News

2008

PeaceJam celebrations at University of Houston

Peacejam is an initiative of Nobel Peace Laureates Working with Youth to Create Positive Change! Ms. Betty Williams of Northern Ireland , recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976, presided over the celebrations of Peacejam at the University of Houston from March 28 through March 30. University was humming with participants from at least 15 schools or other youth based organizations learning Peace and displaying their Peace Projects. Please find below a sample, an original song presented by KIPP High School students, Andrea Azzalin, Lizette Coronado, Elvira Marquez and Lissa Ramirez.

This is the kind of plan who helps those that seem broken, Helps them when, Violence breaks their life, and brings them pain. I've been wasting time with useless plans, But now it's over, let me tell you why, I'm through, I've found something new, That'll get us through, This is it, it's automatic, I'm sure of it, No lie, So don't even say, That this is just not the way, 'Cause I've been waiting all my life, For change just like this,But this is it, It's the ultimate thing. This kind if plan who hands peace instead of shivers, Up and down your spine, Proves that violence ain't the way, for good to stay. This kind of plan that blows my mind, But now it's our turn, It's been right in front of me, What the world needs, Why I didn't see. This is it, it's the ulttimate, It's automatic, I'm sure of it, No lie, So don't even say, That this is just not the way, 'Cause I've been waiting all my life, For change just like this, But this is it, it's the ultimate thing.

2007

Presentation @ United Methodist Church

On Tuesday, February 13, representatives from the Mahatma Gandhi Library made a presentation to members of the Women's Mission Group of the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. The mission of the UMC group this year is "Social Justice", and the Gandhi Library was invited to share stories of the Mahatma's life and teachings to inspire the members, and to provide concrete examples of how Gandhiji was able to bring about nonviolent social change.

Dr. Manish Wani, Dr. Pramod Pathak, Hemant Gajarawala, Victor Schill and Teb Lokey gave a PowerPoint slide presentation and shared personal experiences and stories about Gandhiji's inspirations, followers, life and teachings. Following the presentation, the Gandhi Library representatives joined with the members of the UMC women's group in discussing several topics regarding the application of Gandhi's teachings to the world situation today. Lunch was kindly provided by the church.

2006

Sugar Land Middle School recognized

• St Agnes Academy - Peace and Non-Violence Class
  Mahatma Gandhi Library was invited by Ms. Anne Doyle of St Agnes Academy to speak to her Peace and Non- Violence class on Wednesday, November 29, 2006. Presentation was made to three different classes of 25 students each for about 35 minutes for each class. Ellen Burns, Chairman of Board of Directors of Decade of Non-Violence, and Dr. Sulekh Jain and Atul Kothari from Mahatma Gandhi Library made the presentation. The presentation consisted of three topics, Mahatma Gandhi, Active Non-Violence and Decade of Non-Violence. Mahatma Gandhi Library thanks Ms. Anne Doyle for the invitation and opportunity.



• 1000 Lights For Peace - Mahatma Gandhi Week, 2006
  Click here for more information



• Creative Writing Contest - Mahatma Gandhi Week - 2006
  Click here to view winners and read winning entries of Creative Writing Contest



• Winners of the Speech Contest - Mahatma Gandhi Week - 2006
  Click here to view winners



• Painting For Peace - Under the leadership of Dr. Imrana Malik, muslim community of Houston in cooperation with others is creating a Mural For Peace. If you are interested in participating or help in any other way, please contact Dr. Imrana Malik at imranam@hotmail.com
  
  
• Wisdom of Gandhi Workshop at Unity Church
  Unity Peacemakers of Unity Church organized the above workshop on each Sunday of February as part of their Season of Non-Violence. The season of non- violence is observed each year from January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated to April 4, the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assasinated.
  
  It was quite an experience for those who attended. Each of the session was facilitated by a different moderator, namely Ann Clark, Bill Nelson, Teb Lokey, Deepak Bhatt and Sulekh Jain. The book used for the workshop was "Gandhi - Tha Man" by Eknath Easwaran.
  
  If you want to know more about these workshops or would like to conduct them at your organization click here to E-mail us.
  
  
• Connection and Collaboration Meeting @ Unity Church
  Mahatma Gandhi Library was at the above conference on February 4 at Unity Church located at 2929 Unity Church. Mahatma Gandhi Library members attended this conference to establish connection and collaboration with other organizations in Houston area with similar goals and objectives.
  
  
• Gandhi Library Booth @ India's Republic Day Fair
  Thanks to following volunteers our display booth on January 28 at India's Republic Day Fair was quite a success. The volunteers who devoted time by greeting the visitors to booth were: Vishwadeepbhai Barad, Deepakbhai and Gitaben Bhatt, Premankurbhai Cholia, Maheshbhai Gandhi, Atulbhai and Ritaben Kothari, Satishbhai Parikh, Bhagawandasbhai Patel, Pramodbhai and Ushaben Pathak. Please join me in giving them our heartfelt thanks for their time and effort.
  
  In a span of about 3 to 4 hours we had more than 200 visitors of whom about 50 have become library members. Please join me in welcoming them as they are receiving their 1st Mahatma Gandhi Library Monthly Newsletter.

2005

• Riverwood Middle School Presentation, Humble ISD - December 8, 2005
  Thanks to all volunteers who worked very hard to make this presentation a grand success and a memorable event for children at the school. Please join me in thanking Vishwadeepbhai Barad, Deepakbhai Bhatt, Sharad Goenka, Atul Kothari, Teb Lokey and Manishbhai Wani.
  
  The presentation was made on Thursday, December 8, 2005 from 8 AM to 12 Noon. The volunteers left Houston around 6 AM to reach Kingwood by 7:15 AM. This gave them adequate time to set up the presentation and props. The presentation was made every hour for four different classes of the school. Special thanks to Vishwadeepbhai for driving and making his SUV available to carry Mahatma Gandhi's larger than life prop of Mahatma Gandhi in addition to all the other material for the presentation.
  
  
• Thank You Houston ! Mahatma Gandhi Week - 2005 and it's Grand Finale! - Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi/Peace Fair - Sunday, October 2, 2005
  
  Mahatma Gandhi Week ended with a bang on Sunday, October 2, 2005 with Tribute to Gandhi, a cultural program and Peace Fair at The Emery/Weiner School. It was enchanting evening filled with dances, choir, songs and last but not the least The Award Ceremony. Winners of Essay and Speech Contest were awarded prizes. It was a treat to listen to winning speeches from children as young as 8 and winning essays. The Honrable Consul General of India Shree S M Gavai presided as the "Chief Guest".
  
  This year was the First year for Peace Fair. Four organizations were represented. The children enjoyed Henna Artists, Face Painters, Storyteller and last not but the least young Blake playing his piano for the benefit of the crowd.
  
  This was the first year of Field Trips for children. Nearly 125 children from 3 different organizations took advantage of the Field Trips. In words of the particpating organizations like Sri Meenakshi Temple, Chinmaya Mission and Arya Samaj the children thoroughly enjoyed the Field Trips and at the same time learned about Mahatma Gandhi and universal values of Sat(truth), Ahimsa(Non-Violence), Prem (Love) and Seva(service). It was a Field Trip they will remeber for a long time to come, perhaps for their life time.
  
  In addition, Essay Contest had more than 130 entries compared to only 6 entries in 2004. The Speech contest attracted 26 participants compared to 14 participants in 2004. Please click on the links on this page to find out more about various intiatives and activities of Mahatma Gandhi Week
  
  Our sincere thanks to every one who was part of the week in one fashion or another. Without the help of many unsung heroes none of this would have been possible. If you have not joined in Mahatma Gandhi Week yet, then please do so now. You can be a volunteer at Mahatma Gandhi Library Booths, attend monthly meetings, help with organization of various activities, etc.
  
  Winner:
  The speech contest for age group 10 and below. Winner: Rishi Wagle
  Click here to read the winning speech
  
  The essay contest for high school students. Winner: 1st Place - Zuhair Siddiqui
  Click here to read the essay
  
  
• Mahatma Gandhi Library is pleased to announce a Citywide Speech Contest for all children of Greater Houston. The contest will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2005 at 10AM at Arya Samaj Greater, 14375 Schiller Road, Houston, TX 77082. Please click here for more information
  
  

2004

• Unveiling of Gandhi Mural - Nov 11
  
  
• Mahatma Gandhi Week - Sept 27-Oct 3
  
  
• "Mahatma Gandhi Week" will be on “Open Journal” radio show on KPFT 90.1 FM on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Panel will consist of Mr. Atul Kothari A board member of Mahatama Gandhi Library Inc, Julie Eberly of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and Walter Lokey - Show will be moderated by Meena Datt.
  
  
• Mahatma Gandhi week will be on “Open Forum” radio show on KTRK 1070AM on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  
  
• PBS/KUHT Channel 8 will air "A Force More Powerful" on Sept. 26 @ 4:00 p.m.
  
  
• Booth at August 15 - India's Independence Day Celebrations
  
  
• Mr. Atul Kothari was interviewd by Marisa Ramirez of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston on Wednesday, July 14, 2004. click here to read this interview.