BY ARTI DAS | NT NETWORK
“Goans should not think only of their village or Goa but the country as a whole” this was Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s message to Goans.
And now, Pt Nehru’s message is being brought to the people by the MARG - Nehru Centre,

Margao, along with the Department of Information and Publicity, through a unique exhibition on the life and thoughts of Pt Nehru titled ‘Faces and Thoughts’ at the Kala Academy from May 29 to May 31. It will be formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat at 10 a.m.
Mr Gurunath Kelekar of MARG (The Movement for Amity towards Roads in Goa) and the brain behind this exhibition states that there is a dire need to follow and study Nehru. “The present state Government (and also the previous) does not have his intelligence to run the state. Thus, if we can study Nehru we can get that intelligence. Goa’s image has been badly affected. Our ultimate motive should be to make Goa a divine State,” states Kelekar.
Elaborating further on Nehru, he commented that he always had special interest towards Goa. “He really loved Goa and that’s the reason he gave up violence otherwise who believed in non-violence,” mentioned Kelekar with reference to the troops sent to liberate Goa.
Kelekar also opines that there is a sensibility in Nehru’s legacy. “During Indira Gandhi’s time we got a chance to conduct an Opinion Poll and got statehood and recognition for Konkani as a state language because of Rajiv Gandhi. But, still we are not happy. It is because we think only of Goa. We should function without losing our Indian identity and that’s the reason we need to study Nehru,” explains Kelekar, who last year started a Nehru Centre as one of the wings of MARG at Margao.
For this centre, the Nehru Museum and Library donated books worth Rs 2 lakh. Now he plans and hopes to start a bigger centre in Goa where the people will get a chance to delve further into our freedom struggle and also our rich, 5000-year-old culture.
Further speaking about the exhibition he remarked that one can learn a lot from Nehru. “I chose to have this exhibition as May 27 is his 46th death anniversary; to commemorate it and also for the youth to know about Nehru. He was a rational thinker, sensible and courageous who saw god in individuals. He always believed in the fact that we are all small people but for the cause for which we fight. Thus, he always showed gratitude towards Mahatma Gandhi as he gave them a cause (freedom struggle) that was bigger, like the Himalayas” states Kelekar.
For this exhibition there will be on display books written by Pt Nehru like ‘Discovery of India’, etc, and also books written on him. Along with that around 200 pictures will be exhibited. These are pictures that will showcase the different moods of Pt Nehru, his meetings with world leaders and also some pictures of his visit to Goa in 1963.
Kelekar hopes that this exhibition will activate more interest regarding Pt Nehru among the people and politicians.
This exhibition will be held at the art gallery of Kala Academy, Panaji from May 29 to May 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.