Use the great force of non-violence to build peaceful and just societies: UN

03 October, 2012

At the international level, Gandhi Jayanti is observed as the International Day of Non-Violence (IDNV) to promote non-violence through education and public awareness by organising institutional and public events. Established by the UN in 2007, the IDNV is annually held on October 2 to mark Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.

IT WAS on 15th June 2007 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which declared that the 2nd of October be celebrated as the IDNV. In India, Gandhi Jayanti is a National holiday to remember the "Father of the Nation", born on 2 October 1869, who is commonly known as Bapu.

The UN has urged the member nations to observe IDNV to disseminate the message of non-violence. According to the UN, Gandhi had promoted the principle of ahimsa very successfully by applying it to all spheres of life, particularly to politics as non-violent resistance movement or satyagraha.

It is a well acknowledged fact by the UN now that the concept of non-violent resistance of Gandhi has been used successfully to impress public opinion in many Western countries and has influenced the leaders of various civil and political rights movements resulting in mass mobilization and non-violent action to bring about social and political changes.

The UN had been stressing globally ‘to harness the power of non-violence to overcome prejudice, end conflict, and cultivate mutual respect and understanding among peoples and countries’. In this regard, the United Nations Charter says that the nations and people need to 'practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours' and ensure that 'armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest'.

"On this International Day of Non-Violence, let us work together to use the great force of non-violence to build peaceful and just societies for ourselves and for our children," urged the UN.

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COMMENTS (2)

Guest

Col. Rajendra Kumar (Retd)

Hindus were and still guided by basic tenets of Ahimsa (non violence), Shanti (peace) and Mokash (reincarnation),result Islamic slavery for over 1000 years.Gandhi's 1942 non violence movement failed as the then British PM Mr. Attlee has openly confessed.It was power display by INA and Navel mutiny that brought us independence.Gandhi failed both before and after independence as violence was at full display in sub continent.Bangladesh peace was restored through force and not non violence. I am not aware of any place where non violence has yielded results.Now a days non violence is the language of week and submissive.