International Day of Non-violence

International day of non-violence is celebrated yearly on 2nd October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who is a pioneer in the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

In 2007, the United Nations officially declared 2nd October as International day of non-violence. The United Nations also voiced to propagate the message of non-violence by public awareness and through education on this day.  The UN desires to secure peace culture, tolerance and understanding of non-violence across the world.

Mahatma Gandhi is the pillar behind non-violence, who introduced and put it in action when he led the Indian Independence movement in the path of non-violence.

The popular movements that took place in British India such as Champaran Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, Non-cooperation movement, Dandi March and Civil disobedience movement were all based on the foundation called non-violence.

Non-cooperation, non-violent intervention, peaceful protests and persuasion are the notable elements of the non-violence. The concept of non-violence gained prominence all over the world, which brought Independence to India from the British imperialist regime. International icons, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela were inspired by Gandhi’s preachings of non-violence and followed them in their movements. 

Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement in the United States of America and Nelson Mandela’s anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa were both led on the path of non-violence