The United Nations observes the International Day of Non-Violence on 2nd October which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader of India’s freedom movement and a pioneer of the philosophy of Non-Violence. The objective of the day is to spread awareness about the idea of non-violence through education. The day was first observed in 2007.
According to the United Nations General Assembly resolution, the day is an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”. The resolution reemphasizes “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.
Congress leader and then External Affairs Minister of India, Anand Sharma, while introducing the resolution in UNGA on behalf of 140 sponsor countries, said the wide and diversified sponsorship of the resolution was an acknowledgement of the universal respect for the Mahatma and his philosophy.
Background
Iranian Noble Laureate Shirin Ebadi, in January 2004, had proposed the idea for the day. The idea attracted many Congress leaders who in 2007 called upon the UN to adopt the idea.
Who was Mahatma Gandhi
Born on October 2, 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was India’s tallest leader of its independence movement. He successfully led India’s non-violent movement against the British which in turn inspired many civil rights movements across the world.
Gandhi had studied law and he went to South Africa to represent a client. Upon return, he joined the Indian National Congress and led nationwide campaigns for farmers, peasants, and labourers. He also fought against caste discrimination and fought for expanding women’s rights.
He led some of the most historic movements in India’s freedom struggle. He led Indians to break the salt law, through the Dandi March in 1930, which helped Indians believe that they can challenge the might of the British. He also led the Quit India movement in 1942.
Mahatma Gandhi believed in religious pluralism. He wanted India to be a secular nation and he fought to make it a reality. But his vision was hindered by Muslim nationalists led by the Muslim league on one side and the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak on the other side leading the Hindu nationalists. Gandhi, who was opposed to the partition, could not prevent the partition of India into a Hindu majority India and Muslim majority Pakistan.
Gandhi was killed by Hindu nationalist Nathu Ram Godse on 30 January, 1948.
Important dates in October 2021: List of national, international days
