GANDHI JAYANTI
Friday, 19th October, 2007
GANDHI JAYANTI:
To mark the occasion of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation", Gandhi Jayanti is a celebrated in India It is a national holiday celebrated on October 2, every year. It is one of the three official declared National Holidays of India and is observed in all its states and union territories. The United Nations General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that October 2 will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
At Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s memorial, where he was cremated, located in the national capital New Delhi, prayer service and tributes mark this day. Gandhi’s favourite devotional song, Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram is sung in memory of him. Commemorative ceremonies across the country are performed. Schools, colleges, local bodies and socio- political institutions conduct painting and essay writing competitions are conducted primarily on themes of glorifying peace, non- violence and Gandhi’s role in the freedom struggle of India.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly know as “BAPU”, born into the Hindu Modh family in Porbandar, in 1869, was the son of Karamchand Gandhi, the diwan (Prime Minister) of Porbandar, and Putlibai, Karamchand’s fourth wife, a Hindu of the Pranami Vaishnava order. Living with a devout mother and surrounded by the Jain influences of Gujarat, Gandhi learned from an early age the tenets of non-injury to living beings, vegetarianism, fasting for self-purification, and mutual tolerance between members of various creeds and sects. He was born into the vaishya, or business caste.
Gandhi and his wife Kasturba (1902)
Gandhi ji was married to Kasturba Makhanji (also spelled "Kasturbai" or known as "Ba") in May 1883 at the age of 13. They had four sons: Harilal Gandhi, born in 1888; Manilal Gandhi, born in 1892; Ramdas Gandhi, born in 1897; and Devdas Gandhi, born in 1900.
He studied law in U.K and practiced law in South Africa. But he left his profession and returned to India to join the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhi ji was a preacher of truth and ‘Ahimsa’(non-violence).He started the ‘Satyagraha’ movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He believed in living a simple life and in ‘Swadeshi’. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence. Gandhiji is a symbol of peace and truth.
On this day, the President and Prime Minister, along with other eminent political leaders, pay homage at Raj Ghat - the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. All the offices and schools, throughout the country, remain closed on this day.
Five months after independence, Gandhiji was assassinated by Nathuram Godse while on his way to his daily prayer meeting. The 78-year-old Father of the Nation had left a country that was just discovering its feet, orphaned. Gandhi was not just a political leader. In fact, he was never a keen politician. He was a leader of the masses and always identified himself with them. All his actions had the power to galvanise the people. When others walked out of the Assembly in protest, Gandhi walked 100 km to the sea at Dandi to make salt illegally.
In short, he would take a step that would involve the millions, a small step by itself, but which would magnify a million-fold. The British often wondered what it was about Gandhi that attracted so many to him. But the people had no such questions. They understood the way in which he identified with them. In fact, Gandhi took pains to learn to sign his name in all the major Indian languages.
Gandhi was also deeply spiritual, and believed that all religions showed the way to ultimate enlightenment. He also wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita, a book that influenced him deeply. Gandhi is also revered for his absolute belief in truth and ahimsa. It is this man’s birthday that we celebrate as the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. His tolerance for other religions and support for the downtrodden are recognised and honoured on this day.
