400 colleges, 31 districts: PE teacher’s mission to take Gandhiji to Karnataka’s youth

Abida Begum, a senior physical education teacher at Government First Grade College in T. Dasarahalli, Bengaluru, has spent more than a decade taking the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi to students across Karnataka. Through free workshops hosted by government and private institutions, she has visited over 400 colleges spanning all 31 districts of the State, inviting young people to reflect on Gandhian values in their daily lives.

A teacher’s journey inspired at home

Begum traces the origins of her initiative to her father, Aftab Ahmed Khan, whom she describes as a committed Gandhian. “He was a Gandhian and, growing up, I was always inspired by him. I thought knowledge must be shared,” she said. Acting on that belief, she conducted her first workshop on Gandhiji’s life and principles in 2016 at the college where she worked in Ramanagara. As word spread, more colleges began inviting her to conduct sessions and camps for their students. “By 2026, I have visited more than 400 colleges, both private and government, across all 31 districts of Karnataka,” she said.

Her workshops are offered at no cost to students. The emphasis, she added, is not on grand transformations but on cultivating everyday discipline and integrity. “If not a major change, students can get inspired by Gandhiji’s life and may have brought small changes in their lives. From simple aspects such as being disciplined, valuing time and punctuality, and being honest in what they do at college and beyond the classroom, the lessons are endless.”

Reaching remote campuses and keeping doors open

Begum’s outreach has taken her to institutions large and small, including a recent visit to a private college in Kagwad, a border taluk in Belagavi district. “The college administration was surprised to know that such workshops were being conducted. They said Gandhian thought is the need of the hour, especially for their students,” she recalled.

She is careful not to impose. “I never force college administrations to host my workshops. Some do not show interest due to a lack of time, while a majority have agreed to provide me with space to conduct these workshops,” she said.

Making Gandhiji relevant in the age of AI

Addressing questions about Gandhi’s contemporary relevance is central to Begum’s sessions, especially as students grapple with a fast-changing technological landscape. “Many youngsters think Gandhiji is not relevant in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whenever I visit colleges, students question me about his relevance in their lives when technology is evolving on a daily basis,” she said.

Her response is to connect core Gandhian ideas with modern aspirations. “Gandhiji’s principle that honesty is the best policy does not merely mean speaking the truth. It also means doing tasks, whether at home, college or the workplace, with honesty. Self-reliance is another principle that remains relevant even today. Why do you think there are so many start-ups? Because they are working to make the country self-reliant. Non-violence is another reason why the world needs him today.”

Countering misinformation through conversation

Begum’s workshops are designed as two-way dialogues. “During these workshops, some students speak about the fake news circulated on social media about Gandhiji. Many students judge him based on such misinformation. In such instances, I clear the air and present facts. I also recommend books on Gandhiji,” she said. On subsequent visits to the same colleges, she often hears from students about small but meaningful changes they have made in their lives.

Building platforms for youth engagement

Beyond campus sessions, Begum collaborates with the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi and the National Service Scheme, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department to conduct a seven-day State-level Youth Camp themed “Human Values through Gandhian Thoughts.” The camps provide accommodation and a structured programme that blends reflection with hands-on learning. “Through Gandhian thought, I, along with more resource persons, teach them leadership, communication skills, spinning the charkha and making khadi. There are many such activities planned for the camp,” she said.

Gandhi Vichar Sanskar Pariksha: Taking learning to assessment

For the past 10 years, Begum has also coordinated the Gandhi Vichar Sanskar Pariksha across Karnataka, an initiative of the Gandhi Research Foundation in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. The examination is open to all, with study materials tailored to different age groups and typically conducted every February.

This year, she said, “around 8,000 students registered for the examination and only 325 cleared it. Students are given study material and anybody can participate.” The results, she suggested, underscore both the challenge and the opportunity in deepening student engagement with Gandhian philosophy.

Planting seeds of change

As a senior PE teacher who has devoted her spare time to spreading Gandhian thought, Begum insists that the goal is not to measure impact in headlines but to spark reflection and responsible action among young people. Whether through myth-busting discussions, skill-building camps, or rigorous examinations, her decade-long effort has built a statewide platform for students to explore how Gandhi’s values can inform their studies, work, and citizenship in the present day.