Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 1869-1948), apostle of peace and
the Father of the Nation was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. He
is known as Mahatma, meaning ‘great soul’, because of his work on non-violence, satyagrah and selfless service to his people.
Gandhiji was a poet of patriotism and a prophet of humanity. It was said about him that whenever he walked, it was a pilgrimage and wherever he sat, it acquired the sanctity of a temple. Children from all over the world wrote to him. It was he who aimed at wiping out every tear from every eye and it was he who had said that, “God dares not appear before the starving man, except in the shape of bread.”
Gandhi Jayanti is a National Holiday celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mahatma. It is celebrated every year on the 2nd of October. It is one of the three official declared National Holidays of India and is observed in all Indian states and union territories. In his autobiography My Experiments with Truth
Gandhi recalls that his childhood and teen age years were characterized by education in a local school, marriage to Kasturba at the age of 13 and an intrinsic love for ‘truth’ and ‘duty’. He is known for his
invaluable contribution to win back India’s freedom from the hands of the British while following the principles
of truth, honesty and non-violence.
Gandhiji, as he was popularly called, proved that non-violence is the most effective instrument of social change. He also proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence. His teachings are promoted even today to avoid violence and find peaceful solutions to conflicts. Mahatma Gandhi’s morality and his doctrines on non-violence have become a beacon of light for the world. The United Nations General Assembly announced on 15th June, 2007 that October 2nd would be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence, every year. Subscribe to Child Project Helper by Email
