Nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 141st birth anniversary
By ANIFriday, October 1, 2010
NEW DELHI - The nation on Saturday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 141st birth anniversary
President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other leaders offered floral tributes at his memorial “Raj Ghat” here.
A special function will take place at Gandhi Smriti this afternoon, which will include a recital of some of Gandhi’s favourite devotional songs. The Union Government has planned a series of other programmes for the occasion.
The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as the ‘Father of the Nation’, is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 with reverence all over the country.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as ‘Bapu’, or Gandhiji, was born on the October 2 1869, in Porbander, Gujarat.
Gandhiji was a preacher of truth (Satyagraha) 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 - a true symbol of peace and truth!
The United Nations had declared in 2007 that October 2 would be observed as “International Day of Non-Violence”. (ANI)