International Day of Non-Violence on October 2.

The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on October 2 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. United Nations General Assembly started the observance of the day in 2007. The day spreads the message of non-violence. This year the day is being celebrated under the Theme- Shaping Peace Together.

Background

• The proposal to observe an International Day of Non-Violence was put forward in January 2004 by an Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. Following this, Satyagraha Conference resolution was passed in New Delhi in January 2007 in order for the United Nations to adopt the idea of the day.
• The United Nations General Assembly voted to establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence on 15th June 2007.

Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is celebrated annually on 2 October. The UN General Assembly on 15 June 2007 adopted a resolution that declared 2 October will also be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

On this occasion, Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014. India also celebrated 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhiji in 2019.

Mahatma Gandhiji

Gandhiji was an Indian Lawyer who lead the independence campaign in India and employed the non-violence resistance among people towards freedom of India. Gandhi’s freedom struggle in India started with the remarkable Champaran Satyagrah in 1917 which was a farmer’s uprising. He launched the Non-cooperation Movement in 1920 which was aimed at obtaining self governance. This was started in the backdrop of Rowlatt Act of 1919 and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Another remarkable even was Salt March started in 1930 against British Salt monopoly. The march spanned over 384 km from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. Lastly, The Quit-India Movement was launched in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhiji at the Bombay Session of All-India Congress Committee that ultimately lead to the independence of India.