Gandhi Jayanti 2024 – Date, History, Significance, Celebration & Facts: Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, popularly known as Bapu, was born on 2nd October 1869. His ideas of non-violence and truth still inspire people, not just from India but worldwide. His birth is celebrated in many countries, such as Gandhi Jayanti (2024), in remembrance of his contributions to India’s independence and the values he gave to the world.
Gandhi Jayanti 2024 Date
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2. Worldwide, the day is marked as International Day of Non-Violence.
Gandhi Jayanti – History
Gandhi was born in Porbandar, Gujarat, in 1969. He played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle movement. He led many protests against the British and inspired many people to come along and join the struggle. Truth and non-violence were his way of life, and he incorporated them into the protests. His life inspired several great personalities, including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. Without Gandhi, India’s independence could have taken much longer.
The day of his birth was declared a national holiday in 1948 after his assassination. The day not only celebrates the life of Gandhi but also the ideas of peace and harmony that will make the world a better place to live.
Gandhi Jayanti – Significance
In 2007, the United Nations declared 2nd October as the International Day of Non-violence to celebrate the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. His messages of unity, brotherhood, peace, and non-violence are being taught worldwide. His life is a revelation that justice can be achieved even without violence. His teachings have created a positive global impact; thus, his birthday is celebrated all over the world.
Gandhi Jayanti 2024 – Celebrations in India
2nd October is marked as a national holiday in India to commemorate the life of Mahatma Gandhi. All the public offices and banks will be closed. The schools and colleges celebrate the day with great pomp and show. There are several quiz competitions related to Gandhi’s life. Many students sing Gandhi’s favorite bhajan, “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.” All the statues of Mahatma Gandhi are decorated, and people pay their homage to him. Debates are organized to support and oppose the views of Gandhi. Many people believe that India would never have been divided if Gandhi had not been kind. All this is done to make the new generation know of this great man and learn from his life and ideas.
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Mahatma Gandhi – Early Life
Born and brought up in Gujarat, India, Gandhi trained himself in law studies at the Inner Temple, London. He returned to India in 1891 but could not set up a successful career, so he left for South Africa in 1893 for the suit of an Indian merchant living there. He lived in South Africa for about 15 years and started his family. When he came to know about the conditions of India and how the British were exploiting his people, he could no longer stay back. In 1915, he returned to India and immediately formed groups to protest against the excessive land tax regimes and discrimination based on race and nationality.
7 Movements Led by Mahatma Gandhi
Champaran Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi
This was the first-ever protest by Mahatma Gandhi to support the peasants of Champaran, Bihar. People were forced to grow indigo and sell it to the landowners for a fixed price, which led to the exploitation of poor peasants. Gandhi helped them to organize a non-violent protest, and to everyone’s surprise, he got concessions from the authorities.
Kheda Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi
Famine hit Kheda in Gujarat, and there was no support from the authorities. Poor farmers were forced to pay land taxes even when no crops could be grown. Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel used the non-cooperation method, and the farmers refused to pay tax even if that meant losing the lands. This ultimately moved the authorities, and they allowed a relaxation in all taxes until the conditions became normal. All the prisoners were released as well.
Khilafat Movement by Mahatma Gandhi
This movement was a crucial protest as Gandhi not only fought against the British but also united the Hindus and Muslims who were divided by Brtishers to make them vulnerable. This temporarily paused the communal riots in India, and everyone agreed to support Gandhi to oppose the British authorities.
Non-co-operation Movement by Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi was of the view that no rule could flourish in India without the cooperation of the natives. So, to defeat the British Crown, Indians had to start a non-cooperation movement for all the foreign policies and authorities.
Salt Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi
Indians had to pay taxes even on necessities such as salt. This enraged Gandhi, and he marched from Ahmedabad to Dandi, with several others joining him on the way, to make salt for themselves and not pay any taxes to the foreign authorities.
Khadi Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi
Just like salt, clothing is a basic necessity of mankind. Indians paid heavy taxes to buy clothes made by foreign mills. This not only extorted money from India but also made India dependent on the British imports. Gandhi set up charkhas in his ashram and taught people to make their fabric, Khadi.
Death of Mahatma Gandhi – End of an Era
Nathuram Godse, a fellow Hindu felt that Gandhi was “too soft on Pakistan” and shot him dead on 30th January 1948. India was grieving the partition after the partition after the departure of the British and Gandhi’s death added to the losses India faced in the name of independence.
Lesser known facts about Mahatma Gandhi
- Mahatma Gandhi was named as the person on the year in 1930 by Time Magazine. The first and only India to date to receive that honour.
- Gandhi was married at 13 and had 4 sons before he vowed celibacy in life.
- Five times, Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He never received it, though.
- The world-class leader of India was quite shy as a child and would run home after school to avoid all kinds of communication.
- 53 roads within the country and 48 roads in foreign countries are named after Gandhi.
- 2nd October is also the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, another great personality of the Indian Freedom struggle.
