Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of harmony, peace and compassion found expression through music, dance and recognition of young artistic talent as the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) commemorated his 157th birth anniversary on Oct 2.
Held at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall on Race Course Lane, the Gandhi Jayanti programme brought together students, gurus and community members, while also honouring eight young artistes with the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Cultural Scholarship Awards.
The event was attended by Guest of Honour Shabbir Hakimuddin Hassanbhai, chairperson of the SIFAS Trustees, and Ms Sudhi Choudhary, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Singapore, along with SIFAS management committee members and trustees of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall.
For SIFAS president K.V. Rao, Gandhi’s teachings remain particularly relevant at a time of global conflict and division.
He noted that Gandhi Jayanti is also observed worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence and highlighted three enduring themes from Gandhi’s philosophy – harmony, peace and compassion.
Referring to Gandhi’s belief in remaining rooted in one’s own culture while being open to others, Mr Rao said Singapore offered a powerful contemporary example.
Mr Rao said: “In 1921 Gandhiji wrote: ‘I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.’ Here in Singapore, we live this every day: Open to every culture, yet rooted in our own.”
Gandhi’s belief that non-violence was humanity’s greatest force was equally pertinent today, Mr Rao added.
“In a world still too quick to reach for weapons, those words have lost none of their force.”
Following a welcome address by Mahatma Gandhi Memorial trustee Dr Sarjit Singh, SIFAS music students and a tutor presented two iconic, deeply revered Indian musical prayers dedicated to global peace, harmony and universal brotherhood -- Shanthi Nilava Vendum and Maitreem Bhajatha, accompanied by mridangam and violin.
Internationally acclaimed speaker Dr Shobhana Radhakrishna spoke about Gandhi’s philosophy and its contemporary relevance, while a Bharatanatyam-Kathak fusion set to Asatoma Sadgamaya and Vaishnava Janato (Indian spiritual compositions that emphasise universal peace, ethical living and human compassion which were popularised by Gandhi) explored themes of truth, peace and compassion.
Eight SIFAS students received cultural scholarships: Shriya Palaniappan for Bharatanatyam, Mirdhini Shri Rajaram for Kathak, Navaneeth Mahalingam for keyboard, Tejashree Vasudev for Kuchipudi, Rangarajan Jaganathan for mridangam, Kavya Sivakumar for veena, Shanmuga Vadivu Natarajan for visual arts and Ananya Tomar for Hindustani vocal.
Dr Sarjit used Gandhi’s famous words – “My life is my message” – to challenge the young recipients to consider what they wanted their own lives to represent.
“Tonight you receive more than an award. You receive a vote of confidence,” he told them.
He urged the students not to measure success solely by personal achievement.
“Your education may open doors. Your character will determine what you do when those doors open. And your compassion will determine who else gets through those doors because of you.”
