October 2 marks the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi,. This year, the world will celebrate Gandhi’s 153rd birth anniversary. 

Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar to Karam Chand Gandhi and Putlibai. He shares his birthday with another great Indian freedom fighter, Laal Bahadur Shastri, who was born in the year 1904. 

Also Read| ‘Peaceful resistance’ to ‘Do or die’ the oeuvre of Mahatma Gandhi’s journey

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi trained as a lawyer in England and then went to practice for some time in South Africa. It was in South Africa where he started organising protests for rights of Indian immigrants. Gandhi’s political organisation in South Africa made him a noteworthy leader even before his arrival in India. 

Gandhi’s ideology was based on peace and non violence. He was a proponent of non violent ways to raise voice against discrimination. He organised Satyagrahas (lit. seeking of truth) in South Africa and later in India, which were a nonviolent way of protest. One basic principle of Satyagraha was the idea of Non Cooperation, as Gandhi believed that the day people refuse to cooperate with the British, that would be the end of British rule. 

Also Read| Gandhi Jayanti 2021: Know Bapu’s key movements against British Raj

Gandhi was able to galvanise Indians through his famous Dandi March, which was held in 1930, and later in the Quit India Movement in 1942. 

The United Nations adopted a resolution on June 15, 2007 that declared October 2 as International Non Violence Day. This was an ode to Gandhi’s principles that paved the way for Indians to attain independence. This resolution also reiterates the validity of principles of non violence in the modern world. 

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated in schools as young children dress up as Mahatma Gandhi, donning a khadi dhoti with round spectacles. Many cultural programmes take place in schools, colleges and offices as a mark of respect for the great freedom fighter. 

Also Read| Mahatma Gandhi death anniversary: Why we observe ‘Shaheed Diwas’

Political leaders pay homage to the Mahatma at Raj Ghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, which is located in New Delhi. Gandhi’s favourite hymns, ‘Raghupati Raghav’ and ‘Vaishnav Jan To Tere Kahiye’ are also sung on this occasion.