Gandhi was for self-sufficieny at village-level: TN Governor

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit Tuesday said Mahatma Gandhi had brought about social cohesion by working against 'untouchability'.

Gandhi had advocated an economic philosophy that focused on self-sufficiency at the village-level, he said in his address during Mahatma Gandhi's 149th birth anniversary celebrations here.

"He (Gandhi) propagated the concept of trusteeship and wanted people to abhor accumulation of wealth for themselves and their families. All these were his outpourings which went beyond the political spectrum," the governor said.

When the Sabarmati ashram in Ahmedabad was started by Gandhi, there were initially 25 inmates of whom 13 were Tamilians, he said.

Gandhi visited Tamil Nadu 20 times between 1896 and 1946. During his first visit, he tried to learn Tamil and brought nine Tamil books for the purpose, Purohit said.

The message of ahimsa from the 'Father of the Nation' is a powerful signal to mankind that stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles will only lead to ruin, he said.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, school education minister K A Sengottaiyan, information and publicity minister 'Kadambur' Raju and senior government officials were also present on the occasion.