President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying rich tributes to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary that also saw padyatras and commemorative events.
“Homage to Bapu on #GandhiJayanti. The 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is an occasion for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the values of truth, non-violence, harmony, morality and simplicity. His message remains relevant for all & he continues to be our guiding light,” Kovind said.
For his part, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, “As we pay reverential homage to the Mahatma on his 150th Birth Anniversary, let us strive to transform our lives by internalising and implementing the Gandhian principles in our daily life.”
Modi described the Mahatma as the “best teacher” and “the guiding light” who continues to give courage to millions globally. In an op-ed in The New York Times to mark the birth anniversary of Gandhi, Modi talked about the ideals epitomised by the apostle of peace who inspired such iconic leaders as Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela.
Modi stated that Gandhi possessed a “unique ability” to become a bridge between some of the greatest contradictions in human society and epitomised trust among all sections of society.
The Prime Minister also tweeted saying the nation expresses its gratitude to Gandhi for his everlasting contribution to humanity. “We pledge to continue working hard to realise his dreams and create a better planet,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
In a short video on Gandhi, Modi said his message of peace is still relevant to the world community. The Prime Minister also referred to the seven perversions Gandhi had cautioned people about. These are: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, visit without ethics, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice and politics without principles.
Numerous events were organised by various government departments, ministries and voluntary organisations to celebrate life and legacy of Gandhi.