India celebrates 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today. Events and campaigns have been organized across the country for Gandhi Jayanti, to pay homage to the man who gave the world the philosophy of 'Ahimsa' or non-violence.
Mahatma Gandhi envisioned an "Atmanirbhar bharat" where every village is self-reliant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he paid tributes to the Father of the Nation today.
There is much to learn from Mahatma Gandhi whose life and thoughts are even relevant today, PM Modi said as he shared a short video of his remarks on the father of the nation.
"October 2nd is a holy and inspirational day for all of us. Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) thoughts and ideals are more relevant today. Mahatma Gandhi-ji used to say his life is his message and he never tried to influence with his life but his life became an inspiration for others," said PM Modi in the short video which he shared on Twitter.
Mahatma Gandhi, PM Modi said, believed in "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family) and showed path to the nation through satya (truth), ahimsa (non violence), Satyagraha.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and opposition leaders cutting across parties also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi this morning.
Here are the Highlights on Gandhi Jayanti 2020:
Some 3,000 inmates of Gujarat's Sabarmati Central Jail got a Gandhi Jayanti gift on Friday with authorities starting a dedicated radio station for them.
''Radio Prison'', operating from the premises of the jail to provide information and entertainment to inmates, was inaugurated by Additional Director General of Police (Prisons), KLN Rao.
"Along with entertainment, story-telling and cultural programmes, Radio Prison will provide information on legal aid, psychological counseling and training on different subjects. We will also transmit birthday wishes of inmates.
Ten inmates have been chosen as radio jockeys to operate the initiative," Mr Rao said.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries on Friday.
Printed copies of a speech given by Mahatma Gandhi 84 years ago were circulated among visitors at the Bapu Kutir to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation on Friday.
The Bapu Kutir is a small hut where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay in Sewagram in Wardha district of Maharashtra during the freedom struggle. It has now become a tourist attraction and a place regularly visited by Gandhians.
After being closed since March-end due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the place was opened for visitors on the occasion of the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Every year, the Sewagram Ashram Pratishtan organises various programmes to mark Gandhi Jayanti, but due to the pandemic it did not invite anyone this time and kept its events low-key.