Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrated at Skokie Library

SKOKIE,IL Senator Ram Villivalam of 8th Illinois District along with Indian Community Members celebrated the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at the Skokie Public Library.

The meeting started with Dr Sriram Sonty , a Gandhian from the greater Chicago land area presenting the transformation of Mohandas Gandhi to Mahatma after the Train Eviction incident at the Pietermaritzburg Station RSA on June 7,1893 that led to the “ Satyagraha” a Passive Civil disobedience movement in South Africa to eliminate apartheid segregation culture perpetuated by the South African White government. Senator Ram Villivalam spoke on the ideals of Peace and non violence of Mahatma Gandhi. Sri Mandali Buddhaprasad, Former Deputy Speaker , Andhra Pradesh Govt, spoke on the ideals of Gandhiji and his struggle towards the independence of India from British Government.

Dr Sriram Sonty and Mr Buddha Prasad donated a Selected Works on Mahatma Gandhi by Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar to Mr Matt MacKellar , a Skokie Library representative as a beginning of a Gandhi Section at the Skokie Public Library with more books by and on Mahatma Gandhi to follow. Mr David Gengan , Chairman, Pietermaritzburg Gandhi Memorial Committee spoke on the historical details of the Mohandas Gandhi’s eviction from the First Class Compartment incident indicating Mohandas Gandhi’s transformation to fight the aparthied. Mr Gollanapalli Prasad , Sarvodaya India spoke on the Gandhiji’s life experiences in South Africa. Mrs Ela Gandhi, Grand Daughter of Mahatma Gandhi elaborated on her early childhood memories with her grand father Mahatma Gandhi and his life’s struggles and Satyagraha Movement and about the Phoenix Settlement and Tolstoy Farms the First Two Gandhi Ashrams established in South Africa.

Mrs Ela Gandhi & Mr Gollanapalli Prasad were honored with the Global Gandhi Peace awards by Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA) and Mr Gengan & Sri Buddhaprasad with Gandhi Peace Awards. An Exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi’s Life Events by Dr Sriram Sonty was appreciated by the audience that attended the program. The Program ended with Question and Answer session with Mrs Ela Gandhi.