Page 138 - SocialHarmony

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On the Path of Mahatma Gandhi’s

Teachings

(Cleanliness Torch Marathon, Gandhi Ashram,
Sabarmati, Ahmedabad. October 2, 2004)

Even in today’s competitive world, those who are familiar
with the soul of India and those who have grown up on the
soil of India, will be drawn to Gandhian philosophy. The faith
in Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals has become even stronger
than what it was in his lifetime. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas about
the organization of the village economies, his efforts to change
the narrow attitudes and create a harmonious society, his
thoughts on self-reliance, all these are relevant even today.
Therefore, Gujarat has given priority to the development of
villages in the progress of the economy and started the program
of Jyotigram.

If a resident of Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar can read a book
at any time by flicking on an electric light, why does a villager
have to beg for it? Even after so many years of independence,
can we not fulfil Gandhiji’s desire of reducing the gap between
the different classes of society; between cities and villages. The
Gujarat State Government has initiated a mission to supply 24
hour three-phase electricity to 18,000 villages through the
Jyotigram Yojna. This will improve the standard of living,
strengthen village economies, increase agricultural production
and income and develop agri-businesses. Children in villages
should get the same advantage of studying computers those in
cities. If a person living in Ahmedabad can talk to his friend in