Content:

1. International Day of Non-Violence

International Day of Non-Violence

Context

• Date & Dual Significance: October 2 – Gandhi Jayanti (India) + International Day of Non-Violence (UN, since 2007).
• UN Resolution (2007): Adopted by UNGA with support of 140+ countries, establishing non-violence as a universal principle.
• Symbolism: Tribute to Gandhi’s philosophy of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satya (truth).

Relevance :

• GS I (History & Culture): Gandhi’s philosophy of Ahimsa and Satyagraha; global influence on MLK, Mandela; legacy in India’s freedom struggle.
• GS II (Polity & Governance): UN resolution (2007) → international recognition; relevance of non-violence in diplomacy, conflict resolution, multilateralism; Gandhian principles in governance schemes (Swachh Bharat, SHGs, MGNREGA).

Historical Roots

• Gandhi’s South Africa Experience (1893): Discrimination at Pietermaritzburg station → birth of Satyagraha (truth + insistence).
• First Satyagraha (1906): Against Asiatic Registration Act in South Africa.
• India Movements:
  • Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22).
  • Civil Disobedience / Dandi March (1930).
  • Quit India Movement (1942).
• Global Influence: Inspired Martin Luther King Jr. (US civil rights), Nelson Mandela (anti-apartheid), Václav Havel (Czech democratic transition).

UN & International Observance

• UN Headquarters: Secretary-General messages highlight relevance amid wars & conflicts.
• Ahimsa Lectures (since 2015): UNESCO & MGIEP initiative.
  • 5th Lecture (2022): “Education for Human Flourishing”, used hologram of Gandhi.
• Global Celebrations: Belgium, Spain, US, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Netherlands etc.
• G20 Tribute (2023): World leaders at Rajghat, New Delhi → symbolic endorsement of Gandhi’s ideals in diplomacy.

Campaigns Inspired by Gandhi:

• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Cleanliness).
  • Khadi revival (self-reliance).
  • SHG empowerment (grassroots economics).
  • Mahatma Gandhi NREGA (dignified rural work).
  • PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (tribal advancement).

Data & Achievements (Gandhian Philosophy in Action)

• Swachh Bharat Mission: 12 crore toilets, 5.6 lakh ODF+ villages, 3 lakh child deaths averted.
• SHGs (NRLM): ₹11 lakh crore loans disbursed, 10 crore women mobilised.
• SVAMITVA Scheme: 65 lakh property cards, 3.2 lakh villages surveyed.
• Khadi & Village Industries: FY 2025 – ₹1.7 lakh crore sales, employment for 1.94 crore people.
• MGNREGA: 106.77 crore person-days generated (FY 2025-26, till July).
• PM JUGA (2024): ₹79,156 crore outlay, benefits 5 crore tribal citizens.

Global Relevance of Gandhi Today

• Conflict Resolution: Alternative to violent conflict/terrorism.
• UN SDGs Alignment: Gandhi’s work prefigured SDGs – sanitation, gender equality, hunger reduction, education.
• Soft Power Tool: Gandhi as a global icon strengthens India’s moral leadership.
• Climate Change: Simplicity, self-reliance, sustainability resonate with environmental justice.

Implications

• National + Global Fusion: Gandhi Jayanti internalises Indian memory, UN recognition globalises it.
• Relevance in Diplomacy: Used as symbolic backdrop in multilateral forums (e.g., G20).
• Non-Violence as Strategy: Seen as moral force > military power.
• Challenges: World faces wars, terrorism, sectarianism – Gandhi’s vision often invoked, but unevenly practiced.
• India’s Narrative: By linking modern flagship schemes with Gandhian ideals, India projects continuity between legacy and present governance.

Conclusion

• The International Day of Non-Violence is not just commemoration but a living framework.
• Gandhi’s principles continue to shape policy, diplomacy, and people’s movements worldwide.
• The day serves as a national homage and global call to action: for peace, justice, compassion, and sustainable development.