International Day of Non-violence

Tags: Important Days

International Day of Non-Violence is observed across the world on 2 October which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's independence movement and the pioneer of the philosophy of non-violence.

Important facts

• The day aims to spread awareness about the idea of non-violence through education.

• According to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, the day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness".

What does non-violence mean?

• The doctrine of nonviolence, also known as nonviolent resistance, rejects the use of physical violence to achieve social or political change.

• According to Mahatma Gandhi "It is more powerful than the most powerful weapon of destruction devised by man."

• The famous Sanskrit phrase ahimsa paramo dharma was also popularized by Gandhi during the independence movement.

Background of the day

• In January 2004, Iranian Noble Laureate Shirin Ebadi proposed the idea for this special day.

• Her idea was appropriate to many Indian National Congress leaders, who later called on the United Nations to adopt it in 2007.

• Congress leader and then Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma presented the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors.

• On 15 June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution to observe International Day of Nonviolence.

• This day was first celebrated in 2007.