Gandhi Jayanti, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, is celebrated on 2 October every year. On 15th June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) announced that 2nd October will be observed as the International Day of Non-Violence. Gandhi was a preacher of non-violence. Gandhi is a symbol of peace and truth.
About Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat. He studied law in the United Kingdom (UK) and practiced law in South Africa. He was a political and spiritual leader in India. He played a major role in the Indian independence movement. Throughout his life, he set an example of simple living and high thinking. He worked for the betterment of poor people in India. He was a pioneer of non-violence and truth. Mahatma Gandhi started the Satyagraha (non-violence) movement for the Indian freedom struggle.
Mahatma Gandhi played a very significant role in achieving independence for India from British rule. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of total non-violence. His ideologies of Satyagraha and non-violence have been guiding the entire world till now. India finally gained its freedom on 15th August 1947, through Gandhi's efforts. He was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse.
On 6th July 1944, Subhash Chandra Bose addressed Gandhi as "The Father of the Nation" and on 28 April 1947, Sarojini Naidu during a conference also referred Gandhi as "Father of the Nation." Some important events in Gandhi's life not only changed the course of his life but also the course of India. Few such events are listed below:
1913 - Gandhi's activism and arrest in South Africa, 1917 - Gandhi established Sabarmati Ashram,
1920-1922 - Non-Cooperation Movement, 1921 - Gandhi was given exclusive authority over the Indian National Congress, 1930 - Salt (Dandi) March, 1942 - Quit India Movement, 1947 - British Declared Indian Independence.
Major Ideologies of Gandhi are: Truth and non-violence, Satyagraha, Sarvodaya (Universal Uplift),
Swaraj, Trusteeship, Swadeshi.
Some of the books written by Mahatma Gandhi are: The Story of My Experiments with Truth,
Hind Swaraj, The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism, The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas, Peace: The Words and Inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi (Me-We), Mohandas Gandhi: Essential Writings
How is Gandhi Jayanthi Celebrated?
On this day, people gather at their respective towns and cities to remember Mahatma Gandhi and his contribution to the freedom struggle of India. On this day special functions are organized in schools, other educational institutions and communities organize functions. Despite caste, religion and lifestyle, people gather together to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti. Several commemorative activities and cultural events are held at several places where special prayer and get-together are organized.
Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is celebrated across India and the world. The events include:
People offer prayers, commemorative ceremonies, and tributes at several locations all over India.
Other events like art exhibitions and essay competitions are hosted. Awards are presented to projects stimulating a non-violent way of life. On this special day, people show films and book readings on Mahatma Gandhi's life and achievements. Flowers and flower garlands are placed on the statues of Mahatma Gandhi throughout India.
Gandhi - Interesting Facts
The Mother tongue of Mahatma Gandhi was Gujarati. Gandhi was the youngest child of his parents. He had two brothers and one sister. Gandhiji did his schooling from Alfred High School, Rajkot.
Mahadev Desai was Gandhi’s personal secretary. Gandhi spoke English like an Irishman. This is because one of his first English teachers was from Ireland. Famous author Leo Tolstoy and Gandhi interacted with each other through letters.
Gandhi established a small colony, Tolstoy Farm at an 1,100 acre site in South Africa for his colleagues in the Satyagraha struggle. It was located 21 miles from Johannesburg. Gandhi fought not only for Independence but also demanded fair treatment for the untouchables, lower caste. He has done several fasts in support of them. He called untouchables as Harijans meaning "children of God". In 1982, "Gandhi," an epic historical drama film based on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi won the Academic Award for the best motion picture. In 1930, Time Magazine named him "Man of the Year".
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated 5 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. During World War II, Gandhi wrote a letter to Hitler, addressing him as "Dear Friend". Gandhi beseeched him to stop the war and Hitler never wrote back.
British released a stamp honouring Gandhi, 21 years after his death. Gandhiji was not born with the title 'Mahatma'. Nobel Prize-winning Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore gave the title of Mahatma to Gandhi. When Jawaharlal Nehru gave a tryst of destiny speech to celebrate independence, Gandhi was not present. Gandhi was assassinated by Godse in the garden of the former Birla House.
The funeral procession of Mahatma Gandhi was 8 km long. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued "The Gandhi series banknotes" by displaying a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi since its introduction in 1996. In 1959, the Gandhi Memorial Museum was established at Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also known as the Gandhi Museum.
Mahatma Gandhi's Famous Quotes:
You must be the change you wish to see in the world, An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind, Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Where there is love there is life, Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever, In a gentle way, you can shake the world, If you don't ask, you don't get it, The future depends on what we do in the present, Action expresses priorities, The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong, Hate the sin, love the sinner, Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
