Celebrating the Power of Non-Violence

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Renowned social reformer Mahatma Gandhi, known for his social, political, and economic activities, has changed the perspectives and values of many over the decades. With his contributions to society in the late 1800s and early 1900s, his campaigns inspired the United Nations to highlight the International Day of Non-Violence every October 2, reaffirming peace and understanding globally.

In the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi: Inspiring a culture of peace

In today’s world, riddled with war as a solution and violence as the answer, the International Day of Non-Violence, observed every October 2, reaffirms the desire for a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding, and non-violence.

Established in 2007 by the United Nations (UN), this day also celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement and a pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. On this day, we commemorate his life and teachings while advocating for equality, respect, peace, and justice.

In a statement released in conjunction with this year’s observance, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented that today’s world is bristling with violence.

“Across the globe, conflicts are raging. From Ukraine, to Sudan, the Middle East, and far beyond, war is creating a hellscape of destruction, destitution, and fear. Inequality and climate chaos are undermining the foundations of peace. And hate whipped up online is spilling over onto the streets,” he said.

In the same statement, Antonio announced that the recent Summit of the Future had offered hope in the form of countries coming together to lay the groundwork for renewed multilateralism, equipped to support peace in a changing world.

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“That includes a renewed focus on the underlying causes of conflict — from inequality to poverty and division. Now we need countries to transform those commitments into reality,” he added.

Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle for non-violence

In his closing statement, Antonio highlights Gandhi’s practice of non-violence as the greatest force available to humanity: “more powerful than any weapon. Together, let’s build institutions to support that noble vision.”

Born in 1869 in Porbandar, India, Gandhi’s efforts and contributions became the benchmark against which individuals are tested in public life, political ideas and government policies, and the hopes and wishes of our shared planet.

According to a leading scholar on non-violent resistance, Professor Gene Sharp, he defined the meaning of non-violence in his publication “The Politics of Nonviolent Action” as: “Nonviolent action is a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission, and who see struggle as essential, can wage their conflict without violence. Nonviolent action is not an attempt to avoid or ignore conflict. It is one response to the problem of how to act effectively in politics, especially how to wield power effectively.”

One key tenet of the theory of non-violence is that the power of rulers depends on the consent of the population. Non-violence, therefore, seeks to undermine such power through the withdrawal of consent and cooperation from the populace.

There are three main categories of non-violent action:

⦁ Protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils;
⦁ Non-cooperation; and
⦁ Non-violent intervention, such as blockades and occupations.

The life of Mahatma Gandhi

At the end of his life — he was assassinated in 1948 in New Delhi — Gandhi had pioneered many causes and provided inspiration for non-violent movements for civil rights and social change across the world.

An Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer, Gandhi was born to a chief minister father and a pious mother. Given the name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, he grew up in a Vaishnavism home with a strong influence of Jainism, a morally rigorous Indian religion whose chief tenets are non-violence and the belief that everything in the universe is eternal.

According to Britannica, after graduating with his law degree from a university in London, Gandhi returned to India only to find that his field of interest did not guarantee him a lucrative career. In 1893, he accepted a job offer in Natal, South Africa, from an Indian firm. During his years there, he gained first-hand experience of racial discrimination.

Despite the struggles and obstacles, Gandhi persevered and fought through them. He also founded the Natal Indian Congress and became a proficient political campaigner. His fight for the Indian community in Natal involved flooding the government, the legislature, and the press with closely reasoned statements of Indian grievances. He also exposed to the world the discrimination faced by Indian subjects of Queen Victoria in one of her own colonies in Africa.

Upon returning to India in 1915, Gandhi became a leader in the Indian National Congress, spearheading campaigns against British colonial policies, including the Salt March and the Quit India Movement. His method of peaceful resistance inspired global movements for civil rights and freedom.

The depths of Gandhi’s lessons

Though decades have passed, Gandhi’s beliefs have become a legacy and a lesson for many. As he inspires change without inciting violence, National Geographic wrote that it is undeniable he has left an indelible mark on the history of India and on the practice of civil disobedience worldwide.

“After I am gone, no single person will be able to completely represent me,” he said. “But a little bit of me will live in many of you. If each puts the cause first and himself last, the vacuum will, to a large extent, be filled.”

As India celebrates Gandhi Jayanti — a day to commemorate his efforts in the Indian Independence Movement — the world champions non-violence through his beliefs. Known as the “father of India” and a “great soul in a beggar’s garb”, Gandhi remains a blueprint for a legacy in modern history.