The nation’s father, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated on January 30, 1948, a mere five months and fifteen days after the country gained independence from British rule. This day commemorates the anniversary of his death.
The historical significance of the 2024 anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death
In India, January 30 is designated as Martyrs’ Day, marking the day that Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. Bapu, as he was affectionately called, played a significant part in India’s freedom struggle using non-violent and peaceful ways. Mahatma Gandhi spearheaded the campaign for independence that resulted in India being freed from British dominion on August 15, 1947.
At the age of 78, Mahatma Gandhi was shot at the Birla House compound in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a man who disagreed with Gandhi’s stance on India’s partition. In remembrance of all Indian martyrs, a two-minute silence is observed nationwide at 11 am on Martyrs Day. The president, vice president, prime minister, defense minister, and the three service chiefs of India gather at the Samadhi at Raj Ghat memorial to lay wreaths.
The world knows Mahatma Gandhi for his nonviolent and peaceful ways. October 2, the anniversary of his birth, is recognized as the International Day of Non-Violence. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2007 to honor Gandhi’s ideals. On this day, people become more conscious of the value of nonviolence and how it helps to advance world peace, harmony, and unity.
Here are some facts about of Bapu in memory of Mahatma Gandhi’s 76th death anniversary.
- The great proponent of nonviolence and peace, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was born in Porbandar on October 2, 1869. He wed Kasturba when he was thirteen years old. He received his legal education at London’s Inner Temple. He relocated to South Africa in 1983 to take up legal representation for an Indian businessman. He spent 21 years living there. In the course of his civil rights movement, he initially used nonviolent resistance while he was in South Africa.
- After his return to India in 1915, he quickly began mobilizing urban laborers and farmers to demonstrate against discrimination. He was the driving force behind the Ahimsa and Satyagraha movements against British colonial control. He had a significant influence on the civil rights movements with his nonviolent strategy and capacity to win people over with love and tolerance.
- In addition to dedicating his life to India’s independence movement, he spearheaded national efforts combating poverty and untouchability. He supported women’s rights as well.
- On January 30, 1948, Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse shot him three times in the chest as he was leaving Birla Bhavan in Delhi to speak at an evening prayer service with his granddaughters. Records state that he passed away right away.
Memorable words connected with Mahatma Gandhi
Here are some of Mahatma Gandhi’s motivational sayings to help you stay motivated for the remainder of the week and to share with your loved ones in remembrance of the man whose dedication to our nation helped us achieve freedom:
- “Change the world by being the change you wish to see in it.”
- “What you do today will determine your destiny.”
- “You have the power to gently shake the world.”
- “When your thoughts, words, and deeds are in harmony, you are happy.”
- “Losing yourself in the service of others is the best way to find yourself.”
- “An eye for an eye only serves to blind everyone on the planet.”
- “Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.”
- “The change you wish to see in the world must start with you.”
- “You win after they laugh at you, ignore you for a while, and then fight you.”
- The feeble are incapable of forgiving. Forgiveness is a quality that the strong possess.
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