Gandhiji received world reputation for his non-violent resistance style which he started during India’s freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi launched his first “Satyagraha” in 1917 in Champaran district of Bihar. As the struggle will complete its 100th anniversary in 2017, INSAAN International Foundation has written to Prime Minister, President and Ministry of Culture to declare and celebrate 2017 as Champaran Satyagrah Shatabdi Varsh. Earlier when a similar letter was sent to UPA Govt., INSAAN received a very positive response. Hope Modi-led government too takes it up as an opportunity to pay homage to Gandhiji and his Satyagraha. – Editor
Letter
To,
Mr. Narendra Modi
(Prime Minister of India)
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011.
Sub: To Declare and Celebrate 2017 as Champaran Satyagrah Shatabdi Varsh.
Our Father of the Nation, Shri Mahatma Gandhiji launched his first Satyagrah in 1917 in Champaran. 2017 will mark the 100th year of this auspicious national event that prepared the roadmap for our independence.
To keep Gandhiji’s tradition alive and to promote his ideas of non-violence and peace, we at the INSAAN International Foundation (IIF) request the Government of India to declare and observe 2017 as Champaran Satyagrah Shatabdi Varsh. This will be a great occasion to remind our youth the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and will bring attention to the neglected area of Champaran.
In this backdrop we also make the following demands in this regard:
- Kindly constitute a committee to celebrate Centenary of Champaran Satyagrah in 1917. There should be seminars, talks, Film Festivals, padyatras, mobile museums and many more events on Mahatma Gandhi and his Champaran Satyagrah of 1917.
- Kindly allot funds to renovate the Gandhi Ashram in Champaran.
- Kindly initiate measures to get rid of encroachment on various properties associated with Mahatma Gandhi in Champaran. Many people have encroached upon these national heritages and therefore, there should be measures to remove these encroachments on the properties and buildings associated with Mahatma Gandhi.
IIF team and its media wing BeyondHeadlines (www.beyondheadlines.in) have visited Champaran and published several stories on Champaran. We are committed to work with the government, civil society and media to make this event a success. We will be happy to make a presentation for you or any other designated department on how to plan and celebrate the 100th Year Celebration, if required.
Warm Regards
Afroz Alam Sahil
INSAAN International Foundation
H.No. F-56/23, First Floor, Batla House,
Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025
Email: insaanfoundation@gmail.com
