International Day of Non-Violence[1] (Gandhi Jayanti)

6^th October 2009 – 1800 hrs

 

Amb Dr. Karl Fischer,

Ambassadors, Excellencies,

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

2009 is Gandhiji’s 140^th birth anniversary. Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary is marked every year on 2^nd October as Gandhi Jayanti. In 2007, the UN declared this day the International Day of Non-Violence and invited all Member States, United Nations organisations, regional and non-governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate the Day and disseminate the message of non-violence.

A generation, perhaps two, has passed since Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. But his message was not relevant only to the times he lived in, nor, for that matter only to India and its circumstances of those pre-independence years. The Mahatma’s message of love and peace, of non-violence and satyagraha – the struggle for truth – of the equality of all, of harmony amongst all religions, is a universal message.

The key words of his teachings are tolerance, truth, non-violence and self-respect. There is a permanence in these principles and values that transcends and unites humankind. At the core of Gandhiji’s belief was the basic truth that means are as important as ends; that nothing, not even the most noble objectives, can justify the use of violence or untruth; to do so is to distort those objectives themselves. He saw non-violence as a strong moral force, and from that perspective, the best vehicle of political resistance. It gives a voice to the voiceless but also because it has the capacity to influence and change the mindset of the oppressor. 

Gandhiji was no lofty saint. He was a political leader, but his politics was inspired by spirituality – it was the politics of compassion, not the argument of power. His politics was not of the drawing rooms and debating salons but in the public sphere, out in the villages of rural India and rooted there. He was one with the poorest of the poor, the weakest of the weak, the downtrodden and the outcast, regarded by them as a Mahatma who endeavoured to make a practical difference to their lives.

Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas were far-reaching in their vision and perspective. He spoke of decentralized governance, of development with a human face. He spoke of the power of transparency and truth. He deeply cherished freedom. He shunned prejudice and indiscipline.

Today, in a consumer-driven materialistic world, we are beginning to face the consequences of distorting these values. Mahatma Gandhi simplified his own needs and advocated a life-style which would not drain the earth’s resources, but be self-sustaining. In his words, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” We need to look into the future to secure our present.

There is wisdom here that transcends mere knowledge. In the Mahatma’s own words -

“The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.”

Gandhi's insistence on the unity of thought, speech and action should concern us today. He practiced what he preached. He detested lip-service, but nowadays he is often honoured through lip-service of those who no longer respect his thought and actions. But as long as there is strife and injustice in the world, inequality and indignity in the human condition, as long as there is pain and suffering, violence and hatred, the ideas and ideals of the Mahatma’s thought and actions will continue to inspire us.

It is a pleasure for me to warmly welcome all of you this evening to remember a human being of whom Albert Einstein said: “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever walked upon this earth”. Thank you for joining us in celebrating this day.