Bapu Ko Karyanjali - Re-envisioning the Champaran Satyagraha on its 100th anniversary

The month of April this year will mark the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha - Mahatma Gandhi's first Satyagraha in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a special digital exhibition at the National Archives in the national capital on Monday evening.

A century ago, Gandhi had taken several steps to improve the condition of the people in Champaran.

These included efforts towards basic education, skill development, women empowerment and cleanliness.

"The digital exhibition, titled "Bapu Ko Karyanjali" is an effort to go beyond a mere symbolic recall, and to leverage this historic occasion to re-emphasize the spirit of cleanliness which was close to Mahatma Gandhi's heart, and was also a key element of the Champaran movement," says Raghvendra Singh, Director General of National Archives.

This effort will dovetail into the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, and generate awareness towards cleanliness, in the run-up to the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019.

Satyagraha, in this context, can, therefore, be re-interpreted as 'Swachhagraha' where each individual shall pool his efforts towards building a clean India.

The exhibition will feature several sections with a recall of the Champaran Satyagraha.

It will feature a detailed account of the milestones and progress achieved under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Subjects such as water, hygiene and sanitation will be elaborated upon.

A special "Digital Engagement" section will use tools such as video walls and projection techniques to engage visitors on various related historical themes.

"After inaugurating and going through the exhibition, Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to address a large gathering on the lawns of the National Archives, in the heart of the capital," Singh added.

In his recent radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' the Prime Minister had said, "Mahatma Gandhi, through his demeanour and deeds, could inspire the poorest of the poor and the most illiterate to unite and come together out into the open for the struggle against the British rule. This was a manifestation of an incredible inner strength, through which we can experience the vastness of Mahatma Gandhi's great persona."

Drawing a parallel with the success of the Mahatma Gandhi in making the freedom struggle a people's movement, the Prime Minister has, on several occasions, emphasized that the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission can only be achieved by making it a people's movement as well.

The theme 'Bapu Ko Karyanjali' is a pointer to this spirit of a fresh resolve towards the goal of cleanliness, or Swachhta that was so dear to Mahatma Gandhi.