GUWAHATI, Oct 6 - A discussion on Gandhian philosophy and its application in the present day ignited the minds of thinkers, academicians and students from across the country and abroad at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in the two-day international conference on �Mahatma Gandhi�s Vision and Contemporary Political Leadership in North East India� which ended today, a press release received here stated.
Organised by the International Centre for Gandhian Studies (ICGS), a research centre of the USTM, the conference was addressed by Tushar Arun Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Prof Sudarshan Iyengar, noted Gandhian, Dr Liaquat Ali, Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Prof RM Pant, Director, NIRD&PR and Prof B Khadria, chairman, Zakir Hussain Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Addressing the valedictory session of the conference today, Gandhi said, �If we understand Bapu and believe in him, we have to make his cause our cause. The North East of India is a melting pot of diverse ethnic communities and cultures and the region has been experiencing the militancy problem since decades. Gandhian philosophy and ideals are most relevant in the context of the North East and the mainland India must be sensitive towards the people and problem in the region.�
Dr Liaquat Ali from Bangladesh said that Gandhi�s ideals and teachings are very much applicable in today�s world and it is time to inculcate and spread this thought among people across borders.
Prof Sudarshan Iyengar emphasised on the concept of �servant leadership� of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr Alaka Sarma, Director of ICGS and Pro VC, USTM, also addressed the gathering.
M Hoque, Chancellor, USTM, said that there is an urgent need to rekindle Mahatma Gandhi�s philosophy of non-violence, peace, brotherhood and unity among the people of the country.
The conference was inaugurated by Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday.