The ghastly massacre sent a terrific wave of shock, horror, consternation and sorrow throughout the length and breadth of the country. The Jallianwala tragedy changed the course of history and the complexion of the struggle of India to overthrow the yoke of British rule. It served as the biggest source of warmth and inspiration to freedom fighters devoted to the cause of Indian independence for the next 28 years, when ultimately India attained freedom from foreign rule.
A 100 years later the world and humanity is still hungering for peace. While conflicts and struggles continue unabated around different parts of the world, the global challenge today remains how a peaceful society coexists. The world community and the entire humanity are of the firm belief that violence can never produce peace. In his discourse on the essence of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi had time and again reiterated that “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”. Fortunately there are growing numbers of voices of sanity and nonviolence across the globe.
This year on April 13, 2019, as part of the centenary commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh incident, several institutions in Delhi and NCR including institutions from different states such as Assam, Chattisgarh, Shillong, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Sonepat and Panipat as part of the GSDS initiative took part in the commemorative programme by involving the children to take part in various creative activities to raise awareness about the significance of the tragedy that unfolded 100 years ago.
The institutions that took part in the commemorative programme included: Axom Vidya Mandir, Noonmati, Guwahati; Geet Vitan Kala Kendra of Performing Arts, Chattisgarh; B S F Senior Secondary, School, Umpling, Shillong, Meghalaya; Kasturba Mahila Vidyapeeth Intermediate College, Sewapuri, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh; Delhi Public School, Sonepat; Delhi Public School, Panipat City; Summerfields School Gurugram; Blue Bells School, Gurugram; Kasturba Balika Vidyalaya Ishwar Nagar Delhi; Jaspal Kaur Public School, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, Sulabh Public School Little Flowers Public School, Shahadra, New Delhi and Delhi Public School, Mathura Road.
Almost 3000 children from 11 schools took part in the programme wherein they not only spoke about the event that shook humanity 100 years ago, but also gave their ideas of peace and how the world should adopt this for saving humanity. They also engaged themselves in creative pursuits, putting their thoughts into paper through art, poetry, music and prayer.
The principal of all the participating institutions also spoke on the occasion and led the children and staff into a silent tribute as a respect to the martyrs.
