Gandhi Day was celebrated on Sunday, October 6th 2024 at 2 pm in Rangos Ballroom of Jared L. Cohon University Center at Carnegie Mellon University featuring Creative Expressions winners and participants from elementary (grades 3 - 5), middle (grades 6 - 8), and high (grades 9 - 12) school students. The 2024 Mahatma Gandhi Birthday Celebration were organized by AHINSA with programming support from the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion at Carnegie Mellon University. This year’s Gandhi Day theme was:
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Crafting Harmony in the Contemporary World
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Mahatma Gandhi - "In the pursuit of community harmony, let us remember that the foundation lies in the collective spirit of understanding and tolerance. We must strive for unity, embracing the diversity that enriches our shared existence. Nonviolence is the cornerstone; through it, we can craft a community where each individual contributes to the well-being of the whole. The path to harmony demands empathy, self-discipline, and a commitment to dialogue. In this collective endeavor, we build not just a community but a sanctuary of peace, echoing the principles that sustain humanity."
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Martin Luther King Jr. - “In the quest for community harmony, let us heed the call for justice, equality, and brotherhood. Driven by a dream of unity, we must confront the forces that divide us. Through love, understanding, and nonviolent resistance, we can forge a community where the content of character prevails over the color of skin. Together, we build bridges of empathy and compassion, dismantling the barriers that stand in the way of a harmonious society. In the tapestry of humanity, let our shared values weave a story of togetherness, where every individual contributes to the symphony of peace and justice.”
Awards for each school level category were named for the following with First Prize - $750, Second Prize - $500, and Third prize - $250:
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​Manjuben Germanwala Scholarship for Elementary School Students
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Manubhai and Shantiben Sheth Scholarship for Middle School Students
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Vinod and Indu Doshi Peace Scholarship for High School Students​
Grades 3 – 5: First Prize Winner - Flynn Saksen (Bradford Woods Elementary School)
For my entry for "crafting harmony in the contemporary world" I crafted bead strings across a canvas I painted of our world which use the words I think are important to support the 4 pillars of:
1. Interfaith dialogue
2. Non-violent conflict resolution,
3. Community building, and
4. Citizen diplomacy.
I like this also because these are bracelets that we give in friendship to each other. Friendship can be crafted to bring all kids of different people together. The beaded words are actually simple - if we can all adopt some of them across the world, we come closer to peace.
