SYDNEY, September 26, 2023 : Building on last year’s remarkable success of the MAHATMA Peace Symposium 2022, Gandhi Jayanti hosted for the first time at the Parliament of NSW, this year actor & artist Saroni Roy, Founder CEO, Saroni Roy Foundation and Director, SRf Creatists, scaled up the scope of the global community forum and hosted the MAHATMA Peace Symposium 2023 (MPS2023), as an Australia-India Cultural Synergies Initiative. The theme of the Event was “meri Kahani, meri zabaani,” meaning “My Land, my story.”
Though the panelists, including Saroni and Barbara Ward, narrated anecdotes from Mahatma’s experiences in South Africa and India, The IST dug out his experiences about dealing with his philosophy of satyagraha and non-violence.
Excerpts from the inaugural Mahatma Gandhi Oration at the University of New South Wales on 30 Jan 2012:
“Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent resistance included sat-ya-gra-ha (the removal of tyranny through civil disobedience), and swa-deshi (the economic boycott of foreign goods). At the same time, he lived by his ideals and ethics and devoted himself to a higher purpose – satya – the search for truth.
Mohandas Gandhi did not invent the concepts of pacifism, noncooperation, non-violence and peaceful resistance solely as weapons to achieve political outcomes. He certainly personified and applied such concepts to an extraordinary level to himself and for the freedom of India.
The highlight of this year’s event Saroni rendered popular Gandhi songs ‘Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye’ and Raghupati Raghav Rajaram’ and Ekla Chalo’ in Bengali with Saagar Nagraj playing the violin. The MC was Preeti Thadani.
A tribute to the global peace hero Mahatma Gandhi, the MAHATMA Peace Symposium is a global community forum to discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of sustainability, real development focusing on the Gandhian philosophy and concept of Satyagraha, Sarvodaya, Swaraj, the “Constructive Program”, and its articulation in the UN-SDGs.
Beginning with a Smoking Ceremony performed by First Nations elders Uncle John & Aunty Liz, followed by a Welcome to Country and the unveiling of award-winner First Nations Artist Presten Warren’s unique artwork, the MAHATMA Peace Symposium 2023 was a true celebration of Australia-India Cultural Synergies.
“Saroni wanted the vision & themes of MPS 2023 – “My Land, My Story – Meri Kahaani, Meri Zabaani”, an Australia-India Cultural Synergies initiative, to be articulated through Art.”
These ethos were also articulated by parliamentarians and dignitaries including The Hon. Warren Kirby MP, State Member for Riverstone, Chair, State Parliamentary Friends of India, The Hon. Jacqui Munro MLC, The Hon Sanjay K Muluka, Consul HOC, Consul General of India, Sydney, The Hon. Patricia Garcia AO, through their keynote addresses, and by MC Preeti Thadani, in the presence of Councillors, Centre for Australia India Relations representatives, multicultural community leaders, media and peacebuilders from diverse parts of
NSW.
The panel discussion focussed on “My Land, My Story – Meri Kahaani, Meri Zabaani”, deep-diving into the ancient/historical links between Australian Aboriginal and Indian tribes. And how the Gandhian values of Satyagraha, Sarvodaya Swaraj, Gandhi’s “Constructive Program”, his ‘Village Economy Model’ was a forerunner to today’s Sustainable Cities.
-The report first appeared in The Indian Subcontinent Times, Sydney, October 1, 2023.
