed life in general. It is all the more essential for the teachers that Gandhian values are inculcated among the youth earnestly so as to make them more vivacious and active for nation-building.
Dr Puri’s lecture was simple and subtle, with touches of humour which directly impressed upon the audiences the need to wake up and take a lead to improve the social network.
The school magazine ‘Lakshay’ which comprised of three themes; celebrating 550th Pakash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev, 150th Gandhi Jayanti and glorious 20 years of school’s completion was released by the dignitaries.
