'Lohia's secular creed should be passed on' TNN, Mar 22, 2010, 12.56am IST
PANAJI: The contribution of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia to the Goa liberation movement should be preserved and passed on to the youth through books, drama and cinema, said N Shivdas, president Goa Konkani Akademi on Sunday.
Shivdas was speaking as the guest of honour at the centenary symposium on Dr Ram Manohar Lohia at the Kala Academy, Panaji. The symposium was organized by the Sahitya Akademi, Kala Academy and Goa Konkani Akademi.
Shivdas said communalism in still prevalent in educational and government institutions in Goa and this is against the secular creed espoused by Dr Lohia. That is why Dr Lohia's secular creed should be passed on to the youth, Shivdas said.
In his introductory remarks, Pundalik Naik, convenor of Konkani advisory board, Sahitya Akademi, also extolled the contribution of Dr Lohia to the country and to Goa's freedom movement. Chief guest Surendra Mohan said, "The sacrifices and tribulations of Dr Lohia in India's struggle for independence, including the struggle he launched for Goa's freedom from the Portuguese rule, need no reiteration."
Mohan said, "It is obvious that the social justice movement initiated by Phule, followed by Gandhi, Ambedkar and Lohia did not develop into broad cultural renaissance. It is therefore necessary to ponder on this issue, because without the removal of mental blocks on the issues of gender and property, the remnants of colonialism will not go."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Lohias-secular-creed-should-be-passed-on-/articleshow/5709609.cms
