President, PM pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi

The nation today remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary, with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders paying floral tributes to him at his memorial here.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader L K Advani also paid tributes to the Father of the Nation.
"Gandhiji made this world a better place. His ideals, dedication to the poor & struggle against injustice inspire," the Prime Minister said in a tweet.
Clad in a white kurta and pyjama, Modi, who arrived at 7:40 AM, paid homage to the Mahatma by offering rose petals at his memorial and performing a 'parikrama' (circumambulation) around it.

Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rao Inderjit Singh, and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad too joined in paying homage to the Father of the Nation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who arrived along with his deputy Manish Sisodia, also paid tributes to the Mahatma on his birth anniversary.

Ambassadors of several countries and other dignitaries attended the function. A large number of school children had also gathered at the venue to pay homage.
Iqbal, who teaches at Jamia Millia Islamia University
here, said many efforts were being taken to revive the art form of Dastangoi and that the youth are the torchbearers of such a revival.

"Dastangoi is a simple, yet powerful art form. It is performed by a minimum of two artistes. It does not require the expensive paraphernalia of lights, set and costumes.
"The art form is now being revived, especially by the young who are creating groups, like in theatre, to take Dastangoi to the masses," he said.
Fouzia, who has been performing 'Dastangoi' since the past 8 years, said her cultural roots have found their way back into her work.
"I owe my performances to the by-lanes of Old Delhi. It is here that I performed for the first time. Apart from that, the events around me also translate into my work," she said.

The artiste has presented 'Dastangoi' on a range of issues, including the languages of Delhi, women issues and those concerning children.
Talking about the relevance of Gandhian philosophy in contemporary times, Indira Verma of Sarvodaya International Trust said, "You call it idealism or romanticism, but I have a hope or I must say I am sure, the day will come when Gandhiism will become a reality more than a philosophy which will make this world a better place."
Fouzia said her dream was to perform at the Jama Masjid, where people from all walks of life, can be her audience.

She summed up in her classical way of "Chaley Chalo ke Voh Manzil abhi Nahin Aayi (move ahead as the destination is far away)".