Remembering Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary: Martyrs' Day 2024

January 30 marks the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's death—the father of the nation, who was assassinated on this day in 1948, just five...

January 30 marks the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's death—the father of the nation, who was assassinated on this day in 1948, just five months and 15 days after India gained independence from British Rule.

On the 76th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, let's explore some facts about Bapu:

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the legendary proponent of peace and non-violence, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar. At the age of 13, he was married to Kasturba. He received legal training at the Inner Temple in London. In 1893, he moved to South Africa to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit, where he resided for 21 years. During his stay in South Africa, he pioneered non-violent resistance in a campaign for civil rights.

In 1915, he returned to India and began organizing farmers and urban laborers to protest against discrimination. Initiating the Satyagraha and Ahimsa movements against British colonial rule, his non-violent approach and ability to win people over with love and tolerance profoundly influenced civil rights movements.

He devoted his life not only to India's struggle for freedom but also led nationwide campaigns against untouchability and poverty. Additionally, he advocated for women's rights.

On January 30, 1948, while on his way to address an evening prayer meeting at Birla Bhavan, Delhi, along with his grandnieces, Nathuram Godse—a Hindu nationalist—fired three bullets into his chest around 5:17 pm, leading to his instant death.

Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary holds significance globally as he is renowned for practicing peace and non-violence. His birth anniversary, October 2, is observed as the International Day of Non-Violence, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to honor Gandhi's principles. On this day, awareness is raised about the importance of non-violence in promoting peace, harmony, and unity worldwide.

Here are some inspirational quotes by Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation:

• “The greatness of humanity is not in being human but in being humane."
• “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."
• “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed."
• “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."
• “Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served."
• “A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes."
• “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."
• “Man is supposed to be the maker of his destiny. It is only partly true. He can make his destiny, only in so far as he is allowed by the Great Power."