Non-violence existed even before Mahatma Gandhi but it was he who recognized its power and popularized it, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Thursday.
Baghel was expressing his views at a seminar on ‘Gandhi's concept of peace and equality in today’s context’ here.
Buddha's non-violence progressed through his disciples but Gandhi not only discovered non-violence for the sake of struggle but lived it, he said.
The government of Chhattisgarh is working towards taking women and villagers on the path of self-reliance, empowering them and linking them with creative works on the lines of Gandhian thought, he added.
In the near future, the Gauthans will have their own power plant and small cottage industries, Baghel said.
Kumar Prashant of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, gave the keynote address. The Founder of Ekta Parishad, Rajagopal P.V, was present.