|
"The Castle", the
Cultural Association of Limenaria in Thassos, organised on the 3rd
November 2004 the first-ever in Greece lecture of the Indologist and
chairman of ELINEPA, Dr. Demetrios Vassiliades, on the subject
“Mahatma Gandhi: the Father of Modern India.” The well-organised
cultural evening gathered schoolteachers, scholars as well as
students and residents of the island. The audience for the lecture
came from as far as Kavala on the mainland. The whole event was
covered with appreciative comments in the local press.
 During
the lecture there was a screening of a documentary on Mahatma Gandhi
(produced by the Publications Department of the Government of
India), which included rare original photographs and cinematographic
extracts from the life and work of the great national leader of
modern India. At the same time, extracts were read from "Mahatma
Gandhi: A Holy Soul", a biography written by Helen Kazantzaki (wife
of Nikos Kazantzakis) in Greek. A discussion followed, which
extended to several other topics regarding India.
Speaking about
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Dr. Vassiliades said that his
spirituality and his moral fabric influenced his political action
and that he attracted international recognition for his high morals
and values with which he defended the interests of India during its
struggle for freedom from British rule. Gandhi advocated peaceful
resistance and non-collaboration with the British rulers as well as
non-violence, while, at the same time, he tried to unite the Indian
population with the concept of religious tolerance. The Indian
people gave him the Sanskrit title "Mahatma", a term related to
“saint”: (Maha = Great + Atma = Soul).
 The
next day, Dr. Vassiliades visited the Lyceum of Limenaria where he
gave a lecture to the senior students about Greek and Indian
philosophy and had long discussions with the teachers, who expressed
interest in twinning their school with an equivalent school in
India. Later, the chairman of ELINEPA visited the famous sculptor
and painter Kostas Lovoulos in
his studio and discussed with him topics relating to the cultural
situation of the island and its international standing.
The Association of
the Friends of Nations of the University of Athens as well as other
cultural associations in Kavala, Thessaloniki, Ioannina and Chania
expressed intense interest for the organisation’s cultural
programmes, as well as an interest for Mahatma Gandhi. This is an
indication of the Greeks’ affection and interest for the leading
figure of modern India.
Photoes:
Cover: Poster of the lecture “Mahatma Gandhi: The Father
of Modern India” in Thassos.
Up: Dr. Vassiliades projecting the documentary on Mahatma Gandhi
in the hall Kyparissos Kyparissiou, Limenaria, Thassos.
Down:
After the lecture: Kostas Vlastaris (secretary of the association),
Nikos Chrisafis (president of the association), Demetrios
Vassiliades, Agis Nikolis, Katerina Iliadou, Ina Leontaraki,
and Thomas Thomel.
|
