Chief Minister addresses the centenary year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s first Raipur visit with video conferencing
Raipur, 20 December 2020. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel while addressing the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi’s first Raipur arrival today, said that the legends of Chhattisgarh and Chhattisgarh have contributed significantly in every era including independence movement of the country. The best example of the Civil Disobedience Movement launched by the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi is the Kandel Canal Satyagraha of the farmers of Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister addressed the centenary celebrations held at Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum Complex in the capital Raipur through video conferencing from his residence office.
It is noteworthy that the farmers of Kandel were fined by the British Government, which the farmers refused to beat. The British government tried to collect a fine by auctioning the cattle of the farmers, but people refused to buy the cattle at the auction on the call of the leaders of the Kandel Canal Satyagraha. Mahatma Gandhi came to Chhattisgarh on 20 December 1920 on the request of Babu Chhote Lal Srivastava, the pioneer leader of the Kandel Canal Satyagraha. On receiving the news of Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival, the British government removed the penalty imposed on the farmers. This was the first major victory of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that whenever the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, had an impact on the entire society. The tribals of Chhattisgarh started the Jungle Satyagraha, taking inspiration from Bapu. Thousands of young people of Chhattisgarh quit the job and jumped into the freedom movement. Thousands of people took prison trips. The battle of untouchability started from Chhattisgarh. Along with the freedom movement, the Father of the Nation had also emphasized to remove the evils and anomalies of the society. He envisaged cleanliness, self-reliance, self-reliance and village self-rule. Mahatma Gandhi used to say that India lives in villages, the village is the soul of India.
Mr. Baghel said that today Chhattisgarh has started on the path shown by Gandhiji. To realize Bapu’s vision of village self-government, on the 150th anniversary of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, the Government of Chhattisgarh started the Suraji village scheme. Due to which our farmers and villages are moving towards self-sufficiency. The workers are getting continuous work. Chhattisgarh showed the world that money can also be earned from cow dung. Sales of cow dung and vermi compost increased people’s income and Chhattisgarh moved towards organic farming. The Chief Minister appreciated the program organized by the Department of Culture and Archeology of the State Government and said that there is a need to make the new generation aware of the contribution of the great men of Chhattisgarh. Leprosy Eradication Service Award was given to the leprosy service personnel and Sanitation Warrior Award to the scavengers in the program.
Presiding over the program, Culture Minister Amarjit Bhagat said that the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi is not only the originator of the freedom movement, but our inspiration. He united the whole nation in the thread of unity. Moved with everyone in the freedom movement. He understood the problems of the farmers and tried to remove the inconsistencies of untouchability. He was the inspiration for cleanliness. Mr. Bhagat said that the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Mr. Bhupesh Baghel waived off the pain of farmers, bought paddy at Rs 2500 quintal and implemented schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyaya Yojana. Today the farmers of the country are agitating, but the farmers of Chhattisgarh are happy.
Secretary of the Culture Department Mr. Anbalagan P. said that the freedom movement in Chhattisgarh got new energy from the Kandel Canal Satyagraha. The Chief Minister started the program by garlanding the portrait of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. A short film on the Kandel Canal Satyagraha was performed on the occasion. Director of Culture Department Shri Vivek Acharya proposed a vote of thanks. Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Mineral Development Corporation, Mr. Girish Dewangan, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Vinod Verma and Mr. Ruchir Garg were present at the Chief Minister’s residence. Culture Minister Shri Amarjeet Bhagat, along with many public representatives and enlightened citizens were present at the venue. Bharati Bandhu, who received the Padma Shri award at the venue, performed the hymns of Mahatma Gandhi.
