Pay Tribute
to Gandhi
Who Died 50 Years Ago
Message from 30th January Event
Coordination Committee, India
30 Dec 1997
As we approach the end of the 20th century, arguably one
of the most violent, mankind is faced with one definite
option Nonviolence or Non-existence.
The 20th Century produced its share of luminaries who left
behind their indelible impression on the sands of time some
who will be revered and some who will be hated.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, The Mahatma, was one of the
foremost personalities of the century. Born in the later
half of the 19th century, 2nd October 1869, he strode across
the 20th Century with one philosophy of life, Nonviolence.
During the most violent period of the century while the rest
of the civilized world was indulging in a mad orgy of
violence the Mahatma led two nonviolent movements and
achieved success. The equal rights movement for Asian
immigrants in South Africa and the movement for freedom in
India. He also spearheaded the social reform movement in
India with the motto of intermingling and not segregation.
He taught a poor country the advantage of self reliance and
simplicity and turned them into weapons of nonviolence.
The Mahatma never won the Nobel Peace Prize, may be it did
not matter, but people who admitted to have been inspired by
his philosophy continue to win. The Mahatma influenced some
of the Greatest leaders of the downtrodden and the enslaved,
Martin Luther King jr., Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama,
Mother Teresa and Aung San Su Kyi to name a few.
Today we speak of an environmentally friendly way of life
and the need for eco-friendly technology, the Mahatma
perfected and practised the most eco-friendly model
community in his Ashrams as early as the second decade of
the century in South Africa and later in India.
30th January 1998 marks the 50th anniversary of the
martyrdom of the Mahatma. Let us get together and pay our
tributes to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi the apostle of peace
and also join in a homage to all the victims of violence of
the 20th Century.
Email your Tributes to the Mahatma and to the Victims of
Violence to Jan30@mahatma.org.in.
We would also appreciate your suggestions to help us make
this event more meaningful. We are also planning a chat room
on Nonviolence or Non-existence : Options for the 21st
Century, and Religion : Should it Unite or Divide.
We will also launch a People s Initiative for Brotherhood
Amongst Neighbours where we will invite people sharing
similar aims from our neighbouring countries to participate
and evolve a strategy to boost understanding and unity
amongst us and our neighbours. The Mahatma wished that the
people of India and Pakistan build such close ties of
friendship that the divisions created by foreigners and
fostered by politicians would break down till a time was
reached when the borders dividing our motherland would
become meaningless. A Virtual exhibition is also planned
where artists will display their thoughts in the form of art
on the subjects of the event.
The event is organised by the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation,
the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, Memphis, and the
30th January Event Coordination Committee.
Tushar Arun Gandhi,
Vijay Mukhi,
K. Pandyan.
30th January Event Coordination Committee.
Mumbai, India
Mail to:
announce@mahatma.org.in
or Jan30@mahatma.org.in
 
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