COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS IN DURBAN
THE Gandhi Development Trust will hold an interfaith peace prayer at the Phoenix Settlement in Inanda on Wednesday to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The year also marks the 150th birthday anniversary of Gandhi’s wife, Kasturba. The event will take place from 9am with the lighting of a lamp and conclude around noon. At 3pm, guests will reconvene at Bulwer Park in Berea, where two trees will be planted by apartheid activists Swaminathan Gounden and Albertina Luthuli in memory of Gandhi and Kasturba.
A conference celebrating Mahatma and Kasturba Gandhi, titled “The Confluence of Spirituality and Life – Gandhian Legacy for the 21st Century”, will be held from Thursday to Saturday at the Phoenix Settlement. On the first day, the topics include unpacking the legacy: a discussion of Gandhian views and programmes; and the Gandhian legacy and its application in current situations. Day two topics include Gandhi’s lifelong journey, learning and development of new ways; and Mohandas Gandhi’s critique: contextualising a political life and economic constructs. On the third day, the topic is advancing the legacy: be the change. A Round Table Discussion on Gandhi and the India Diaspora will be held on Sunday at 10.30am at the 1860 Heritage Centre in Derby Street. It will be hosted by the 1860 Heritage Centre and the Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP). The India delegation includes Virendra Gupta (ARSP president), Professor Ajay Dubey (Centre for African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University), and Dr Rakesh Pandey (editor, Pravasi Sansar). The SA delegation includes Nirode Bramdaw (honorary consulgeneral of Mauritius), Ashante NgidiArcher (social cohesion advocate, Department of Arts and Culture), and Professor Kalpana Hiralal (University of KwaZulu-Natal). RSVP by calling 031 309 1858.