Mauritius: In the context of the International Day of Non-Violence, observed annually on 02 October, a cultural evening was held yesterday at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture in Phoenix to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
The Parliamentary Private Secretaries, namely Subhasnee Luchmun Roy, Serge Gilbert Bablee, and Dr Muhammad Ismaël Rawoo, as well as the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Vimarsh Aryan, were present at the event.
This year marks the 154th Birth Anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi and “Bapu”. The Day is an occasion to acknowledge the remarkable contribution of the “Father of the Indian Nation” and to disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.
In her address, Luchmun Roy underlined that Mahatma Gandhi, whose enduring principles and values are still relevant in today’s world, inspires non-violent movements for civil rights and social change across the globe.
She observed that Gandhi Ji remained committed to his belief in the power of non-violence and led several movements in his quest for a peaceful society.
His teachings of non-violence are more than ever important, she remarked, especially in the face of great challenges such as the Russia and Ukraine War and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mahatma Gandhi, she underscored, was also a strong believer in the power of education and it is thus crucial to provide equal access to education if we want to make a real change in the world.
She further urged the population to practise the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi in their everyday lives and to show humility and respect to each other, especially to older people.
As for the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, he dwelt on the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi to the culture of peace and freedom.
The Day, state Aryan, was an occasion to celebrate the legacy of an icon that marked the history of India with meaningful achievements and for charting a path for peace and non-violence.
According to him, Mahatma Gandhi’s contributions, values, and dedication had a great impact on many countries around the globe. He moreover dwelt on the close and historical link between Mauritius and India before recalling that Gandhi Ji transited our island in 1901.
On this occasion, Gandhi Ji shared a message on the importance of education, political empowerment stability and preservation of the culture, he added.
International Day of Non-Violence
The United Nations declared 02 October as “International Day of Non-Violence” on 15 June 2007. The General Assembly Resolution A/RES/61/271 reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”. This Day is also celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti across the world.