Today, the world commemorates International Non-Violence Day, a day of reflection and dissemination of the message of non-violence. The United Nations marked the occasion by projecting a life-size hologram of Mahatma Gandhi, the legendary Indian independence leader, at their headquarters in New York. The event was a collaboration between India’s permanent mission to the UN and UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development.
However, the global scenario today is far from peaceful. The world is grappling with growing conflicts, climate change, poverty, hunger, inequality, racism, hate speech, and a global financial system that perpetuates poverty and stunts recovery for developing countries, as lamented by the United Nations General Secretary, Antonio Guterres.
Throughout history, humankind has been witness to the oscillation of love and hate. Sadly, hate has been the more prevalent of the two, often manifesting itself in wars, battles, and crimes against humanity.
Consider some alarming statistics from around the world. In India, an average of 2,130 children, women, and men go missing every day. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has claimed the lives of over 6,000 people, including 382 children. Russia has even threatened to use nuclear bombs if pushed to a corner. Meanwhile, China is poised to attack Taiwan, and the United States has pledged to offer full support to the island nation. Are we headed towards yet another global disaster?
In such a turbulent and violent world, the message of non-violence espoused by Mahatma Gandhi seems more relevant than ever before. As the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly tweeted, “Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and principles give strength to the entire world. For us, Gandhi-150 is not merely a year-long celebration. It inspires us to keep furthering the noble tenets of Gandhian philosophy, which have the potential to empower millions.”
Indeed, the noble principles of Gandhi have the power to empower the world and usher in an era of peace and prosperity. We must strive to imbibe his philosophy and make it a part of our daily lives to ensure a brighter future for the coming generations.