Gandhi Jayanti: President Kovind, PM Modi pay tributes to Gandhiji
As the nation commemorates Mahatma Gandhi on his 148th birth anniversary, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi paid tributes to the "Father of the Nation" at Rajghat in Delhi. Several other leaders said that "Bapu" continues to inspire India. Also, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan completes three years today. "Cleanliness is Godliness" was a life mantra of Gandhiji. Read more!
Paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. pic.twitter.com/999kbeS6gF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2017
On the third anniversary of the Centre's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, PM Modi will review the progress of the cleanliness mission. The mega cleanliness drive, launched on Gandhi Jayanti in 2014, reportedly increased the sanitation scenario in India to 67.5% from 39%. Government officials said at least ten states would become ODF (open defecation free) by Mar'18. The mission covers 4,041 cities and towns.
Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and announced he will be sitting on a day-long hunger strike at Rajghat. He said India gained independence 70 years ago but has moved away from the vision Gandhiji had for the country. He added, "It is for this reason that I am going to launch my Satyagraha from Gandhiji's samadhi."
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in Porbandar, Gujarat on 2 October 1869. He was the prominent leader of India's freedom struggle against British. Gandhi employed nonviolent, civil disobedience movement and led India to independence. He inspired leaders of civil rights and freedom across the world including Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist.
The main pillars of Gandhi's philosophy were non-violence, tolerance of others, respect for all religions and a simple life. The recent incidents of lynching, increased violence and even the spread of fake news reflect everything that is wrong with our society today. This goes against the ideals that Gandhiji believed in. His values are more relevant today than ever.
Gandhi's views and beliefs regarding untouchability, women's empowerment, Gram Swarajya, basic education, small scale industries, cleanliness etc. influenced and shaped the modern India. Most of the above ideas formed a part of the directive principles of state policy in our constitution. Organizing village Panchayati raj, enhancing cottage industries, promoting educational and economic interests of weaker sections of the people are a few of them.
The United Nations General Assembly in 2007 announced that it adopted a resolution which declared that 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win." "There are many causes I would die for. There is not a single cause I would kill for." "The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane."
