New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat on their birth anniversaries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered floral tributes to Gandhi at Raj Ghat. In a post on X, he recalled Gandhi’s courage and values of service and compassion, saying the nation would continue to follow his path in the pursuit of a Viksit Bharat.
“Gandhi Jayanti is about honouring the extraordinary life of Bapu, whose ideals reshaped human history. He showed how courage and simplicity could drive great change, and believed in service and compassion as tools for empowering people. We will keep walking his path in our mission to build a Viksit Bharat,” Modi wrote.
This year marks the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, revered as the Father of the Nation for his leadership in India’s freedom struggle.
In India, Gandhi Jayanti is observed with tributes at Raj Ghat, cultural programmes, and campaigns promoting his ideals. Globally, October 2 is recognised as the International Day of Non-Violence, following a 2007 United Nations resolution backed by over 140 nations. At the UN, the day is marked with statements from the Secretary-General and events connecting Gandhi’s philosophy to current global challenges.
Born on October 2, 1869, Gandhi pioneered the principles of Satyagraha and non-violence, leading historic movements such as the 1930 Dandi March against the salt law and the Quit India Movement of 1942, which demanded an end to British rule.
