Mahatma Gandhi and astronomy? Yes, the legendary Father of the Nation had interest in astronomy too, and this small peripheral interest in astronomy would be relived on Mahatma's 150th birth anniversary.
Gandhiji's interest in Astronomy may have been peripheral, on account of his preoccupation with many matters of imminence to do with our country. For a short period of time, while his stay at the Yerawada Jail in 1932, Gandhiji developed a keen interest in observing the night skies. He used to share his thoughts with his ashram inmates through letters. He even used a telescope to observe celestial objects and talks of the inspiration night sky observations provide to him.
A few enthusiasts have joined hands to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary by organising `Bapu Khagol Mela' which aims to make telescopic views available naked eye and impart knowledge of celestial objects, to a large number of people, spread across many pan Indian locations.
Writings of the Mahatma, preserved in the Nehru Planetarium, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, has provided content for Khagol Talim.
A number of activities have been proposed and would be implemented by the planetarium, in collaboration with the Public Outreach and Education Committee, Astronomical Society of India, the National Council of Science Museums, Collins Education, Nai Talim, planetaria at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Calicut, Pilikula, Thiruvananthapuram, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jaipur and others.
Enthusiastic amateur astronomers from Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Goa other centres will also participate in this endeavour.
Telescope/naked-eye skywatch events and Astronomy activities to be conducted during the year October 2018 to October 2019, every day around the country.
