Jacob Kuracheril
Gandhi Jayanti is a national event celebrated every year to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. This day is also celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence all over the world. Gandhi Jayanti has been declared as International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations General Assembly on 15th of June 2007. Gandhi Jayanti is observed as a national holiday all through the country in order to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi His non-violence movement for independence of India is still continues influencing political leaders and youths of our own country as well as other countries worldwide.
The aim of celebrating Gandhi Jayanti as the International Day of non-violence is to distribute Bapu’s philosophy, believe in non-violence, principle, etc. all over the world. It is celebrated through theme based proper activities in order to enhance public awareness worldwide. Gandhi Jayanti celebration involves commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s life and his contributions in India’s Independence.
It is one of the National Holidays of the country, celebrated every year in the schools, colleges, educational institutions, government and non-government organizations, etc. Schools, colleges, government offices, etc remain closed on Gandhi Jayanti in order to pay tribute to the great leader of India. We remember Mahatma Gandhi (Bapu) and his great deeds by celebrating the Gandhi Jayanti. Students are assigned for various tasks to perform at this day such as painting, poem or speech recitation, drama play, essay writing, slogan writing, group discussion, etc based on the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi) was born on October 2, 1869, into a Hindu family in Porbanadar, Gujarat. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was the diwan of the city of Porbanadar, and mother, named Putlibai. Gandhi learned tolerance and non-injury to living beings from an early age. He abstained from meat, alcohol, and promiscuity.
Gandhi studied law at the University of for one year, took graduation from University College London. He returned to Bombay and practiced law for a year, then went to South Africa to work for an Indian firm in Natal. In South Africa, Gandhi experienced racism. He was thrown off a train while holding a valid first class ticket and pushed to third class. Later he was beaten by a coach driver for refusing to travel on the foot-board to make room for a European passenger. He was barred from many hotels because of his race. In 1894, Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress. They focused on the Indian cause and British discrimination in South Africa.
Back in India, Gandhi became active in the struggle for Indian Independence. He spoke at the conventions of the Indian National Congress, becoming one of its leaders. In 1918, Gandhi opposed the increasing of tax levied by the British during the devastating famine. He was arrested at Champaran, Bihar, for organizing civil resistance of tens of thousands of landless farmers. In jail Gandhi was on a hunger strike in solidarity with the farmers. Hundreds of thousands of his supporters gathered around the jail and later he was released. As the leader of the Indian National Congress party Gandhi launched “Swaraj”, a campaign for independence and non-cooperation with the British authorities. He urged Indians to replace British goods with their own fabrics and goods.
He worked great for achieving Sawaraj, remove untouchability from society, abolition of other social evils, improving economic condition of farmers, empowering women rights and many more. The movements run by him are non-cooperation movement in 1920, Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and Quit India Movement in 1942 in order to help Indian people in getting freedom from British rule. His Quit India Movement was a call to British to leave India.