Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings of peace and non-violence are all the more relevant today considering the crisis (violence and extremism) the world faces at the moment, said Y K Sinha, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, on Monday. He was speaking at the Martyrs’ Day function, organised by the Indian High Commission in association with the India League, at Tavistock Square in London.
Mr Sinha said: “Gandhiji was/is known as the Mahatma, which means the noble/great soul. Not only was he the Father of the Indian nation and led the movement for Indian independence but he also stood for non-violence and peace – something this world sorely needs today.
“By his actions, deeds he symbolised ahimsa or non-violence. And this is a great tradition that he continued. We are all aware of Lord Buddha and his precepts and principles of non-violence. And this is a great tradition that India represents and we are very proud to have someone like Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation. We are also very proud to be able to commemorate his life and to remember and introspect on his teachings. We are very happy that the British government has also erected another statue in honour of this great man at Parliament Square.”
January 30, the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, is observed as Martyrs’ Day in India.
Speaking on the occasion, C B Patel, the India League Chairman, said: “After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence (following a bomb blast at a mosque in Quebec), I believe Gandhi and his message has relevance today.”
He said: “Some 140 years ago people thought India cannot gain its much-deserved independence. So the noble British people encouraged Indians to start a political party. After the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre, again it was the British people who thought that there should be an India League like operation here to transform the attitudinal mindset. Subsequently, about 55 years ago in America there was segregation and violence, in South Africa also it was unacceptable to see what was happening, but the message from the Mahatma was able to bring sense into the senseless institutions. Today India has a message on how to work with those who are extremists or intolerant or spread hatred. It has proved again on January 26 that India can invite somebody from the Middle East to be the chief guest at the Republic Day function.”
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
CB also acknowledged the contribution of the High Commission of India for the installation and maintenance of the Gandhi statue at Tavistock Square. Thanking the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Y K Sinha, and his officers, CB said: “India House has been a big support for installing the statue and commemorating Gandhiji at Tavistock Square. We are grateful to them for this help.”
For the uninitiated the Indian High Commission and the India League were involved in the installation of the Gandhi statue at Tavistock Square, but over the years the India House has contributed so much for organising Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2 and the Martyrs' Day on January 30.
CB added: “I have a feeling that whatever is happening today (violence and bloodshed) is going to change because Gandhiji’s message of non-violence, co-existence and peaceful struggle has proved to be of great value over time.”
On the occasion Dr Mattur Nandakumara, Executive Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London, recited a prayer from the Vedas.
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya | Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya | Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya | Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
(Oh Lord, lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality and grant us peace, peace and real peace).
This was followed by a couple of bhajan recitations, the much-loved and Gandhiji’ favourite “Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram……” and “Vaishnava Jana To…..”, by three students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London.
The function concluded with a Buddhist prayer from Buddhist monk Nagase.
Earlier Y K Sinha, CB Patel, and several dignitaries, including Deputy High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik, Redbridge Mayor Cllr Gurdial Bhamra, Businessman and philanthropist Rami Ranger, Cllr Sunil Chopra, Lalubhai Parekh, M Jadeja, Bhanubhai Pandya and A Bhogal, paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, following which a two-minute silence was observed in memory of the Mahatma.
Unfortunately Mayor of Camden Cllr Nadia Shah could not attend the function due to unavoidable reasons but she sent a wreath of flowers through her representative which was placed before the Gandhi statue.
The programme was anchored by Mr Sunil Kumar, First Secretary (Head of Chancery / Protocol / P&M). Mr A S Rajan, Minister (Coordination), was also present.
A similar function was organised at Parliament Square where floral tributes were paid to the standing Gandhi statue there.
