Speech by Ambassador
Gandhi Jayanti & International Day of Non-Violence | 2 October 2026

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very warm welcome to the Embassy of India on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and the International Day of Non-Violence.

Today, 2 October, marks the 157^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which is observed by the United Nations as the International Day of Non-Violence. It is a fitting tribute to a man who transformed non-violence from a moral principle into a powerful force for social and political change.

Gandhi's journey—from a young lawyer in South Africa to the leader of India's freedom movement—was built around truth, Satyagraha and non-violence. But what made him truly remarkable was that he did not merely preach non-violence; he practised it throughout his life.

Even when violence was committed by his own followers, Gandhi refused to accept it.  During the communal violence surrounding Partition, he travelled into areas affected by conflict and undertook fasts to stop people from killing one another. His moral courage helped prevent further bloodshed at one of the most difficult moments in India's history.

Gandhi's message travelled far beyond India. Leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. drew inspiration from his philosophy of peaceful resistance. His legacy continues because his central message is universal: justice can be pursued without hatred, and change can be achieved without violence.

Today, this message is more relevant than ever. The world continues to witness devastating conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, with millions affected by violence and displacement.

India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly said, “This is not an era of war.” Gandhi would remind us that peace requires not only the absence of violence, but also the courage to choose dialogue, restraint and understanding over confrontation.

On this Gandhi Jayanti, let us remember the Mahatma not only as the Father of the Indian Nation, but as a global apostle of peace and non-violence.

Let us carry forward his simple but powerful message: Be the change you wish to see in the world, and pursue justice without abandoning humanity.

Thank you.

Jai Hind!