UNITED Nations General Assembly has decided recently [15th June 2007 -103rd meeting] to observe each year 2nd October as International Day of Non-Violence across the world. The United Nations has called upon all member states and individuals to commemorate the day in a befitting manner and to disseminate the message of non-violence convincingly. The day was selected in recognition of Gandhi's spiritual leadership to propagate Ahimsa or Non-Violence that led to inspire movement for civil right and freedom across the world through the process of non-violence.

The resolution to respect the apostle of humanity and peace adopted by 192 member bodies stressed the need for non-violence, tolerance, full respect for human rights and fundamental freedom for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity as re-enforcement of peace and growth for mankind. In India, October 2nd, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is commemorated each year as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday.

We may dwell on the life of Mahatma Gandhi for a moment to understand his philosophy and vision. Mahatma Gandhi was born at Porbander, Gujarat, on October 2, 1869 and he was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fundamentalist.

Living with a devout mother and surrounded by Jain influences, Gandhi learned from an early age the tenets of non-injury to living being, vegetarianism, fasting for self-purification and mutual tolerance between members of different faiths, caste and creed. In May 1883, at the age of 13, Gandhi was married through his parent's arrangements to Kasturba Makhanjee and they had four sons. Gandhi was a mediocre student and barely passed the matriculation examination from Samaldas College at Bhavnagar, Gujarat. At the age of 18, September 4, 1888, Gandhi went to University College of London to train himself as a barrister.

On return from London, he started modest living at Rajkot in drafting petitions for litigants. Later,

he accepted a year-long contract from an Indian firm to a post at Natal, South Africa in 1893.

South Africa changed Gandhi dramatically, as he faced the discrimination commonly directed to blacks and Indians. One day in court at Durban, the magistrate asked him to remove his turban. Gandhi refused and stormed out of the courtroom. He was thrown off a train at Pietermaritsburg, after refusing to move from the first class to a third class coach while holding a valid first class ticket. Traveling further, he was beaten by a driver for refusing to travel on the foot board to make room fora European passenger. He suffered hardship in different manners, including being debarred from entry into hotels.

All these incidents compelled him to be a political activist. He stared to protest with mass support against racism, prejudice and injustice. However, these events, by no means, explain why he pioneered non-violence instead of a violent revolution.

First major achievement of Ghandhi was in 1918 with the agitation at Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha. Gandhi led organised protests and strikes against landlords oppressing poor farmers at Kheda in Gujarat and achieved success in favour of peasants. The British had to suspend all revenue collections from farmers and release all prisoners. It was during this agitation in a non-violent manner that Gandhi was addressed by people as Bapu [father], Rabindranath Tagore used to call him Mahatma. Thus, Mahatma Gandhi became very popular and widely known as great leader all over the country.

The Jalfianwala Bagh massacre of civilians by British troops in 1919 generated public anger and acts of violence. Gandhi's emotional speech and declaration of Swaraj (mean complete individual, spiri-

tual and political independence) was a great turn to the history of India during the time.

Gandhi said, "it is contrary to our manhood if we obey laws repugnant to our conscience”. His noncooperation movement enjoyed widespread appeal and success, increasing excitement and participation from all strata of Indian society. Gandhi had to decide differently when violent clash of Chauri-Chaura stirred the nation. Gandhi famously led Indians in the disobedience of the Salt Tax, popularly known as Dandi March in 1930 and his open call for British to Quit India came in in 1943. Gandhiji was imprisoned for many years on numerous occasions in South Africa and in India.

Gandhi explained his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography,” My Experiments with Truth”. He was quoted assaying:

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

“There are many causes that I am prepared to die but no cause that I am prepared to kill for”

“Non-violence is the law of our species, as violence is the law of the brute”

“Science of war leads one to dictatorship pure and simple”

“Science of non-violence can alone lead one to pure democracy”

Albert Einstein pointed out,"the problem of bringing peace to the world on a supra national basis will be solved only by employing Gandhi's method on a large scale”.

The Encyclopedia Britannia summarises Gandhi's significance with the statement, “Gandhi was the catalyst if not the initiator of three of the major revolution of the 20th century, the revolutions against colonisation, racism and violence.”

“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.” It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by

the ingenuity of man”. According to Gandhi, “It is the law of love that rules mankind.”

Gandhi once said, the golden way is to be friend with the world and to regard the whole human family as one.

Gandhi's life and teachings obviously inspired Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Steve Bilko, Beningo S Aquino jretc.

Mahatma Gandhi was not found eligible for the Noble peace prize in 1944. Of course, the Nobel committee later on repented that they did a mistake.

The question now arises what prompted the UNGA to decide to commemorate Gandhi's birth day, the 2nd October as the International Day of Non-violence after such a long time? Possibly, during the 20th century, the world witnessed lots of wars, genocides, hostilities, struggles and at least 160 million people died in wars but could not bring any peace oran end to hostilities. 'War against terror' might not see the light at the end of the tunnel provided terrorists are not motivated adequately with values of non-violence.

During the last century, we have seen the terrible wars like Japan-Russia War [1904-5], Balkan War [1992-13]; First World War [1914-1918], Soviet Union-Ukraine war [1932]; Italy's invasion of Ethiopia, 1936; Second World War [1939-45], Korean War [1050-53]; USA-Vietnam War [1964-73], Indo-Pak wars, Bangladesh War of Liberation 1971, Arab-Israeli wars, Iran-Iraq War [1980-88]; etc. Besides, there were many civil wars and revolutions which generated crises and conflicts and kept the poor and the innocent hostage. The reasons for these wars, thought to be deep-rooted where plundering of wealth and disgracing of values were involved.

The crisis, now we find round the world, political thinkers and social reformists believe, is due to the insatiable desire of super powers to dominate poor countries and keep their ego invincible. These mentors of crisis terribly disregard the eastern philosophy of life and undermine the politics of least developed countries. They find pleasure in dictating the constitution of developing countries and take pride in disowning the voice of the people. The attitude of few developed countries to disgrace the culture and heritage of others has generated strong resentment which resulted in terrorism.

All these are responsible for total unrest round the world encouraging the terrorists to exhibit their anger through violence.

Therefore, this is time to ask those nations who are responsible for destabilising the tranquillity of the world to follow lessons of Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolence or Ahimsa to bring peace for mankind.

In the words of the Prime Minister of India,” The universal relevance of Gandhiji's message of non-violence is more important today than ever before since nations across the world continue to grapple with the threat of conflict, violence and terrorism”.

The coming 2nd October hopefully will be celebrated with due solemnity and respect to nonviolence and pledges to establish peace round the world. Dhiraj Kumar Nath is a former Secretary, Government of Bangladesh