• News
  • City News
  • nagpur News
  • ‘Nai Talim’: Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion 1936 call to resonate in virtual world on his death anniversary
This story is from January 26, 2022

‘Nai Talim’: Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion 1936 call to resonate in virtual world on his death anniversary

‘Nai Talim’: Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion 1936 call to resonate in virtual world on his death anniversary
Nagpur: The state education department has asked all schools to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary (January 30) and create awareness about his life and teachings.
School education minister Varsha Gaikwad told TOI that these events can be held online as schools are closed in many districts. The reason for schools being asked to take this up is primarily due to the ‘Nai Talim’, a call given by Gandhi during the 1937 Shikshan Parishad in Wardha, which talked about education being an integral part of a society’s development.

The state government issued order talks about the role which Gandhi played in giving shape to modern day education policies. The state government order talks about the role which Gandhi played in giving shape to modern day education policies. “It is important that all students and the new generation is made aware about Gandhiji’s thoughts,” the governent directive said. This directive applies to all schools, regardless of the management category.
The state’s letter also talks about how legends like Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein heaped praise on Gandhiji, proving that he was admired by people of all statures.
Schools have to conduct various events, which have been bifurcated according to class levels. The two events common to all class students is paying tributes to Gandhi and each student ensuring cleaning at his/her home.
The other tasks include cleaning own house on January 30, talk about helping your family members or others etc. All tasks revolve around a certain aspect of Gandhi’s ideology of truth and non-violence. The other activities include lectures on Gandhi’s life, fancy dress competition and essay writing.

Schools have been asked to upload videos on social media using the hashtag #naitalim2022.
Rajeev Deshpande, state president of Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj, which is aligned with Gandian thoughts, welcomed the move. “I am very happy that the state government is going ahead with this initiative. Gandhiji’s thoughts are much needed in today’s world where hate and violence is taking over. However, we need to extrapolate these teachings further by a storytelling method which helps students to visualize the impact of Gandhiji’s teaching,” said Deshpande. He added that similar initiatives must also be carried out for those studying at university level too.
THE VIDARBHA CONNECTION
* ‘Nai Talim’ was call given by Mahatma Gandhi in 1937
* This was at Wardha during the Shikshan Parishad conference
* It envisions a society based on principles of non-violence in which education plays an integral role
* Gandhi talked about compulsary education for kids aged 7 to 14, which is almost similar to what the RTE Act envisions
* ‘Nai Talim’ linked education with teaching in mother tongue and promoted vocational skills
* It said education and work are intertwined and should benefit the society as a whole
* Work-centric education of ‘Nai Talim’ puts focus on making learners financially independent, courtesy the skill they were taught
* Many of his thoughts have since then become part of the government’s official policy
* Vocational skills, free education and learning in mother tongue (primary) are the focus under National Education Policy
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA