Mahatma goes digital with web portal for kids

London: A colourful new web portal on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, aimed at popularising him among children around the world, has been launched in London.

The Youth 4 Gandhi Foundation`s "searchforgandhi.In" is a global initiative to build an interactive online children`s Gandhi community. "Gandhi is more relevant today than any time before in history. This portal is really designed in a very special way to reach out to young people," Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Indian Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovations, said at the launch in Gandhi Hall of the Indian High Commission here yesterday. The new website was designed as a user-friendly experience with fun banners, illustrations, games and quizzes to help children learn about Gandhi and apply his teachings to their lives. The portal consists of five sections, including "Know Gandhi", "Meet Gandhi", "Gandhi Gaming" and "Media", that are aimed at engaging school children across the globe. "Gandhi in India is the most popular brand, yet most often misunderstood not only in India but throughout the world. And that is the challenge that we seek to address," explained Janhavi Prasada, founder of the not-for-profit Youth 4 Gandhi Foundation. Pitroda, also chairman of the National Innovation Council, said Gandhi is important not only to India and Indians but also to the "global community and in particular to our young". The portal will endeavour to bring his values to every part of the world, he said. Indian High Commissioner Ranjan Mathai said, "We feel immensely proud that our nation saw a figure like Gandhiji but he is for everybody."