As part of the celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Embassy of India organized a series of events culminating on Wednesday (Oct. 2), which was celebrated in India and across the world as the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Following a resolution of the UN General Assembly on June 15, 2007, it is also marked as the "International Day of Non Violence" as a tribute to the path of non-violence followed by the Mahatma in his struggle for India's independence and fight against colonialism. Over the last one year, the Embassy has organized seminars, quizzes, talk shows and also a Cycle Rally for Peace dedicated to the life of Gandhi. On Tuesday, the Embassy organized a cultural evening that showcased plays and music performances by school children depicting the life of Gandhi, who is fondly called Bapu, or Father of the Nation, in India. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Saudi nationals and the Indian community. The event also showcased a Gandhi photo exhibition, which took the audience through Gandhi's life journey, and a display of a special collection of over 400 stamps from various countries dedicated to Gandhi by noted Jeddah-based philatelist Mirza Mohammad Nawab. On Wednesday, Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Embassy premises. In his remarks, the Ambassador reminded the audience that Gandhi wanted his life to be his message, and that his guiding principles of non-violence, truth, and upliftment of the less privileged had universal appeal that had inspired other leaders across the world. The Ambassador also impressed upon the need to inculcate these principles in children, and teach them to be compassionate, respectful of human dignity and uphold the rights of the less privileged. The event concluded with a screening of a documentary on the relevance of Gandhi in the modern day, and distribution of prizes to winners of various competitions held to mark the historic occasion. — SG
