How schools can make Mahatma Gandhi's lessons engaging for youth
What's the story
Gandhi Jayanti, celebrated on October 2, is more than a date on the calendar; it is a reminder of values that shaped India's soul. Yet, for today's tech-savvy youth, Mahatma Gandhi often feels like a distant textbook figure. Schools have the power to bridge this gap, transforming his ideals into engaging experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and real-life action among students. Here's how.
#1
Interactive storytelling sessions
Stories resonate deeply with young minds. Schools can bring Gandhi's life alive through interactive storytelling sessions using visuals, props, or dramatized narrations. Instead of memorizing dates, students hear anecdotes about his childhood, experiments with truth, and moments of courage. These narratives foster curiosity and admiration, turning Gandhi from a distant historical figure into a relatable role model, whose lessons still matter today.
#2
Creative art and theatre projects
Art provides an engaging medium to explore Gandhi's life and values. Schools can encourage students to express Gandhian themes through skits, plays, paintings, or poster-making competitions. Dramatizations of satyagraha or simple plays about his South African experiences make history experiential. Visual and performing arts foster creativity while reinforcing moral lessons. This blend of learning and creativity makes Gandhi's principles both memorable and enjoyable.
#3
Experiential learning activities
Hands-on experiences can help youth internalize Gandhi's teachings. Activities like community clean-ups, khadi weaving workshops, or planting drives highlight his emphasis on self-reliance and respect for nature. Students not only learn about Gandhi's ideals but actively practice them. Experiential methods transform abstract philosophies into everyday values, giving children an understanding of Gandhi's relevance in addressing modern challenges such as sustainability and social responsibility.
#4
Using digital tools and technology
Today's students are digital natives, so schools can use technology to share Gandhi's ideas more effectively. Virtual reality experiences of the Dandi March, animated videos, and online quizzes can make learning exciting. Social media campaigns led by students can highlight Gandhian quotes and practices. By blending tradition with innovation, digital learning ensures Gandhi's values reach young audiences in interactive and relatable ways.
#5
Encouraging student-led initiatives
Student ownership brings energy to learning Gandhi's values. Schools can encourage youth-led projects such as "No Plastic Weeks," kindness campaigns, or peer-mediation inspired by non-violence. When students design and lead these initiatives, they naturally adopt Gandhi's principles in action rather than theory. Peer influence makes values contagious, spreading Gandhi's lessons beyond classrooms into daily habits, friendships, and community life in authentic, sustainable ways.