MAHATMA GANDHI INSTITUTE

Call for Papers

Intercultural Understanding, Social Justice, Equity & Gandhian Thought

In the context of  the commemoration of the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and of the 50^th anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute  invites you to contribute an article leading to an E-publication on the following: Contextualizing Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy in the Contemporary Era. The main objectives are to put Gandhian thought in modern perspectives, to examine some of the challenges to intercultural understanding, social justice and peace, and to contribute to a reflection on potential sources of empowerment and peaceful modes of achieving social harmony.

Download call for paper here!

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE - MAHATMA GANDHI INSTITUTE

The foundation stone of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute was laid on 03 June 1970 by Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India. 

Laying of the Foundation Stone

 Foundation Day - 03 June 2020

 Golden Jubilee – 1970 - 2020

“The future depends on what you do today” – Mahatma Gandhi

Fifty years is a major milestone for the Mahatma Gandhi Institute which celebrated its fifty years of existence on 03 June 2020.  With the world pandemic due to Covid 19, the celebrations that had been planned could not take place but the confinement period has given us an opportunity to pause, reflect and look back at our fifty-year journey.  

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute was set up as a national body to give formal impetus to the promotion of Indian Culture and traditions.  For the past fifty years, our Institute has been functioning as a temple of education and culture and is today rightly viewed as a meeting point for different cultures, driven by a vision and a mission inspired by Gandhian thoughts, rich in education and social values. 

Since its inception, the Institute has pursued its visions within an environment that has as core values mutual respect, co-operation, honesty, tolerance, trust, integrity, responsibility, loyalty, accountability and objectivity.  Over the decades, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute has achieved most of the goals that were spelt out in its successive Strategic Plans.

As the winds of change settle in, we look back and we can confidently say that we have been true and faithful to the dreams and objectives of our Institute.  We can say with pride that after 50 years of fruitful existence, our Foundation Day is also a moment to look ahead at the challenges that face us within the next normal environment.

The contributions of many people have indeed been crucial on this journey. Today, we pay tribute to our illustrious predecessors, to the Management and staff who have loyally served the Institution over the years.  Some are no longer with us, and on this special occasion, we are remembering them all.

Long live the Mahatma Gandhi Institute!

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The Mahatma Gandhi Institute was set up by an Act of Parliament which was passed on 23 December 1970 as a joint initiative of the Governments of India and Mauritius.  On 03 June 1970, the foundation stone was laid by Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India.  The Mahatma Gandhi Institute was inaugurated on 09 October 1976 by two distinguished personalities, Dr the Right Hon. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, and Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India.

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute Act 1982 together with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (Amendment) Act 2002 and the Rabindranath Tagore Institute Act 2002 have provided for the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and the Rabindranath Tagore Institute (located in an idyllic setting at Ilot in the northern part of the country) to function under one Council and one Director-General.  By broadening its scope, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute is well settled on its path to cater for the growing educational, academic and cultural demands of the country and to contribute to the regional role of Mauritius.

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute is today rightly viewed as a meeting ground for different cultures.  The philosophy underlying the vision and the mission of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute takes example from Gandhian thought, rich in educational and social values.

The objects of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute as stipulated by its Act are:

• To establish, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, a Centre of Studies for Indian culture and traditions
• To promote education and culture generally

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute is headed by One Director General (MGI & RTI) and One Director (MGI):

• Mrs S. N. Gayan (GOSK) - Director General (MGI & RTI)
• Dr (Mrs) Veedotma Dalmond Koonjal (Director MGI)