United Nations, October 2 (Daily Kiran) : World diplomats gathered at the United Nations on October 2 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, reflecting on his teachings and their relevance to contemporary global challenges. During an event marking International Day of Non-Violence, Morocco’s Permanent Representative, Omar Hilale, noted that the international community chose to celebrate Gandhi’s legacy as a shared heritage for all.
Hilale emphasized that for Gandhi, non-violence is an active force that requires discipline, courage, and unwavering faith in humanity. He pointed out that in Morocco, where diverse religions and cultures coexist, King Mohammed VI has consistently promoted restraint, tolerance, and peaceful dialogue.
India’s Permanent Representative, P. Harish, provided a modern example of Gandhi’s principles in action by referencing pilot Smita Machhar, who saved passengers during a FlyDubai flight incident through non-violent means. Harish recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks, labeling the pilot as a “true symbol of the principles of non-violence.”
Despite being injured, Machhar managed to open the cockpit door to help subdue a co-pilot who had attacked her in a terrorist hijacking attempt.
In 2007, the UN General Assembly declared October 2 as International Day of Non-Violence, with a resolution sponsored by 141 countries. Before the commemorative event, Harish laid flowers at Gandhi’s statue within the UN complex.
Uruguay’s Permanent Representative, Laura Dupuy Lasserre, shared how Gandhi’s message has resonated in South America. She noted its relevance during the period of dictatorship in Argentina and Uruguay, when grandmothers searched for their forcibly disappeared children and grandchildren amidst a humanitarian crisis.
In Latin American nations scarred by brutal dictatorships, mothers and grandmothers have engaged in peaceful protests to locate their loved ones taken by military regimes, advocating for human rights. Lasserre, who has also served as the President of the Group of 77 at the UN, stated, “Gandhi demonstrated that non-violence is not a symbol of weakness or passivity, but rather an expression of courage.”
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