Make Gandhi Hill a tourist attraction

Vijayawada: Anand Gokani Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, emphasised the need for the development of Gandhi Hill as a tourist destination and state headquarters to promote Gandhian philosophy. He was delighted to see the huge and marvelous Gandhi Sthupa atop the hillock during his visit to the Gandhi Hill on Wednesday. 

Gandhi Hill Foundation, Sevagram Ashram Pratisthan, Seva Dal and other associations have decided to conduct year-long celebrations to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation. The celebrations will begin on October 2, 2018.

Anand Gandhi unveiled the logo for conducting year-long programmes.  Narasarapuram MP and Gandhi Hill Foundation Chairman Gokaraju Gangaraju, MLC Dokka Manikya Varaprasad, Sevagram Ashram Pratisthan secretary GVVSDS Prasad, noted Gandhian and eye surgeon Sriram Sonty from Chicago, USA, and others attended the event on the hillock.

Anand Gandhi was mesmerised to see the inscriptions of Gandhian philosophy on the sthupa. Gokaraju Gangaraju and others explained the efforts made by the State and the Central governments for installation of Gandhi Sthupa and setting up of toy train, construction of library and other development works from 1960 to 1970 on the hillock. 

“I am delighted to visit the Gandhi Hill and it is a memorable moment for me," Anand added. Later, he interacted with the students of RCM High School and Swamy Vivekananda Centenary School of Ajit Singh Nagar at the Gandhi Library atop the hillock. 

The students asked questions related to him and Mahatma Gandhi. Replying to questions, Anand Gandhi said the life of Mahatma Gandhi was an open book and every one can read it.

He said emulating the ideals of Gandhi and living in the path shown by Gandhi is not an easy one. “It is very difficult to follow the principles of Gandhiji’, he added. He said Gandhiji always preached non-violence and always tried for equality and justice.

Replying to a query, he said Gandhiji had lot of self-respect and recalled how the incident in South Africa had changed his life. He said Gandhiji was thrown out of the running train by a railway employee for travelling in the first class coach.

He said Gandhi did not sleep that night  and determined to fight against the supremacy of white people and spent whole life for equality and freedom. The students were excited to see great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and taken autographs on the occasion.