October 2 marks the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, a lawyer, freedom fighter, and anti-colonial activist. This year, the world will celebrate Gandhi’s 153rd birth anniversary. This day is dedicated to the ‘Father of our Nation’, as people celebrate his legacy of peace and non-violence.

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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 a way for Indians to attain independence. 

Mahatma Gandhi was born as Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi 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. 

He went on to study law in England and later became a practising lawyer in South Africa, where he assisted on a lawsuit. This episode in Gandhi’s life cemented him as a great leader, as he protested against the racial apartheid in South Africa. He organised the Indian population living there in an effort to end the discrimination that they faced from the British. 

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Gandhi’s ideology was based on peace and non-violence. He was a proponent of non-violent ways to raise one’s voice against discrimination. He organised Satyagrahas, which literally means truth-seeking, in South Africa and later in India. They were a nonviolent way of protest. One basic principle of Satyagraha was the idea of Non-Cooperation. Indians boycotted foreign goods and started using goods manufactured in India as part of the protest.

Gandhi was able to unite Indians through his famous Dandi March, which was organised in 1930, and later in the Quit India Movement in 1942 which was one major event that led to the Independence of India from colonial rule. 

Many cultural programs take place in schools, colleges, and offices to mark respect for the great freedom fighter on his birth anniversary. 

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