International Day of Non-Violence - Gandhi Jayanti celebrated in Athens

Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti, the event to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, was celebrated in the Greek capital on Sunday.

Although it is one of the three national holidays of India, with this specific one marking the birthday of Indian independence figure Gandhi, the UN General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared Gandhi Jayanti as also the International Day of Non-Violence.

For his part, Gandhi was a non-violent freedom fighter and also known as the "Father of The Nation". This title was given to him by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose for his relentless struggles for independent.

International Day of Non-Violence - Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated on October 2 at the Indian Embassy in Athens with speeches given by ambassadors and other dignitaries, and even music was performed.

Mahatma Gandhi, byname of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (born October 2, 1869, Porbandar, India—died January 30, 1948, Delhi), Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India.

As such, he came to be considered the father of his country. Gandhi is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest (satyagraha) to achieve political and social progress.

In the eyes of millions of his fellow Indians, Gandhi was the Mahatma (“Great Soul”). The unthinking adoration of the huge crowds that gathered to see him all along the route of his tours made them a severe ordeal; he could hardly work during the day or rest at night.

“The woes of the Mahatmas,” he wrote, “are known only to the Mahatmas.” His fame spread worldwide during his lifetime and only increased after his death.

The name Mahatma Gandhi is now one of the most universally recognised on earth.

READ MORE: The contribution of the Greeks and Philhellenes of India to Greece's Independence.

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