Gandhi Darshan Club

Union Christian College has always cherished its relationship with Mahatma Gandhi who visited the college on 18^th March 1925. Through various activities the college community has commemorated its Gandhian legacy. Since 2007 we have been paying homage to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi with a pushparchana in front of the Gandhimaavu on martyr’s day. The Gandhi Darshan club intends to formalize the aforesaid activities along with several new initiatives to propagate and practice Gandhian way of life.

Scope of the club

The club aims to familiarize the students of the college with Gandhian thought and principles. The club also intends to generate a sense of pride and understanding of the invaluable legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and other stalwarts of the nation who have blessed the college with their gracious presence. The club shall also work towards kindling a spirit of activity and enthusiasm in the volunteers to spread the Gandhian ideas of wholesome development, peace and non-violence.

Objectives of the Club

To explore the contemporary relevance and practicality of Gandhian Ahimsa
To nurture an eco-friendly generation with a sense of social responsibility
To develop religious tolerance
To promote a healthy lifestyle in line with Gandhism
To inculcate a democratic and socialist culture among the student community

Beneficiaries of the club

Student community of the college will benefit in diverse ways out of the club. The whole college community will benefit out of the environmental and cleaning activities of the club.

Activities of the proposed Gandhi Darshan club

Conducting debates and skits on Gandhian non violence and peace
Promoting sale, exhibition and use of khadi.
To conduct awareness programs against drug abuse.
Planting and nurturing fruit trees and herbs in and around the campus.
Placing waste bins and appropriate slogans around the campus
Waste to wealth – workshops and awareness classes.
Seminars and competitions – essay writing, cartoon designing, speech etc- on special days commemorating national leaders
Hands on training for self employment (handicraft class, stitching class etc)
Awareness programmes against religious fanaticism and terrorism.
Campus cleaning on regular basis.

Source of funding

The club hopes to get support from the Gandhian study centre for its proposed seminars and awareness programmes. Further we expect Khadibhavan to extend their help in our activities related to propagation of Khadi. Sale of Khadi products and other handmade goods like eco friendly pens and bags made by our volunteers will hopefully generate sufficient amount for the in house routine activities of the club. Well-wishers from the college community as well as from neighborhood of the college has shown their willingness to cooperate with the activities of the proposed club.

ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

The following are the activities of Gandhi Darshan Club during the academic year 2022-23.

The Club organized a one week book reading programme “Othu cheraam Kathakal Parayam” from June 20 onwards on the occasion of June 19 Vayana Divam, Reading Day commemorating the legacy of literacy pioneer P N Panicker.

Celebrating 75 years of Indian Independence, the Club conducted poetry writing competition in Malayalam and English for students of the college on the topic- “Me and my Country”.
On 3^rd September, Club members participated in the official release of the book, “Why Gandhi?” co-edited by Dr. G. Geethika and chapter contributed by Dr. Twincy Varghese, and published by Probhodha Trust, Kochi.
As part of celebrating Gandhi Jayanti, the Club organized a series of inter-collegiate competitions.
“Letter to Bapu”- Letter writing competition wherein students were instructed to write an open letter to Bapu expressing why they admire him and also share their expectations and anxieties about the present and future.
Caption writing competition was launched on official Instagram page of the Club. A photograph of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and others signing the adoption of the Constitution was shared and received 17 promising captions.
Poetry writing competition on the title, “Swapnabhoomika”.
Quiz competition was held online.
The prize distribution was held at Changampuzha park, Edapally during a talk organized by Probhodha Trust, Kochi and prizes were given away by eminent writer and orator, Sri. M.K. Sanu.
On October 17, Sri. K. Satchidanandan, renowned writer and President of Kerala Sahitya Akademi officially inaugurated the Club’s 2022-23 activities and spoke on the topic, “Why Gandhi?”. On the occasion, the College signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Probhodha Trust, Kochi, with whom the Club has been associating since its inception in 2020.
The Club participated in the “Centennial Vista” Centenary Mega Exhibition of the College by putting up an impressive exhibition of posters and books on Gandhi. The Club members conducted instant quiz for school students who visited the stall.
Commemorating Martyrs’ Day, the following programmes were conducted-
In collaboration with the Parudeesa 2.0 College Union, a debate competition was held on the topic, “Campus politics weakens higher education sector”.
Talk by Dr. K S Gracy, Assistant Professor, Dept of History, St. Peter’s College, Kolenchery, on the topic, “Gandhi Smaranakal” was held on 8^th

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22

The Club has succeeded in organizing various programmes in 2021-22, mostly in online mode and continues to pursue its aim in 2022-23 in offline mode.

National webinar on “Gandhi, Truth & Contemporary World”, organized in association with Probhodha Trust, Kochi, on 8 June 2021. The keynote speaker was Dr. K. Aravindakshan, renowned scholar in Gandhian Thought and Values.
A discussion on the topic “Share drug facts to save lives” was conducted in Club House on Anti Narcotic Day, on 26 June, 2021.
International Plastic Bag Free Day-
A discussion on “Plastic bag free world” was conducted in Club House on International Plastic Bag Free Day, on 3 July 2021. Dr. Justin R Nayagam, Assistant Professor in Botany, Union Christian College, Aluva, led the discussion.
“Re-Creation- Trash to Treasure”, Competition in craft making from waste materials.
World Population Day
As part of commemorating World Population Day, on 11 July 2021, the Club organized “Quiz Fiesta- Fact and Furios” online quiz competition for UCians.
Extempore competition- Your Voice Deserves to be Heard
National Webinar on “Magic & Reality” was organised in association with Probhodha Trust, Kochi, Dept. of Commerce, Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Thevara, Kochi, & NCC Unit of Nehru Arts & Science College, Kanhangad, on 8 August, 2021. The resource person was Prof. Gopinath Muthukad, renowed Magician & Motivational Speaker
Four members of Gandhi Darshan Club presented papers in the Two day National Webinar on Gandhi Contemporary Times, 15-16 August 2021, organized by Probhodha Trust.
National Handloom Day was celebrated on 7 August 2021 by organizing an inter-collegiate competition “Your Stitch Fix”- make crafts from used materials made from natural fibres.
The Club commemorated the Quit India Movement on 8 August 2021 by organizing Crossword Puzzle Quiz.
Cartoon contest held on 9 August 2021 on the occasion of remembrance of Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day
On 5 September 2021, Teachers’ Day was celebrated by conducting a letter writing competition exclusively for UCian teachers.
International Literacy Day on 8 September 2021 was celebrated by organizing the quiz competition, “Guess the Book and Win a Book”.
As part of observing Suicide Prevention Day Gandhi Darshan Club organized an awareness talk on 10 September 2021 by Dr. Jini K Gopinath, Chief Psychology Officer, YourDOST, Bangalore.
Doodle Art Competition organized as part of World Ozone Day.
Gandhi Darshan Club associated with Probhodha Trust to conduct its 11^th Book Talk, on the book, “India Ente Pranaya Vismayam” written by Prof. Gopinath Muthukad, renowned magician. The book was introduced by Dr. Prashanth P and discussed by Prof. K Satchidanandan.
National webinar on “Gandhi and Science” organized in association with Probhodha Trust on 25 September, 2021. Prof. Anamik Shah, Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith was the key speaker.
Club Coordinator, Dr. Twincy Varghese was the chief resource person for the national webinar on “Women in public sphere- Gandhian view”, organized by Probhodha Trust
As part of observing Constitution Day, the club associated with College Library and Department of Economics to conduct Inter-department Quiz competition on Indian Constitution.
Online magazine displaying creative contributions of students was released as part of observing India’s 73^rd Republic Day.
Celebrating India’s 75^th Year of Independence- Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Observing 74^th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Martyrdom, Gandhi Darshan Club published the digital magazine-‘Incredible India’, with articles, poems stories and drawings of the students of UC College and organized a variety of Inter-collegiate competitions (25-30 January 2022).
Intercollegiate Caption Writing Competition
Intercollegiate Quiz Competition
Intercollegiate Story Writing competition (English and Malayalam)
Intercollegiate Essay Writing competition (English and Malayalam)
Observing Martyr’s Day, on 30^th January the Club in association with the Probhodha Trust, Kochi organized a webinar “Commemorating Mahatma Gandhi” by Sri T R N Prabhu, President, Sevagram Ashram Pratishtan, Wardha.
On 2^nd and 18^th March 2022, Khadi exhibition-cum-sale was organized in the campus.
The Valedictory function of the Club’s 2021-22 activities was held on 1^st April 2022, in association with Field Outreach Bureau, Govt of India and Matrubhoomi Study Circle. Dr. Vinodkumar Kallolickal, President, Probhodha Trust delivered Keynote address on “Gandhi and Science”. Prizes to winners of all the competitions held in 2021-22 were distributed.