Mahatma Gandhis birthday to be observed as World Non-Violence Day

October 2, the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, will from this year be observed as the World Non-Violence Day.

New Delhi, June 15 : October 2, the birth anniversary of the 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi, will from this year be observed as the World Non-Violence Day.

The UN General Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution reaffirming the universal relevance of non-violence, initiated by India and co-sponsored by more than 120 of the 191 members of the Assembly today during its ongoing plenary session.

"This resolution has been piloted by India. This draft has been piloted by India through the early stages and will be introduced by Anand Sharma (Minister of State for External Affairs) in the plenary session that is scheduled to be held today," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.

He added that when it was tabled, the resolution had 114 co-sponsors on May 31, 2007 and has gathered wide support with number of co-sponsors reaching 130.

"This itself reflects the enormous respect across the world for Mahatma Gandhi as the apostle of peace and non-violence and for his powerful message of truth, love, compassion, peace and ahimsa (non-violence)," he said.

India's neighbouring countries from South Asia and Russia, Britain, France and Germany are among the co-sponsors.

The resolution stresses that non-violence, tolerance, full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are interlinked and reinforcing.

ANI